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Laser cutting is a technology which uses a laser to cut materials, and is usually used in industrial manufacturing.
Laser cutting works by directing the output of a high power laser at the material to be cut. The material then either melts, burns or evaporates away leaving a cutting edge.
Advantages of laser cutting over mechanical cutting vary according to the situation, but important factors are; lack of physical contact, since there is no cutting edge which can become contaminated by the material or contaminate the material, and to some extent precision, since there is no wear on the laser. Disadvantages of laser cutting may include the high energy required.
Industrial laser cutters are used to cut flat-sheet material as well as structural and piping materials. Some 6-axis lasers can perform cutting operations on parts that have been pre-formed by casting or machining.
There are generally three different types of industrial laser cutting machines. Flying Optics lasers usually feature a stationary X and Y axis table where the cutting laser moves over the work piece in both of the horizontal dimensions. Flying Optics is popular due to the low cost of stationary tables.
Both Hybrid and Pivot-Beam lasers usually involve a table which has the capability of Y axis travel. Pivot-Beam lasers offer the highest performance per watt and the most reliable cut consistency of the three styles.
Pulsed lasers which provide a high power bust of energy for a short period may be very effective in some laser cutting processes.
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