4-Different Types of Lasers for Cutting

Laser cutting is a popular and versatile technique for precisely shaping and sizing metal. It can produce complex designs with high accuracy and efficiency. Are you familiar with the various kinds of laser cutting? Do you know which option would be most beneficial for your business?

We have all the information you require if you’re searching for the best laser-cutting methods for your business.

 In this blog post, we discuss different types of lasers.

What is Laser Cutting?

Laser cutting is a non-contact machining technique. It uses a constant beam of light to generate heat and pressure, reshaping and distorting materials precisely as it moves over the surface. Laser technology serves many functions, including cutting, drilling, and engraving. The specific function of a laser depends on its strength, the main material used to produce the beam, and the material it is acting on. It is one of the most common methods to make sheet metal parts.

Types of Lasers

CO2 Lasers

A CO2 laser produces light beams by directing electricity through a gas mixture-filled tube. The tubes have mirrors on each end. Some light can flow through one mirror because it is partially reflective, whereas the other mirror is fully reflective. The gas mixture comprises carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, and helium. CO2 lasers emit invisible light in the far infrared range of the light spectrum.

This type of laser is commonly used for working with wood or paper. It can also be used in some other derivatives, like Polymethylmethacrylate and other acrylic plastics. It is particularly beneficial for working with leather, fabric, and wallpaper products. It has also been used to process cheese, chestnuts, and plants.

Solid-State Lasers

Solid-state lasers use a solid combination of crystals or glasses and a rare earth element as their optical gain source. The mixed element is usually:

• Neodymium,
• Chromium
• Erbium
• Thulium
• Ytterbium

The ruby laser is one of the most well-known solid-state lasers due to its historical significance as the first laser. The Nd: YAG laser (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet) is widely used in material processing applications.

Additionally, tissue ablation, kidney stone removal, tattoo and hair removal, and LIDAR technology are some of the medicinal uses of these lasers.

Fiber Lasers are used for Sheet and Metal Fabrication.

Fibre lasers are the standard tool for many sheet metal fabrication applications. They are so-called because they use optical fiber and pass the laser beam through fiberglass diodes, which magnify it.

They provide a lot of power for the electricity expended. They can also cut metallic and non-metallic materials, including wood, glass, and plastic.

Furthermore, a fiber laser is also the best for cutting reflective materials, as it avoids reflection, making it a safe and effective choice.

Direct Diode Lasers used in Metal Cutting

Direct diode (or simply diode) lasers are a type of laser technology that produces laser light using single semiconductor junctions. Their market share is increasing in metal laser cutting for industrial applications like surface treatment, welding, and cutting.

A direct diode laser is based on semiconductor junctions, usually composed of gallium arsenide (GaAs). When a forward bias current is applied, the diode emits light through electroluminescence without requiring a light source for initiation. The emitted light is then guided and focused into a laser beam by optical components that form a stimulated emission resonant cavity with a partially reflecting mirror at one end.

Moreover, diode lasers come in various wavelengths, influenced by the choice of semiconductor material, dopants, and resonant cavity design. The most common wavelengths for direct diode lasers used in cutting applications are in the near-infrared spectrum, ranging from 900 to 1,100 nm (0.9 to 1.1 μm).