To understand laser cutting machine fundamentals one must learn that there are three unique forms of industrial grade laser cutter: Moving material, Flying Optics and Hybrid systems. These are determined by the way in which the laser is moved over the construction material. The angles of motion are designated the Y and X axes. If the cutting head may be adjusted it is designated as the Z axis. The main distinction of flying-optic lasers is the fixed surface on which materials are placed. The laser will move over the material along both axes. This means that flying-optic cutters can hold the material in one spot during the cutting process, and usually don’t need the material to be held in place. The moving mass is constant, so dynamics aren’t affected by varying size and thickness of the material, unlike with moving material lasers. These types of laser cutter are the quicker of all 3 types with faster acceleration and peak velocities than other laser cutting machines. Moving material lasers use a movable table beneath a fixed laser for moving the material beneath it. This creates a constant distance between the laser and the work piece is maintained at all times and a central point from which cutting slag or ejecta can be removed. The advantage with this method is that it requires fewer optics. The one problem has to do with the size of the workpiece being determined by the table’s ability to safely move it into position. Because of the machine having to be constantly loaded and unloaded piece by piece and because of their weight limitations types of machine are typically the slowest of the three. Hybrid lasers are a combination between flying head and stationary head laser cutting machines. A table moves along one axis and the laser along a second. The advantage of hybrid machines over flying optics machines is that they deliver a more constant beam delivery path and a simpler beam delivery method. Hybrids are also more energy efficientthan flying optics lasers. Pulsed lasers are ideal for piercing jobs, cutting holes for example. These also offer benefits when it comes to lightweight materials as they do not provide a steady beam which may overheat and ultimately melt the work piece. Most industrial laser cutter have the ability to either pulse or cut using a continuous wave – commonly called CW cutting. For increased quality when cutting holes, double pulse lasers can also be used. These are generally used to increase the material removal rate. This strategy is pretty simple; the first laser is used to remove material from the surface of the work piece and the second keeps the ejecta or “slag” from adhering to the sides of the hole. Again, the benefit is a smoother material surface. The quality of materials cut by laser far surpasses those cut by traditional cutting machines. This is due to the beam leaving a clean cut. The use of any of these machines will create more accurate material in a shorter amount of time than through other cutting methods. Marc Anderes is the Vice President of Operations of Maloya Laser which specializes in Metal Manufacturing and Laser Cutting with advanced laser technologies, servicing aerospace, scientific, transportation, medical and machinery needs.
