What are the operating details of the laser cutting machine?

Although the types and applications of laser cutting machines vary, typical devices include a laser resonator assembly, a mirror, and a laser cutting head. The laser cutting head includes a laser focusing lens, a pressurized gas assembly, and a nozzle. This article contains the information of how a laser cutting machine works and what parts it has.

The basic cutting including the following stages:

beam generation

beam focusing

localized heating and melting

beam movement

1.  beam generation

The term "laser" comes from the abbreviation of laser or stimulated radiation light amplification. Basically, this abbreviation outlines the basic principle of laser-induced stimulation and amplification. According to these principles, laser resonators use processes of spontaneous and stimulated radiation to generate spatially and spectrally coherent high-intensity beams (ie, laser beams).

Spontaneous emission

A laser resonator of the laser cutting machine contains an active laser medium (such as CO2, Nd: YAG, etc.), and its electrons are stimulated by an external energy source (such as a flash lamp or an electric arc). When a medium receives and absorbs energy, its atoms undergo a process called spontaneous radiation. In this process, the energy absorbed by the atom causes the atom's electrons to briefly transition to a higher energy level and then return to the ground state. When the electron returns to the ground state, the atom emits a photon.

Stimulated Emission

Photons generated by spontaneous radiation propagate in the medium, which is contained in a laser resonant cavity of the laser cutting machine between two mirrors. One mirror of the laser cutting machine moves photons through the medium, so they continue to propagate stimulated radiation, and the other mirror partially transmits to allow some photons to escape. Stimulated emission is the process by which photons (ie, incident photons) stimulate atoms that are already at higher energy levels. This interaction forces the stimulated atom to fall to the ground state by emitting a second photon of the same fixed wavelength or coherent with the incident photon.

2. beam focusing

The focusing lens of the laser cutting machine focuses the laser beam to the workpiece surface through the center of the nozzle at the end of the laser cutting head. By focusing the beam, the lens of the laser cutting machine focuses the energy of the beam on a smaller point, which increases the intensity of the beam.

3. localized heating and melting

When a light beam of the laser cutting machine hits the surface of a material, the material absorbs radiation, increasing internal energy and generating heat. The high intensity of the laser beam makes it possible to heat, melt and partially or completely evaporate local areas of the workpiece surface. The weakening and removal of the affected area of the material creates the required cut. The siphon enters the laser cutting head of the laser cutting machine and flows coaxially with the focused beam. The auxiliary gas, also called cutting gas, is used to protect and cool the focusing lens, and can be used to expel molten material from the incision, remove the width of the material and the resulting cut and support. Laser cutting machines uses several different types of material cutting and removal mechanisms, including melt cutting, chemical degradation cutting, evaporation cutting, scribing, and oxidizing cutting.

4. beam movement

Once local heating, melting or vaporization begins, the laser cutting machine moves the material removal area onto the workpiece to produce a full cut. The laser cutting machine implements movement by adjusting a mirror, controlling a laser cutting head, or manipulating a workpiece. Laser cutting machines come in three different configurations and are defined based on how the laser beam moves over the material: moving materials, flying optics, and hybrid laser cutting systems.

The laser is produced in the form of a pulsed or continuous wave beam. The suitability of each material depends on the characteristics of the material being cut and the requirements of the laser cutting application. The pulsed beam is produced as a short pulse power output, while the continuous wave beam is produced as a continuous high power output. The former is usually used for scribing or evaporation cutting applications, suitable for cutting fine designs or penetrating thick materials, while the latter is suitable for high efficiency and high speed cutting applications.

After reading this article, did you get the knowledge of how a laser cutting machine function?we also provide Laser Engraving Machine, CNC Wood Working Machine, follow us now.