What shapes can be cut with a laser?

In general, any that can be transferred to the CAD computer program. Compared to a few years ago, when there was a problem to cut sharp "tips", small orifices, etc., the limitations of shapes today are far fewer:

Laser-fixed beam for cutting has a circular cross-section on a diameter of up to approx. 0.5 mm, so internal angles and sharp corners are mostly rounded to a negligible maximum radius of 0.3 mm, external corners can be completely sharp. The width of the cut groove can likewise range up to a value of approx. 0.5 mm. All other shaping limitations depend on the amount of heat transferred to the material while cutting and thus a degree of fusion of the material and subsequent deformation. Generally speaking - the thinner the sheet, the faster the cutting, meaning less heat and fewer limitations on shaping

Even these detailed shapes are possible today with laser cutting

• Orifices can be cut in black sheets with a minimum diameter of approx. 0.8 up to a single-multiple of the material thickness (e.g. D 8 up to a thickness of 10, D 15 up to a thickness of 15….), orifices can be cut in stainless steel with an approx. thickness multiple of 0.5 and less. This rule even applies for an orifice of another shape. In special cases the cutting smaller orifices can be tested, it depends on the material, the density of the orifices, etc.
• The bigger the proportion of cuts and burn loss on the unit area (dense network of orifices, complexity of the shapes to be cut…), the bigger the risk of shape deformation of the material - sagging, distortion, etc. This factor again depends on the thickness of the material - the stronger the material, the greater the risk. In extreme cases the cut cannot be performed - the material melts under the high temperature, the cuts weld back together, etc.
• With increasing thickness of the material, the options for using the so-called combined cut drop. On the contrary it is necessary to increase the distance between the pieces, leading to a major drop in the percentage of material for use.
• Our machine cannot make bevel and spatial 3D cuts; the cut must always pass through the entire thickness of the material.
• Our machine can make markings and descriptions of pieces with laser engraving. In view of the fact that this does not involve a special machine for this purpose, it is a relatively slow operation and the price is comparable to an actual cut.

Laser-marking pieces (engraving)

The final result of cutting is always dependent on the sum of the above-described effects and on the use of the material, the proper programming and set up of the cutting parameters. Practically everything is possible to test and that's why we recommend performing a cutting test in cases of uncertainty.

Occur bevels during laser cutting?

Laser cutting achieves the smallest bevel of all heat methods used for cutting materials. Again, this depends on the thickness of the material; on thinner sheets the cut is almost perpendicular, for a thickness around 10 mm the bevel can range up to approx. 1 degree.

How to form the shape of the cut

The program for processing the cutting codes works as an upgrade to its own CAD module. That's why it's always necessary to enter the given shapes in the CAD format. The optimum extension for files is *.dxf. The programming workspace is equipped with the program CorelDRAW 9, so it's also possible to process files in the format *.cdr (it's good to include a proportional scale in the drawings for these files or at least provide a few dimensions, as the scale can be distorted upon transfer to CAD). Of course, it's no problem to process the dimensions of the drawing or schematic, etc., in proper classical form. In case only the sample of the product is delivered, it must be taken into account that ordinary methods of measurement are used for producing the drawing (slide rule, tape measure, workshop protractor, etc.) and this can this lead to minor deviations. For signs, advertising pieces, etc., we can assist by using our database or a creative ingenuity supported by our knowledge of the technology.

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