Technology has advanced extensively, bringing significant advantages to various sectors and industries. This is partly because new technology allows users to perform tasks with exceptional accuracy. Accuracy is essential for manufacturing, creating or modifying, especially for some of the more staple industries. There are many technologies like a transformer, electrical meters and so on.
Another technology that has allowed such accuracy is the CNC laser cutter. CNC laser cutters enable users to cut, engrave or mark materials utilizing a high-powered laser. Since the laser does minimal damage, the user can make more precise modifications. But as a beginner, you will want to know how exactly you can do this. Additionally, how can this accuracy be further heightened? We will discuss exactly that in this article.
Let's dive in.
The type of laser cutting to use
One crucial factor that can affect how accurate the laser cutting is the type of laser cutting you are using. There are three significant types of laser cutting included in cutting machines. Each of them differs in how the machines create the laser and how effective they are. This includes how they interact with certain materials. These are:
CO2 Laser Cutting
A generated gas layer is used for this cutting. This is done when a CO2 gas mixture is stimulated electrically. This type of laser cutting is recommended for cutting various nonmetals due to its wavelength. These materials include wood, paper, textiles and leathers. A machine like this is ideal for using as a hobbyist.
Crystal Laser Cutting
Crystal laser cutters are ideal for cutting stronger and thicker materials due to their small wavelengths. These are even smaller than those of CO2 laser cutters. Due to this high power, they are usually used in more industrial applications and can cut both metals and nonmetals, like ceramics. However, they can also wear off fast, and their parts are costly.
Fiber Laser Cutting
Fiber laser cutters generate lasers using fiberglass. These cutters are much more energy-efficient since they do not have any moving parts. They are ideal for cutting reflective materials as they will not reflect under any circumstances. This includes any metal or nonmetal materials.
Materials that you should avoid
In the previous section, we have seen how various cutters are suitable for various materials. Similarly, there are certain materials that you should avoid for accurate results or to prevent harm to yourself. These are:
- Leather containing chromium
- Carbon fibers
- PVC
- PVB
- Teflon
- Beryllium oxide
- Materials that contain halogens.
Type of image file to use
CNC laser cutters work on the same basis that your average printers use. The cutter comes with drivers that can convert your image files on a computer into a format readable by them. As such, there are two types of image files readable by cutters. The file type will affect the accuracy and type of function you want. The two image file types are:
Vector Images
Vector images store the aspects of your computer images, like colors and lines, in the form of mathematical formulas. In this way, they are exceptionally accurate and can be scaled up without compromising image quality. As a result, these image files are ideal for when you want accurate results with your laser cutter. There are many vector file types, like AI (Adobe Illustrators), SVG, PDF and DXF.
Raster Images
Raster images are based on pixels. In essence, this means that they are made of many small squares that collect to form the image. If you scale up these images, they will lose quality as they will begin to pixelate. As a result, they are more suitable for engraving rather than cutting. You will likely be more familiar with these formats, including JPG, PNG and GIF.
In conclusion
In recent years, technology has significantly advanced, leading to much more accuracy when performing certain tasks. One such technology is CNC laser cutters, which allow you to cut materials using a high-powered laser. However, this accuracy can be further increased through certain factors. Using suitable laser cutters and image files, you can do this while avoiding certain materials. We hope this article proves helpful and allows you to use a laser cutter for your tasks and hobbies.
