Laser cutting offers one of the most viable solution for precision cutting of wide range of materials in the desired shape and size. It’s a hi-tech method of cutting hydro-formed tubes and parts, thick-section materials and thin-sheet metals in an accurate manner.
The laser cutting UK technique has numerous advantages over traditional plasma cutting, and has been recognized as the best precise cutting technology available today. This technique provides preferred cutting without deforming or hampering the work piece. Manufacturing sectors and multifarious industry widely use laser beam technology to cut:
* Plastics including ABS, Acrylics, Lucite, Mylar, Plexiglass, Styrene, and Kapton tape
* Depron foam, XPS foam for RC planes, polyethylene (PE), Styrene, and polypropylene (PP)
* Various wood products like wooden jewelry, pencils, furniture and wood picture frames
How Laser Cutting UK works?
A high intensity beam generated by a laser source is directed on a work piece with the help of mirrors placed at distinct positions. This beam is then concentrated with the help of lens on the small spot on the work piece that is to be cut. The intense laser beam immediately heats up and melts the work piece. At this stage, an assist gas is also applied to cool and protect the focusing lens.
Starting with a small hole, a high intensity beam creates a cut either by moving the work piece while the beam is kept still, or by moving the beam across the work piece being cut. Sometimes both these methods are used. An intense light beam strikes the part of the material or object, causing it to burn, melt and evaporate without any trace of heat.
Not all materials need the same amount of power. Thinner materials need lesser power and thicker ones need more laser power. Usually, CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser cutting UK is done at 1000-1500 watts. Materials such as steel may need more than three kW.
Types of Laser Cutting
* with oxygen – When oxygen is used as assist gas, the work piece is heated to ignition temperature using a beam, and is then burned and vaporized.
* with non-reactive gases – This high pressure cutting leads the material to melt due to high intensity beam. The melted material is then immediately blown out of the cut kerfs by the intense kinetic energy of the gas jet. As non-reactive gases used in the process do not react with melted material, no additional heat is generated during the process.
The laser cutting UK is best suited for intricate part cutting. There is minimal distortion of work pieces due to small heat affected zone. This method can provide narrow kerf widths. Virtually there is no need for carrying our any secondary finishing operations as high grade overall finish quality is obtained due to minimal distortion. In fact, latest laser beams can also be custom built for specialized tasks. There is minimal material wastage due to close nesting of parts, since the entire process is CNC controlled. Laser enabled cutting process is more precise and much faster than other processes.
There are many reputable UK companies that offer laser-enabled cutting services to businesses worldwide. They use hi-tech laser beam cutting techniques on variety of materials such as nickel, super alloys, nitinol, titanium, tungsten, brass, copper, steel, ceramics, aluminum, rubber, fused quartz and much more.