Technology delivers laser cutting productivity gains

The laser beam cutting process is mainly used in the transportation equipment manufacturing industry, the construction industry, and other sectors of the metal fabricating industry. During the process, a laser beam is focused on the base metal, while an assist gas is used to eject the molten metal along the kerf. This technology focuses the laser beam at the base of the workpiece, which prevents the formation of burrs and the second focus point for the new optics is located on the same axis as the first, but is directly on the surface of the workpiece. The second focus point speeds up cutting and concentrates sufficient energy at the surface to initiate penetration of the beam. The increases in cutting speed of 20 to 40% have been observed, depending on the type of laser source, the type of alloy, and the thickness of the metal sheet and in addition the quality of cuts improves significantly resulting a substantial increase in productivity in a number of areas.