History
In the year 1965, the first production of the laser cutting Toronto machine was used in drilling holes in diamond. This machinery was made by the WEERC or the Western Electric Engineering Research Center. Two years later, the British pioneered the laser-assisted oxygen jet in cutting for metals. During the early 1970s, this particular technology was being placed in production in order to cut titanium for various aerospace applications. At the same time carbon dioxide lasers were being adapted to cut non-metals like textiles since during that time, carbon dioxide lasers were deemed to be not very powerful in overcoming the thermal conductivity of the metals.
Process
When generating the laser beam, this will involve stimulating of a lasing material by the electrical discharges or lamps that is placed within a closed container. When the lasing material is stimulated, the laser beam will be reflected internally by means of a mirror as it achieves enough energy to escape as a monochromatic coherent light. When directing the coherent light into lens, fiber optics or mirrors are used which focuses the light on the work zone. The narrowest part of the beam is usually less than about .0125 inches in diameter. Depending on the thickness of the material, kerf widths which are as small as .004 inches are possible. In order to be able to start your cutting on one edge, a pierce will be done every time you cut. When piercing the material, you will be using a high-power pulsed laser beam which slowly makes a hole in the particular material being processes. This will take about 5 to 15 seconds for those materials which are .5 inch thick like the stainless steel.
The parallel rays of light coming from the laser source often fall within the range .06 to .08 inches in diameter. This beam is typically intensified and focused by a lens or by a mirror on a very small spot which is about .001 inches in order to create intense laser beam.