Today, sheet metal laser cutter machines are everywhere, in sophisticated surgical equipment, optical media readers, and the brute force intensity of lasers used in manufacturing. What they all have in common is the ability to complete work with incredible precision, guided by a steady hand or a computer-controlled application.
What is the sheet metal laser cutter?
Laser cutting, also known as laser beam cutting or CNC laser cutting, is a thermal cutting process often used in sheet metal processing.
Laser cutting can be used to cut various materials such as steel plates or aluminum plates, or three-dimensional objects such as profiles and pipes.
During the cutting process, a high-energy and highly focused laser beam is directed towards the workpiece. The process produces metal vapor and melt, which are blown out with the help of high-pressure airflow. The laser beam forms a cutting joint or cutting gap in the workpiece, and the cutting edge of the laser beam varies. Many different cutting tasks can be performed using laser beams. It ranges from cutting metals with a thickness of up to 30 mm to very precise incisions for extremely thin materials. CNC laser cutting is a process that uses different types of lasers, among which fiber lasers and CO 2 lasers are the most widely used industrial applications.
Compared with other processes, even in very small batches, CNC laser cutting can be used economically.
What types of laser cutting are used for sheet metal?
In recent years, the sheet metal laser cutter market has developed rapidly, and sheet metal laser cutting machine manufacturers have introduced new types of machines, which are completely changing the laser cutting process and users’ choices.
When specifying a machine, users have two choices, depending on their specific requirements, namely CO2 sheet metal laser cutting machine and fiber laser cutting machine.
For a long time, the traditional CO2 laser has been the preferred method, especially in the +4mm sheet metal market. This type of machine uses CO2 laser gas and electricity to generate a laser beam, which is then applied to a metal plate. Due to the high-temperature operation, the CO2 laser is also equipped with a higher capacity cooling device.
However, in recent years, the sheet metal laser cutting equipment market has begun to turn to new technologies, especially optical fibers. Fiber lasers use fiber with a diode “pump” to create solid-state laser cutting machines with far fewer components and no gas consumables.
The key issue that determines the choice of laser cutting machine is efficiency. The reason for the rapid popularity of fiber is its excellent production speed, accuracy, and significant cost-saving advantages.
Crucially, fiber lasers have better-focusing capabilities than CO2 because they can accurately evaporate materials and form a smaller spot diameter. This makes the cutting more accurate and stable when cutting, especially when using thinner materials.
What materials can the sheet metal laser cutter cut?
Laser cutting machines can cut all types of metals, from mild steel to stainless steel and non-ferrous metals. More reflective metals such as aluminum are more difficult to cut. In these cases, fiber lasers are a better choice.
Lasers can cut many materials and are usually used to select several types of metals, especially carbon steel, low carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, and aluminum.
Carbon steel: Steel is a mixture of iron and carbon. Carbon steel is steel with a, particularly high carbon content.
Low carbon steel: Compared with carbon steel, low carbon steel has a lower carbon concentration.
Stainless steel: Stainless steel adds a small amount of chromium to produce corrosion resistance.
Other steel alloys: Alloy steel is combined with one or more other elements to enhance its strength.
Aluminum: Aluminum is lighter than steel, so it is very useful.
In addition to these metals, lasers can also be used to cut many non-metallic materials, from wood to plastics to ceramics. However, it is most commonly used to cut metals, especially those listed above.
Laser cutting machines can cut all types of metals, from mild steel to stainless steel and non-ferrous metals. More reflective metals such as aluminum are more difficult to cut. In these cases, fiber lasers are a better choice.
Why choose laser cutting for sheet metal processing?
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Relatively low cost
Compared with other cutting mechanisms, laser cutting is very cost-effective. Since CNC automation is involved, labor costs are the lowest, because no one needs to operate these machines when using them. Instead, you just flip a switch and let it run. In addition, the laser will not become dull or worn like other cutting tools. For this reason, there is no necessary conversion in the intermediate process, thereby increasing productivity and shortening delivery time. When the interruption in the cutting process is minimal, the cost will be reduced.
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Speed and efficiency
The laser can cut the material very quickly, moving 20-70 inches per minute. The exact speed will depend on the tolerance and complexity of the parts, however, they move very fast. Through multi-head laser or multiple lasers working at the same time, the cutting speed can be further improved. In addition to the fast cutting speed, the laser cutting machine can also work overnight without the operator, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the cutting process. The combination of these factors means that laser cutting machines will complete parts faster than other cutting processes.
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Automation
One of the advantages of laser cutting is that the machine is completely controlled by CNC. Someone enters the code into the computer, resulting in almost no changes in parts and products, and a significant reduction in defects. Automation also means that less labor is required to operate the machine and perform its tasks, thereby increasing process efficiency. The automation of the cutting process brings higher efficiency and higher quality products.
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High precision
The laser cutting machine has highly sophisticated features, capable of creating small cuts and tight tolerances. If you need complex cutting, a laser cutting machine is the best choice. They create smooth, sharp, and clean edges and curves. They also produce almost no burrs because the laser will melt the material instead of cutting it. Laser cutting machines are very suitable for sheet metal manufacturing because they are highly accurate and can perform accurate and high-quality cuts.
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Highly versatile
Operating cost, machine speed, and simple operation make the laser cutting machine very suitable for products of any size. Because the laser cutting machine is accurate and precise, you can ensure that the final result is of the highest quality. Laser cutting machines can cut a variety of materials, including most metals, making them ideal for sheet metal manufacturing. They can handle tight tolerances and complex designs, ensuring that any project is within their scope. Laser cutting machines are also one of the fastest options for cutting sheet metal, ensuring that your project is completed on time with minimal interruption.
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Unlimited customization
The ability to manufacture sheet metal according to your customers’ exact specifications adds to your company’s value proposition and customer appeal. Laser cutting allows you to cut materials quickly and accurately, regardless of the thickness of the metal plate or the complexity of the desired shape. Using the laser cutting method, you can deliver sheet metal jobs exactly according to the customer’s specifications every time.
How much is a sheet metal laser cutting machine?
How much is a sheet metal laser cutter? Many users may find that the price of a laser cutting machine varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. In fact, there are many factors that affect the price of laser cutting machines. Today, I will take you to understand the factors that affect the price of laser cutting machines. In summary, they can be summarized as follows:
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Machine brand
Of course, brand awareness determines the price of laser equipment, which is a relatively abstract concept. As we all know, for big brands, their equipment quality, equipment spare parts, equipment performance, technology, and after-sales service are much safer than small factories. This is the added value of products and common law. Machine market. Therefore, the price of the laser cutting machine of the big brand will definitely be higher than the price of the small brand.
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Bed configuration
Laser cutting machine manufacturers generally have several standard sizes. And according to the special needs of customers, it can also customize non-standard machine tools that meet the customer’s size. The standard size is a specification that the manufacturer has always produced, but the non-standard size needs to be customized, so the customized format is more expensive than the standard format.
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The brand of the laser
As we all know, lasers are the core optical components of laser cutting machines. Laser cutting machines have different brands and different beam qualities, and the price of lasers varies greatly from brand to brand. At present, imported lasers are superior to domestic lasers in terms of stability and beam quality.
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Key components
Other key components such as guide rails, rack, and pinion, servo motors, etc., brand and quality lead to different prices. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the specific configuration when buying a laser cutting machine and don’t blindly be tempted by low prices.
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Power
Among manufacturers of the same brand, the higher the equipment power, the higher the price. Therefore, we must understand the material, thickness, and requirements for cutting speed and productivity before making an inquiry.
How to choose the right sheet metal laser cutting machine?
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Company processing needs
First of all, we must consider our business scope, the thickness of the material to be cut, which materials need to be cut, etc., and then determine the power of the equipment and the size of the worktable to be purchased. The power of laser cutting machines on the market currently ranges from 500W to 6000W. The size of the worktable can be customized according to customer needs.
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Choose factory inspection
After determining the demand, we can go to the market to find out or go to the counterparts who buy the laser cutting machine to see the performance and basic parameters of the machine. Choose several manufacturers with strong prices and preferential prices for pre-communication and proofing. After that, we can conduct on-site inspections and discuss in more detail the parts of the machine, the price of the machine, the training of the machine, the payment method, and after-sales service.
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Laser power
When choosing the performance of a laser cutting machine, the environment must be fully considered. Laser power is very important. For example, we often cut metal sheets below 6mm, so we choose 500W-700W laser cutting machine to meet production needs. If you cut materials above 6mm, we need to consider a machine with more power, which is very helpful for the cost of enterprise control.
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The core part of the laser cutting machine
Some important parts of the laser cutting machine, we also need to pay attention to when purchasing. In particular, laser generators, laser cutting heads, servo motors, guide rails, water tanks, etc. must be clearly defined as domestic or imported. These components directly affect the cutting speed and accuracy of the laser cutting machine. Many domestic manufacturers use domestic counterfeit parts to deceive customers.
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Equipment quality and stability in use are also important indicators
Now the product development cycle is short, the update is faster and faster, and there are more and more product varieties, prototypes, and mass production. Therefore, how to complete customer orders with quality and quantity, maintain corporate reputation, and enhance corporate competitiveness is also an arduous task for all operators. As consumers, we need to pay more attention to stable processing equipment and try our best to choose a market with a high market share, a complete after-sales service system, a complete after-sales service network, and a long-term inspection of the market. You can’t just buy low-priced and low-quality products without after-sales service for the price, because you can’t imagine the impact on the company’s production.
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After-sales service
The after-sales service of each manufacturer is very different, and the warranty period is also uneven. In terms of after-sales service, we not only provide customers with effective daily maintenance programs but also a professional machine and laser software training system to help customers get started as soon as possible. Moreover, no matter how good a laser cutting machine is, users will encounter various problems during use, and they will encounter problems that customers cannot solve. This is particularly important for manufacturers to provide solutions in time. In short, this is an important factor to consider when buying a laser cutting machine.
In recent years, laser cutting technology has been widely used in metal cutting and non-metal cutting in the sheet metal and handicraft processing industries. Laser cutting machine technology has been quite mature in the cutting industry. The market share is very large, but there are still many users who encounter various problems in how to choose a laser cutting machine that suits them. Learn More: How To Choose A Fiber Laser Cutting Machine?
In summary
The use of fiber CNC laser cutting machine on thinner metal plates is much faster than CO2 laser. A CNC sheet metal laser cutter is our best choice. The choice of CNC is very important for laser cutting machines. Sheet metal laser cutting users should look for manufacturers who are equipped with professional sheet metal laser cutting software for their machines. FORSUN CNC is a professional manufacturer of fiber cutting machines. We have a strong independent R&D team for fiber lasers. If you have any questions about fiber laser machines, please leave us a message and we will recommend the most suitable machine for you.
