{"id":2745,"date":"2022-06-23T09:05:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-23T01:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/xometry.de\/?p=2745"},"modified":"2025-05-30T16:31:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T08:31:04","slug":"an-overview-of-laser-cutting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-wp.xometry.hk\/en\/an-overview-of-laser-cutting\/","title":{"rendered":"Introduction to Laser Cutting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Laser cutting is a CNC cutting process in which a high-powered laser is used to cut through materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this process, a high-density light beam is created by stimulating lasing material with an electrical discharge, within an enclosed container. Optics are used to focus the created laser beam onto the workpiece, effectively cutting it by melting, vaporizing, or burning through it. The movement of the laser beam is controlled using CNC technology.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Laser cutting process (Sudobob.com)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Types of Laser Cutters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are three main types of lasers used in laser cutters. They are CO2<\/sub>, Nd, and Nd: Yag lasers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laser Type<\/strong><\/th>CO2 <\/sub>(Carbon dioxide)<\/strong><\/th>Nd (neodymium)<\/strong><\/th>Nd: Yag (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet)<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Advantages<\/strong><\/td>\u2022 High energy efficiency
\u2022 High power output ratio<\/td>		\u2022 High energy<\/td>\u2022 High power output ratio
\u2022 Can be used to cut thicker material<\/td><\/tr>
Disadvantages<\/strong><\/td>\u2022 Not appropriate for thick metal sheets<\/td>\u2022 Low repetition efficiency<\/td>\u2022 Less cost-effective than plasma cutters for such material<\/td><\/tr>
Applications<\/strong><\/td>This laser is great for boring, engraving, and cutting relatively thin material<\/td>This laser is mostly used for engraving and boring<\/td>This laser is good for manufacturing and medical industry<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Laser Cutting Materials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Laser cutting can be used to cut a variety of materials such as paper, wood, metal, rock, and many others, but it is widely applied in material removal for sheet metal fabrication of materials<\/a> such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n