Laser Cutting For Metal - Why It's the Best Choice For Metal Fabrication

Laser Cutting For Metal - Why It's the Best Choice For Metal Fabrication

In metal fabrication, cutting is a critical function.fiber cutting for metal From tin snips to CNC routers, metal cutting is where the shape of your finished product begins. And if you’re working on large, complex pieces, it’s often the only process that can make the job happen.

That’s why it’s no surprise that laser cutting for metal has become the dominant processing choice in most fab shops.fiber cutting for metal The combination of low operating costs — beating most other processes in cost per part – combined with high speeds and versatility makes it a great fit for most metal fabrication jobs.

The main reason behind its success is the way it cuts a wide range of metals, even those that are difficult to cut using other methods.fiber cutting for metal Most importantly, fiber lasers convert about 80% of their energy into cutting power, which means that they can cut most materials without any cooling.

Unlike CO2 lasers, which can only cut a limited number of metals, a fiber laser is more versatile and can easily work with stainless steel and a variety of other alloys.fiber cutting for metal In addition, it can also easily cut organic materials such as wood or leather.

However, it’s important to note that the performance of laser cutting for metal varies with the material type and thickness. The absorptivity of the laser radiation of the workpiece decreases as the material thickness increases. Nevertheless, lasers are generally considered the best option for metal cutting due to their high speed and efficiency.

As a result, fiber lasers have been rapidly displacing the traditional CO2 laser in most metal cutting applications. The availability of increasing laser power at a lower price year after year has shifted the cost calculation even further in favor of fiber.

In fact, some of the leading commercially available fiber laser machines can deliver high quality cuts at a comparable rate to CO2 machines that are twice as expensive.

Another major advantage of fiber laser technology is that it does not require any physical contact between the workpiece and the tooling, which results in less wear and tear on the tools. This can significantly extend their life cycle and reduce costs in the long run.

Finally, the flexibility and versatility of fiber laser machines make them an attractive investment in any production environment. They can be used for a variety of cutting and drilling applications, from thin sheet metal to thicker profile parts such as tubes. Furthermore, they can be integrated with automation capabilities that streamline the production process and help fab shops achieve better productivity.