Laser cutting is an economical means of cutting flat plate materials. From small batches to large production, laser cutting offers precision and accuracy with high speed. The ability to produce complex shapes with sharp inside radiuses without special tooling gives laser cutting many advantages over punch presses and stamping. Our fiber laser is best suited for Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Brass, and Copper, but our CO2 laser can handle a variety of other materials, including plastics, paper, and wood products. Contact Precision Waterjet, and we will evaluate the parameters of your project and match the best cutting process/technology to achieve your objectives.
A fiber laser is a solid-state generated laser beam transmitted to the machine’s cutting head through a small fiber optic cable. This directed light source is used to heat the material being cut to a molten state in a very concentrated area and assist gas, usually nitrogen or oxygen, to push the molten material and create a slit.
Cutting with a fiber laser provides numerous benefits over other alternatives, including:
- Higher accuracy than Plasma cutting or torch cutting
- Better edge quality than Plasma cutting or torch cutting
- Faster production of parts – well suited for large production runs
- Lower tooling costs than stamping
- Capability to tackle complicated geometries that a punch press cannot quickly deliver
A CO2 laser beam is generated using Carbon Dioxide, Helium, and Nitrogen. This beam is directed to the cutting head using a series of mirrors. Since CO2 lasers operate in the infrared spectrum, they cannot be transferred via fiber optics. This wavelength allows advantages when cutting materials.
- Higher accuracy than Plasma or torch cutting
- Better edge quality than Plasma cutting or torch cutting
- Faster production of parts – well suited for large production runs
- Lower tooling costs than stamping
- CO2 has a larger range of materials that can be cut effectively compared to a fiber laser.
Specialty CO2 cutting:
- Gaskets
- Paper
- Nomex
- Mylar
Aluminum | Brass | Copper | Steel | Stainless Steel | Acrylic | Paper | Gasket material | Shim Stock | Spring Steel | Electrical Steel