Laser Cutting is a process by which complex outlines can be cut in sheet metal in an accurate manner.
Laser cutting machines can take input directly from CAD files and can produce parts of great complexity.
Laser cutting machines can accurately produce complex exterior contours.
The laser beam is typically 0.2 mm (0.008 in) diameter at the cutting surface with a power of 2000 to 4000 watts.
Lasers cut by melting the material in the beam path. Materials that are heat treatable will be case hardened at the cut edges. This may be beneficial if the hardened edges are functionally desirable in the finished parts. However, if further machining operations such as threading are required, then hardening could be a problem.
A hole cut with a laser has an entry diameter larger than the exit diameter, creating a slightly tapered hole.
The minimum radius for slot corners is 0.75 mm (0.030 in). Unlike blanking, piercing, and forming, the normal design rules regarding minimum wall thicknesses, minimum hole size (as a percent of stock thickness) do not apply. The minimum hole sizes are related to stock thickness and can be as low as 20% of the stock thickness, with a minimum of 0.25 mm (0.010 in) for up to 1.9 mm (0.075 in). Contrast this with normal piercing operations with the recommended hole size 1.2 times the stock thickness. Burrs are quite small compared to blanking and shearing.
As in blanking and piercing, considerable economies can be obtained by nesting parts, and cutting along common edges. In addition, secondary deburring operations can be reduced or eliminated.
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