Laser cutting for delivering quality parts
There was a time when laser cutting Toronto was only applied to very thin metal sheets but with the introduction of more powerful resonators, lasers became capable of cutting thicker metal sheets that measure about 1.5 inches. A 4 kW laser cutter will have no problems cutting through steel and aluminum sheets. However, laser cutting also has its limitations because it cannot cut 1-inch aluminum due to high reflectivity. Since laser cutting has a very small heat affected zone and is capable of delivering cuts at very high tolerances, metal fabricators prefer laser cutting over other technologies.
Most of the laser cutting devices in fabrication shops makes use of a carbon dioxide resonator. The range of power is frequently from 1.5 kW to 6kW. The resonator emits a low divergence beam of light with a well-defined wavelength focused on a small spot. When new material is introduced, the focus automatically changes. The cutting heads adjust so that they can maintain consistent height while the constant beam length helps in delivering consistent cutting performance. As laser cutting transfers to the next pallet, assist gas delivery is adjusted. More modern version of laser cutter includes basic pallet changers so that operators can stage the next metal sheet while cutting continues on the other sheet.
How to choose the best cutting technology for your application
The client will certainly judge quality but it is the fabricator that decides on the cutting technology, process, cost per part and how to ensure the quality of each cut part. Besides laser cutting, there are other cutting technologies that can deliver high levels of precision. Plasma cutting and water jet cutting are good enough for a lot of cutting applications. Plasma cutting ensures a better cut of metal because of the latest nozzle technology that significantly constricts the arc for the delivery of more energy density. It also yields a variety of cutting speeds and quality according to the material being cut. Water jet cutting is a good option for fabricators that work on different materials like glass and rubber. It also has the ability to deliver precise cuts with tolerances at ± 0.001 of an inch. Larger parts have tolerances of ±0.003 to ±0.005 of an inch with no heat affected zones.
All these cutting technologies are pretty competitive because they are fast, precise and pretty good enough for a lot of applications. They have proved their worth in the fabrication industry and it makes sense to invest in one or more of the technologies to remain competitive.