Both laser cutting and plasma cutting are valuable industrial processes that create components with tight tolerances for various industries, such as defense and automotive. Prototech Laser uses both processes because they are fast, accurate, and reliable. They also work on virtually any substrate.
Laser- and plasma cutting rely on very different processes.
While laser cutting uses the intense focusing of light to create the heat that cuts through substrates such as metal, plasma cutting concentrates gas to cut through surfaces. In this article, we explain how these processes differ.
What Is Laser Cutting?
Laser cutting can be defined as using a laser to cut or otherwise alter materials. Modern laser cutting works by concentrating light into a narrow laser beam. Powerful laser beams focus so much light into such a small space that they can slice through tough materials, such as metals. Lasers can also be programmed for more gentle applications, such as eye surgery or cutting through cardboard.
Laser cutting machines use computer programs to guide the lasers according to the programmed patterns. The computer controls shift the beam’s location and alter the focal length, allowing the machine to cut intricate shapes of varying depth.
The Benefits of Laser Cutting
The benefits of laser cutting continue to multiply as the technology advances. As of 2021, some of the significant advantages of laser cutting include the following:
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- Versatility
- Speed
- Accuracy
- Reliability
- Efficiency
- Cleanliness
Versatility
Few limits exist to the types of materials lasers can cut, including metals, ceramics, and countless others.
In addition, operators can change the patterns during production without losing time or reproducing expensive tooling.
Speed
Fast turn-times are a crucial benefit of laser cutting. Ease of setup contributes to the speed, as does the ability for rapid repetition of patterns and operations. In addition, automation makes 24/7 operation possible.
Accuracy
The extreme accuracy of laser cutting results in precise cuts with little wasted material.
Reliability
Laser cutting machines are amongst the most reliable, so unexpected delays are exceeding rare.
Efficiency
Need multiple jobs processed at once? Laser cutting can accomplish it.
Cleanliness
Laser cutting is exceptionally clean, so there is no need for deburring or sanding products.
Prototech Laser provides laser cutting services for all substrates. With ten lasers, our operation can handle jobs of any volume and in terms of precision, Prototech has no equal.
Laser Cutting Is No Longer for Small Quantities
In times past, laser cutting speeds have primarily limited their use to small volume projects, such as prototyping. However, in recent years, laser cutting speed has increased by immense magnitude, making it a viable process for large quantity projects.
In addition, laser cutting offers a flexible, cost-effective, and higher-quality alternative to many processes. For example, laser cutting provides clean cuts that meet even the most rigid manufacturer specifications. With pinpoint accuracy, high volume speed, and no tooling costs, laser cutting is an excellent choice for many industries.
Plasma cutting employs a jet of ionized gas to melt and expel material from the area being cut. Because the gas heats to temperatures of up to 20,000 degrees Celsius, it can slice through very thick material. The process uses an electrode (cathode) and workpiece (anode) to create the gas stream. The electrode is located in a gas nozzle that constricts the arc, which results in the narrow, hot, high-speed plasma jet.
Then the plasma jet encounters the workpiece. At this stage, the gas must return to its natural state, a process that emits intense heat. It is this heat that melts metal.
Argon, argon/hydrogen, or nitrogen gases are most often used in plasma cutting. As inert gases, they can be replaced by air through electrodes made of hafnium or zirconium. It is the use of compressed air that makes plasma cutting so efficient. The inert gases result in the high-quality cuts.
Plasma arcs can cut a wide range of alloys, including plain carbon, stainless steels, aluminum, nickel alloys and titanium.
Prototech Laser in Chesterfield Michigan is an industry leader offering efficient and precise plasma cutting services. Our machinery handles all substrates and volumes. Clients in industries requiring pinpoint accuracy, from defense to automotive, depend on our plasma cutting capabilities.
Two Processes Offering Excellent Results
Both laser- and plasma cutting provide fast, accurate, and reliable processes. Our Michigan based full service metal fabrication facility offers each as excellent alternatives for the creation of parts requiring tight tolerances for a variety of industries. Contact us to learn more about our metal fabrication and laser cutting services.