WHAT IS A LASER CUTTING MACHINE?

laser cutting machine

A laser cutting machine uses a powerful laser beam to precisely cut through materials such as plastics, wood, metals, and many more. These machines have opened up a whole new world of possibilities for professionals and hobbyist alike.

For the past year, I've been trying to learn as much as I can about laser cutting. It all started with a desire to find a new way to express my creativity. I also have other machines such as a Ender 3 V2 3D printer and also an Elegoo Mars 3D resin printer that I like to tinker with every now and then. I saw many videos and examples of people using laser cutters to create amazing works of art or just simple functional parts.

Imagine taking a thin sheet of wood and, with a laser beam, transforming it into intricate puzzle pieces, decorative coasters, or even custom keychains. That's the magic of laser cutting!

Over the past year, I've been amazed by the versatility of this tool. I've experimented with different materials, from the warm tones of wood to the sleek finish of acrylic. I've learned that the laser can not only cut but also engrave these materials, allowing me or you to add personalized designs or lettering to our creations.

The learning curve definitely had its moments. Figuring out the right settings for different materials and mastering the design software took some practice. But the online communities of laser cutters have been a huge help, offering tips, tricks, and inspiration.

What Are Some Common Uses of Laser Cutting?

Laser cutters are very versatile and can be used in a number of different ways. Below we will go over some of these.

Precision Marking: Laser cutters go beyond just simply cutting, they can also mark nearly any material with permanent precision depending on the type of material and the power of the laser cutter. From adding serial numbers for part identification to artistic wood engraving, the possibilities are almost endless. You can see the work of laser precision marking on certain products such as:

  • Electronics: Look for things like small logos on the battery panel, serial numbers, and regulatory compliance markings on phones, laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices use precision marking. Not all of these items use this method, but some surely do.
  • Medical Devices: Laser marking ensures sterility and traceability on implants, surgical instruments, and other medical equipment. You don't want to just use anything to mark items that will be used on medical devices.
  • Consumer Goods: From eyeglasses and watches to appliances and sporting equipment. Laser marking creates permanent branding and decorative patterns to distinguish different goods from each other.
  • Automotive Parts: Engine components, control panels, and other automotive parts often rely on laser marking for part identification. Laser marking can also be used for tracking, and quality control of different parts.

Clean and Precise Cutting: Laser cutting is perfect at cutting sheet metal and a variety of other materials like plastics and wood. This non-contact process delivers clean edges with minimal heat distortion, ensuring high-quality results. I love laser cutting wood as it allows for extra clean cuts and less work is needed for cleanup of the piece.

Seamless Welding: Laser welding offers a superior alternative to traditional methods. It utilizes a laser beam to precisely weld two pieces of metal or thermoplastics together, creating a strong and clean weld. You can watch Youtube and see some of these devices in action.

Complex Tube Cutting: Laser cutting machines equipped with a rotational axis can handle intricate profiles on hollow sections like tubes. This allows for the creation of complex shapes with unmatched precision.

According to TechnologyReview.com, the smallest laser ever, consisting of a nanoparticle just 44 nanometers across has been achieved. This means that there can be super precise cutting with minimal to no major size discrepancies after a cut.

What Is The Process For Laser Cutting A Material

  1. Instructions for the machine (G-code): This is like a secret code that tells the laser cutter exactly where to move the laser beam to make the cut you actually want. For cuts that are simple, you can write these instructions yourself, but for trickier shapes, you'll need a special program to do it for you. One such program that many people use is called Lightburn. Some other software that can be used are:
  1. Making the laser beam: The laser beam is kind of like a super strong light. It's made when special materials are given energy, which makes them release a bunch of light particles all at once. These "beams" are then focused in one specific section at a time.
  2. Boosting the laser beam: The laser beam gets stronger as it bounces back and forth between mirrors inside the machine. This makes the light even more powerful for cutting.
  3. Aiming and focusing the beam: Once the beam is strong enough, it gets sent through mirrors or a special cable to aim it at the material you want to cut. A lens focuses the beam down to a tiny point, like focusing sunlight with a magnifying glass to burn an ant (please don't do this lol).
  4. Cutting: Finally, the fun part, the laser beam hits the material and cuts through it. It can melt or vaporize the material, depending on what it's made of. Sometimes, a special gas helps blow away the melted material to make a clean cut. Sometimes all is needed is a simple air pump to blow any left over debris away.

What Safety Precautions Should You Consider When Using Laser Cutting Machine?

  • Eye Protection: This is the first thing you should invest in whenever you decide to purchase a laser cutting machine. You want to invest in one that has many positive reviews on websites like Amazon or Ebay.
  • Fumes: The fumes that comes from laser cutting can be toxic depending on the type of material you're trying to cut. This is where a fume extractor comes in handy. A fume extractor works by vacuuming out any fumes that may arise from laser cutting. These machine will also vent these fumes outdoors.
  • Fire Safety: You should always keep a fire extinguisher handy whenever you start a laser cutting job.
  • Training: You should never start laser cutting without some form of training. These types of machines can definitely cause harm to someone who is inexperienced. This is why proper training is necessary before using one.

Where to find laser cutting materials

Whenever you have your laser cutting machine, you will most like now need to find places to purchase materials. My advise is to find cheap materials which you can practice on. My suggestion is to use stores like Dollar Tree.

I also love using stores like Walmart. When you shop at Walmart, there are so many choices. Look at some of the items they have for you to practice on below.

Walmart cutting boards

Finding good places to buy laser cutting materials is a must especially when you are getting started. Try to find local hardware stores and check what type of materials they have in store. Some of these stores have extra cheap items you can test on that have been return by previous customers also.

reddit post

You can also find out about many other places to buy materials online such as Reddit. As you can see above, you will get help from community members who are just as excited to help as you will be too whenever you get the experience.

Conclusion

You now know a lot about these types of machines. Now it's time to go out and find one that might fit your specific needs. I am currently using a Longer Ray 5 20 Watt that is able to cut certain types of materials and hopefully one day I will be able to upgrade to industrial type machines.

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have.

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