Some things aren’t quite as evident until you take a closer look at a fiber laser in operation. Because its beam diameter is often one-third the size of a CO2 beam, a fiber laser has a greater power density than a CO2 laser beam. Not only does this allow the fiber to cut faster, but it also allows it to pierce faster. This smaller beam size also gives the fiber the ability to cut intricate shapes and leave sharp edges. Imagine cutting a company logo out of a tube when the spacing between the logo’s letters is 0.035 inch; a fiber can make that cut, while a CO2 laser can’t.
Fiber lasers have high cutting speeds for thin material. These fiber lasers require minimal maintenance and have low power consumption. These laser cutting technologies have special properties, which allow them to be used in steel, stainless, aluminum, and other non-ferrous materials, like copper, brass, and bronze.
Variety is the reality of any job shop, and the same goes for those that operate a tube laser. It’s not unusual to see parts of various sizes come from one tube. The machine must be able to unload laser-cut parts that may be as small as 2 in. and as long as 15 ft., one right after the other. It also must be able to unload those parts without damaging them, which can be a challenge with softer metals such as aluminum.
The CO2 resonator requires much more energy and is larger. Electricity is used to combine gases to create the laser beam. Mirrors aid in the light's intensity and prepare it for exiting the resonator. The beam must travel along a path that includes several cooled mirrors to reach the lens after it has exited the resonator. This causes the beam to lose power and quality.
Many applications are possible for processed tubes or profiles. There are many applications for processed tubes and profiles, whether in the automotive, furniture, architecture, petrochemical, or commercial vehicle building. Many industries have embraced laser-assisted manufacturing of tubes and profiles. This allows for a virtually unlimited range of components and unmatched design possibilities.
Laser tube cutting at home doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Students and engineers alike can cut like never seen before
Gulf States Saw & Machinery Co., Inc.'s team of experts works with you to design a program specific to your needs. We'll look at how your part is currently being produced, assess its application or end use, and work with you to identify and deliver on your specific requirements.
Monaco high-power Femtosecond Lasers offer exceptional edge quality in micromachining, and improves in scientific applications such three-photon Microscopy.
Take a glimpse into our StarCut Tube lab and production area and find out more about these fully-automated, multi-axis CNC machines for tubes and flat materials, including medical devices such as catheter shafts, stents, hypotubes, PTCA devices, TAVR, etc.
Parts are held by automatic tabbing (do in FabCreator) and a set jaws on both the idler and drive chuck.
It doesn't take much to make your in-house laser tube cutters easy or cost-prohibitive. Everyone can cut like a pro, even engineers.
Many people believed that fiber lasers could only cut thin materials. The CO2, due to its longer wavelength created enough kerf when cutting thick materials. Fiber lasers couldn't produce the same result with thicker material. Recent developments have addressed this problem with collimating technologies that produce a larger fiber laser-generated beam which creates materials separation. Switchable beam width allows the machine to use the narrower beam for processing thin materials. This allows the machine to process multiple-sized materials more quickly on one fiber laser cutting machine.
Imagine that you need to put a through-hole at the center of a tube. It must be centered to the actual dimensions, not just one. This will make things more complicated. This is how tube manufacturing works.
The weld seam is another consideration when tube cutting. This material is roll-formed, then welded together. Two points are usually required to be addressed.
Modern CO2 machines typically generate the laser beam in a sealed glass tube filled with gas, typically carbon dioxide. A high voltage flows through the tube, interacting with the gas particles and increasing their energy, resulting in the production of light.
Laser cutting pipe is the best way to achieve repeatable and precise cutting in applications where the precision of the cut itself is important.
Laser tube cutting is a method and technique for cutting tubes, structural shapes, or channels. These items will be cut to the required length during the process. It can also make holes or designs in tubing. It is a precise cutting method.