What Is Fiber Laser Cutting?
Fiber laser cutting uses a solid-state laser to melt and puncture metals, allowing for a clean and precise cut. Fiber laser cutting gets its name because optical fiber is used as the laser medium rather than gas or crystal.
Since a laser is essentially a concentrated beam of light, it stands to reason that optical fiber might be utilized as the “active gain medium” to further boost the laser’s output power.
The capabilities of individual fiber laser cutters determine the types of materials and thicknesses that can be cut. Stainless steel thicknesses up to 10 mm are typically no problem for fiber laser equipment.
As schools and hobbyists can’t afford fiber laser cutting machines, they are typically only employed in industry and infrastructure.
How Does a Fiber Laser Cutting Machine Operate?
Fiber lasers use stimulated radiation to produce a tightly focused laser beam. Light from a laser diode is magnified by traveling along a fiber optic connection. High-intensity light from the laser is absorbed and transformed into heat, melting the material’s surface when it makes contact with it. Any molten material is blown away from the workpiece using a high-velocity airflow that is perpendicular to the laser beam.
The first engagement between the fiber laser and the material must be more powerful than any future contact because it must penetrate the material rather than merely cut through it. In order to make a hole in the material, a powerful pulse beam is used for around ten seconds for a twelve-millimeter sheet of stainless steel. Meanwhile, a blast of fast air will blow away the dust and reveal a crystal-clear depiction of the production.
Digital computer control is typically used in fiber laser cutting machines, allowing the cutting data to be sent from a CAD system. With the help of these methods, the surface of the material or the laser can be manipulated to create the desired effect.
Two separate, interchangeable platforms make it simple to load and unload materials into and from fiber laser cutters. Via this enhancement, laser cutting can proceed rapidly without sacrificing precision or accuracy.
Keeping a fiber laser cutting machine in working order is also simple. Fewer repairs and tune-ups mean less time and money spent on maintenance. And because fiber lasers employ nitrogen, the cutting process is quick, clean, and precise.
Benefits of Using Fiber Laser Cutting
For obvious reasons, many Australian metal fabricators are installing fiber laser cutters in their operations. Fiber laser cutters have many benefits such as:
- Modern, cutting-edge laser technology
- Is fluidly adaptable to changing market conditions
- It’s useful for a wide variety of metals and has several applications
- capable of adjusting to a wide variety of conditions
- It’s more efficient than CO2 lasers and works much more quickly.
- Enhanced productivity with decreased setup and teardown times
- Strength and clarity in the beam produce a more refined edge.
- Expenses for maintenance and running are reduced by reducing electricity consumption.
- With all that power, the machine doesn’t become too hot.
When it comes to metal fabrication, the efficiency and effectiveness of fiber laser cutting are unparalleled, and the high standards of accuracy it sets mean that output rates are maximized. Fiber lasers are superior to conventional laser cutting methods because they produce higher-quality cuts in less time with less material waste.
What are Fiber Laser Cutting Machine Applications?
The manufacturing and construction sectors can greatly benefit from using a fiber laser cutting machine. Listed below are the top six uses for fiber laser cutters:
Door frames, brake discs, and exhaust systems are just some of the automotive components that can be cut with fiber laser cutting equipment.
The Kitchenware Industry – Fiber laser cutters are used to process thin sheets of stainless steel, which are then used in a variety of kitchen appliances.
Fiber laser cutters are increasingly being used in the home appliance manufacturing business to enhance product quality and refine product aesthetics.
Manufacturing Fitness Equipment – Fiber laser cutters are used in many industries, including the fitness equipment used at your local gym.
Most common types of outdoor lamps use pipes formed by this equipment, which is used in the lighting industry during the manufacturing process.
In the manufacturing of decorative items and metal artwork, fiber laser cutters can be used in conjunction with numerical control software to cut out intricate patterns and intricate designs from metal sheets. This allows for the creation of unique ornaments and metal signs.
A quick glance around the house will reveal numerous places where a fiber laser cutting machine might be useful. Fiber laser cutting technology has progressed rapidly due to the consistent demand for these fiber laser devices.
Fiber laser cutting would not be possible on a large enough scale to facilitate the production of many other necessary items, such as transportation and medical machinery.
Related Questions
What Materials Can Be Cut with A Fiber Laser?
Carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum, and titanium are only some of the metals that benefit greatly from being cut with a fiber laser cutting machine. Cutting reflecting surfaces is where fiber lasers really shine, as opposed to where CO2 lasers really struggle.
It would be reasonable to assume that reflective materials like brass, aluminum, and copper would cause issues for fiber lasers, given that they utilize some visible light. Formerly difficult materials for metal fabricators to cut through are now easily sliced by modern fiber lasers.
Sheet metal has widespread uses in the production, building, and infrastructure sectors. But laser cutting is also rising in popularity in the realm of the arts, particularly metal sculpture and installation. Cutting metal with a fiber laser cutter is a breeze.
What is the maximum thickness a fiber laser can cut?
Cutting capacities of fiber laser cutting machines vary with their power, although most can handle metal sheets up to 13 mm in thickness. A 10kW fiber laser machine can cut through 2mm of mild steel and through 30mm of stainless steel or aluminum.
