In today&#;s world, precision cutting technologies have revolutionized the manufacturing industry, enabling businesses to create intricate designs and shapes with utmost accuracy and efficiency. Among the various cutting methods available, CNC, laser, and waterjet cutting technologies have emerged as the go-to choices for many professionals. Each method offers its own set of advantages and applications, making it crucial to understand their differences and select the right method for your specific project needs. In this ultimate guide, we will delve into the world of CNC, laser, and waterjet cutting, demystify their technologies, and help you make informed decisions when it comes to precision cutting.
With competitive price and timely delivery, NB sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Precision cutting methods are designed to achieve accuracy and consistent results, but they utilize different mechanisms to achieve this goal. CNC cutting technology relies on computer numerical control, which utilizes a combination of machining and programming to automate the cutting process. Laser cutting, on the other hand, uses a high-powered laser beam to cut through various materials, providing intricate and precise cuts. Waterjet cutting, meanwhile, utilizes a high-pressure stream of water mixed with an abrasive substance to precisely cut through materials.
What sets these technologies apart is the materials they can handle. CNC cutting is versatile and can be used for a wide range of materials, including wood, plastic, and metal. Laser cutting is highly effective for materials such as acrylic, wood, and metal, while waterjet cutting excels in cutting materials like stone, glass, and composites.
Choosing the right cutting method for your project involves considering various factors such as material type, intricacy of design, and project requirements. For projects that require a high level of precision and intricate details, laser cutting is often the preferred choice. Laser cutting offers minimal kerf width (the width of material removed) and heat-affected zone (HAZ), resulting in clean cuts with minimal distortion. This method is especially popular in industries like signage, jewelry making, and automotive.
If your project involves materials that are sensitive to heat, such as plastics or certain metals, waterjet cutting may be the optimal solution. Waterjet cutting produces no heat-affected zone and can cut through thick materials with ease, making it suitable for applications like aerospace, architectural designs, and industrial parts manufacturing.
On the other hand, CNC cutting provides a cost-effective and efficient option for projects that don&#;t require intricate details or extremely fine tolerances. CNC routers are widely used in woodworking, cabinetry, and general fabrication, offering versatility and reliability.
Waterjet cutting stands out with its ability to cut through a variety of materials without generating heat. This makes it the ideal choice for projects that involve heat-sensitive materials or when minimal material distortion is desired. With waterjet cutting, you can achieve precise cuts with minimal tolerances, allowing for intricate designs and complex shapes.
One of the key advantages of waterjet cutting is its versatility in handling different materials. Whether you&#;re working with metals, stone, glass, or composites, waterjet cutting can produce clean and accurate cuts without the risk of altering the material properties. This technology has found applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and architectural design, where precision and quality are paramount.
Furthermore, waterjet cutting offers the advantage of being a cold cutting process. Unlike laser cutting, which can generate heat and potentially affect the material properties, waterjet cutting ensures that the material remains unaffected by heat. This is particularly beneficial when working with delicate materials that are prone to warping or melting under high temperatures.
Another notable feature of waterjet cutting is its ability to cut through thick materials with ease. While laser cutting may struggle with thicker materials, waterjet cutting can effortlessly handle materials of varying thicknesses. This makes it an excellent choice for projects that require cutting through thick metals or stone, where other methods may prove less effective.
When it comes to laser cutting, two critical factors to understand are kerf and heat-affected zone (HAZ). Kerf refers to the width of material removed during the cutting process. Laser cutting offers extremely narrow kerf widths, allowing for precise cuts and minimal material wastage. The HAZ, on the other hand, refers to the area around the cut that is affected by heat. With proper settings and control, laser cutting can minimize the HAZ, ensuring minimal distortion and preserving the structural integrity of the material.
With advancements in laser cutting technology, operators can now achieve even finer tolerances and produce intricate designs. This makes laser cutting highly sought after in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and electronics, where precision and accuracy are crucial.
But let&#;s delve deeper into the world of laser cutting and explore some fascinating details that make this technology so remarkable.
Did you know that laser cutting machines use a focused beam of light to cut through materials? The laser beam is so intense that it vaporizes or melts the material, creating a clean and precise cut. This process is incredibly fast and can be completed in a matter of seconds, making laser cutting a highly efficient method.
Another interesting aspect of laser cutting is the ability to achieve intricate designs and patterns. The laser beam can be controlled with exceptional precision, allowing for the creation of complex shapes and fine details that would be challenging to achieve with traditional cutting methods. This versatility opens up a world of possibilities for designers and manufacturers, enabling them to bring their creative visions to life.
To ensure successful laser cutting projects, it is important to understand which materials are most suitable for this cutting method. Laser cutting works exceptionally well with materials such as acrylic, wood, paper, fabric, and various types of metals. These materials offer excellent results due to their ability to efficiently absorb the laser energy.
However, it&#;s worth noting that some materials may require additional precautions or adjustments. For instance, reflective materials like aluminum may need specialized coatings or different laser frequencies to ensure proper cutting. By understanding the characteristics of your materials and consulting with professionals, you can optimize your laser cutting projects for the best results.
Now, let&#;s take a closer look at the unique properties of some of these materials and how they interact with laser cutting technology.
Acrylic, for example, is a popular choice for laser cutting due to its transparency and versatility. The laser beam passes through the acrylic, creating a smooth and polished edge. Wood, on the other hand, offers a natural and rustic aesthetic when laser cut. The laser beam interacts with the wood fibers, resulting in a charming burnt effect that adds character to the final product.
When it comes to metals, laser cutting can be a game-changer. The precision and speed of laser cutting make it ideal for intricate metal designs. From stainless steel to brass, laser cutting can create precise cuts with minimal distortion, allowing for the production of high-quality metal components.
To make the most of your laser cutting experience, consider the following insider tips:
By following these tips, you can enhance your laser cutting experience and achieve outstanding results. Remember, laser cutting is a powerful technology that combines precision, speed, and versatility, opening up a world of possibilities for various industries and creative endeavors.
CNC routing services offer a wide range of capabilities and advantages for projects of all sizes. This technology utilizes computer-controlled routers to precisely cut, drill, and shape various materials. With CNC routing, you can achieve consistent results, exact replication of designs, and high production rates.
One of the key benefits of CNC routing is its versatility in handling different materials. Whether you&#;re working with wood, plastic, foam, or composite materials, CNC routers can handle a wide range of materials, providing precise cuts and intricate designs. This makes it a popular choice in industries such as woodworking, cabinetry, and furniture manufacturing.
To take your CNC routed parts to the next level, consider incorporating value-added services. These services can enhance the appearance, functionality, and durability of your products. Some common value-added services include:
By leveraging value-added services, you can elevate the quality and value of your CNC routed parts, ensuring they meet your specific project requirements.
Waterjet cutting technology offers exceptional precision and versatility, making it suitable for a wide range of materials. Some of the top materials ideal for waterjet cutting include:
By harnessing the power of waterjet cutting, you can achieve precise cuts, intricate designs, and smooth finishes on these materials, ensuring your projects meet the highest standards of quality.
As you navigate the world of CNC, laser, and waterjet cutting technologies, it&#;s essential to understand the unique capabilities and applications of each method. By considering factors such as material type, project requirements, and desired precision, you can select the best cutting method for your project&#;s needs. Whether you require the precision of laser cutting, the versatility of CNC routing, or the accuracy of waterjet cutting, investing in the right technology will ensure optimal results and help you bring your creative visions to life.
With the knowledge gained from this ultimate guide, you are now equipped to make informed decisions and harness the power of CNC, laser, and waterjet cutting technologies. So go ahead, embrace the world of precision cutting, and unlock endless possibilities for your projects.
Are you beginning your adventure with laser engravers? This page will help you find the information you need. It will provide you with tips and help you choose an appropriate laser cutter and engraver for your needs.
For Opt Lasers, safety and quality isn&#;t just an empty slogan. It is the way we live and breathe. It transpires to every aspect of what we make. We always ensure that our clients are safe and satisfied with our service, and we strive to exceed our customers&#; expectations every time.
When it comes to the selection of the laser itself - it is important to decide for what purposes you intend to primarily use it. Whether you need it for laser engraving or laser cutting or both. Other aspects important for the choice of your laser engraver or cutter are the thicknesses of the materials you want to laser process, their structure, density as well as heat transfer among other properties. All these parameters affect what laser head will work best for you. While this might sound complicated, we offer you this straightforward guide that will lead you through the process.
Our Mission - Opt Lasers products always stay ahead of the curve and disrupt the established market around the globe. Our mission is to transform the laser industry and CNC production lines by offering durable high tech products that bring about noticeable change and are accessible to everyone.
Our Values - We are devoted to providing our customers with high quality state-of-the-art products that help you grow your business and earn more money. Our clients can always count on us for excellent performance and lifetime support that takes your troubles away and gives you peace of mind. The three center values and pillars of our company are maintaining excellence in what we do every time, retaining and growing our clients' trust, as well as pushing the frontiers of what is possible to achieve.
High absorption of light, low power consumption, low maintenance cost, and a size that fits in the palm of your hand makes Compact Laser Heads an out-ofthe-box solution in the production industry.
It is also an OEM manufacturer with extensive laser characterization capabilities and can provide laser modules for integration into larger systems at scale for a variety of applications. Opt Lasers&#; headquarters contain electronics and laser R&D facilities, a full-service machine shop and a well-supplied stock of components.
Opt Lasers established in , is a brand of Tomorrow&#;s System Sp. z o.o., and a leader in providing compact cutting and engraving laser heads for the CNC machines and 3D printers markets. Headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, Opt Lasers is a respected European manufacturer of high quality optical and electronic devices. Opt Lasers&#; portfolio encompasses industrial-grade laser heads for cutting and engraving, standard and custom laser modules, laser diode drivers and temperature controllers.
The categories below are designed to guide you through the laser cutter and engraver selection process based on your needs.
The main factor between material types that decides if a particular material type can be easily laser engraved or not is whether the material is metallic or not. Some metallic materials cannot be engraved at all. To engrave metals, ie. to remove a layer of the processed metal, it is recommended to start with a 15 W or higher optical power blue laser head. As of now, PLH3D-15W laser engraver is the best compact laser head on the market capable of engraving steel as well as stainless, carbon, tool and high-speed subspecies of it. It still is not powerful enough to engrave on bare Aluminium, Copper or brass simply because these materials either conduct heat too well or reflect too much laser light. It is possible to laser engrave copper with 30 W (optical power) blue laser heads. XT-50 is another laser engraver that allows you to work with metals, and it does so with outstanding precision (as its 50 µm wide focused beam spot corresponds to >500 real-life DPI ). These two engraving laser heads allow you to laser engrave (not just mark) the metals mentioned above.
If you are satisfied with simply laser marking the metal, you can achieve it on stainless steel and Titanium (but not other metals) with 6 W laser engravers. Laser marking is defined here as changing the color of the metal surface as a result of overheating. Laser marking is however less durable than laser engraving because the depth of the color change is much lower. Laser-marked surfaces can withstand just a few scrubs with fine sandpaper. For this purpose, the XF+ laser engraver with High-Resolution Lenses.
Nevertheless, if you want to do it really fast (>30 mm/s), then you will either need a laser with 15 W of optical power or the XT-50 laser cutter and engraver. Depending on the chemical composition and type of stainless steel you can assume speeds of 0.5 - 2 mm/s, 8 -15 mm/s, or 20-40 mm/s for the XF+ High Resolution Lens,PLH3D-15W respectively.
When buying a blue laser for cutting and engraving on wood, you often need to decide about its power. Less powerful, 2 W laser is not only cheaper but also allows for more precision laser engraving on wood. The more expensive 6-watt laser can engrave images with large pixels, and can be used where 2-watt version cannot, like cutting hard leather, or marking stainless steel or titanium. 2 W laser can work with a size of the spot of light as small as 0.1 mm, which enables wood engraving of very small details.
Results of engraving heavily depend on wood type. Several parameters need to be taken into account like hardness of the wood, surface and growth rings.
As a general rule, it is recommended to use an image with a resolution of at least 300 dots per inch (DPI) for laser engraving. This will ensure that the laser is able to produce a detailed and accurate engraving, even at small sizes. However, higher resolution images may be necessary for extremely detailed or fine engravings.
By using a high-resolution image and considering the size of the engraving relative to the size of the ceramic plate, you can achieve the best results when engraving with a diode laser. There are a variety of software programs that can be used to create designs for engraving on a ceramic plate with a diode laser.
With PLH3D-XT-50 and it's capabilities to perform engraving with the 500 DPI allows for amazing quality engravings on materials like ceramic tiles. Higher power density reveals new cutting and engraving possibilities. Additionally, cutting and engraving processes are significantly faster comparing to laser heads without anamorphic optics.
For thermoformed plastics, optical power density is significantly less important than optical power. The more optical power you deliver to the surface being processed, the faster it melts. For this very reason, 6 W laser engraver is a good choice. It is because it is built with the highest power laser diode available on the market. Nevertheless, higher optical power laser cutters and engravers such as 15 or 30 W multidiode laser heads will do an even better job. 2 W is generally not recommended for processing thermoformed plastics but it can do the job if lower cutting speeds are acceptable.
There are many dangerous materials, particularly plastics, for which you should research whether a given material can be safely laser processed before any laser processing takes place. For these materials, you should have a ventilation system set-up in place and well as use an air-assist nozzle to protect the lens if possible. As a result the most suitable laser engraver and laser cutter choices would be:
It is a good practice to have a ventilation system set-up for laser processing any plastics and additionally to remove the fumes with additional fan or direct fumex extraction tip from the cutting point. Remember that fumes are dangerous not only to humans, certain materials produces corroding gas or other substances that can influence your machines performance over time.
Unlike thermoplastics, white materials require a high optical power density laser head in order to be laser engraved or laser cut. The higher the optical power of your laser engraver and laser cutter is, the higher variety of materials you will be able to cut. Hence the best choice for such materials is either PLH3D-15W or XT-50 if ultra-hd precision is preferable.
As a general rule, most laser heads can process similar material types. Only a few particular types of materials require your laser engraver and laser cutter to have specific properties. The most common problematic materials were mentioned above.
Other types of materials can be processed with all engraving laser heads that have at least 2 W of optical power, and the main difference in their application would be the throughput obtained.
The maximum thickness of the material that can be laser cut is determined by a few parameters. The most important factor is the material itself. Secondly, it also depends on the optical power and optical power density of your laser as well as the angle of the light cone. Foams in general are the thickest materials that can be cut with a laser cutter.
As a general rule, PLH3D-XT-50 or PLH3D-15W laser engravers will perform better than XF+ at laser cutting anything thinner than 5-6 mm. For material thicknesses above 8-10 mm it is advised not to use PLH3D-15W, XT-50 or XF+ as they will cause edge burning as a result of light cone angle. PLH3D-15W laser cutter will perform way better than XT-50 working with themoplastics with around 3 times higher laser cutting speed. Meanwhile, the XT-50 laser cutter will perform better at removing thin layers or laser cutting very thin materials where heat dissipation effects have smaller influence on cutting speed. Thus for materials with 8-10 mm thicknesses it is advised to use standard XF+ laser head equipped with either G2, G7 lens or High-Resolution Lens. Standard XF+ can be used to cut quite thick materials up to 40 mm. It can for example be utilized for cutting 40 mm foam in just 4-6 passes. We have also tested cutting 10 mm balsa with PLH3D-6W-XF+ Laser Head, but it is definitely possible to cut even thicker balsa with additional passes.
PLH3D-CNC Adapter allows you to quickly connect your laser head to almost any CNC machine, including 3D printers. You may require basic electronics skills to connect it to more complicated controllers. Nevertheless, common controllers such as BlackBox controller, Duet 3D or xPro v4/v5 are quite easy to connect. We also have a controller connection database showing how to connect your PLH3D-CNC Adapter to a wide range of controllers.
Basically, with the help of the PLH3D-CNC Adapter, it is possible to connect the laser head to almost any CNC machine to turn your CNC machine into a laser engraving machine. One of the most important things, besides the connection, is generating an appropriate G-Code. G-Code for a laser engraver differs from the standard G-Code. The laser needs to be switched off for the duration of any idle movement while a spindle could be left spinning. The two most similar aspects of the laser and spingle g-codes are the power and the rotation speed. The same PWM signal that controls the rotation speed of the spindle can be used to control the laser power of your laser cutter and engraver. Typically, this is done with the S0 - S255 command (0 for 0% power and 255 for full power), but depending on your CNC Software and Controller, you might end up using different values, for example, S0 - S.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Laser Cutting Protection Film Supplier.
While it is possible to connect your laser engraver (and cutter) without the adapter, it requires basic electronics skills and an additional power source.
Opt Lasers Laser Heads are designed to work with any CNC machinery and connecting them to your system is pretty straightforward. To fire the laser head, you need to provide it with a 5V or 10V analog signal, or you can use a PWM signal. Opt Lasers laser heads can be mounted on robotic arms, robots, rovers, lathes and all kinds of CNC machinery that can operate a modulating signal or a 0/1 digital signal.
All main accessories (LaserDock, High-Pressure Air Assist Nozzle) can be found in the product details section in the main menu. All other accessories as well as descriptions of their applications can be found on the Opt Lasers Accessories webpage.
The most important accessories you should consider for your laser cutter and engraver are:
The High-Pressure Air Assist Nozzle speeds up laser cutting and engraving by up to 6.5 times, but also greatly improves the quality of the processed material. By using the High-Pressure Air Assist Nozzle, the resulting material will have noticeably higher quality and uniform and well-defined features.
Read More
Thanks to the LaserDock equipped with the laser attachment, you can effortlessly dismantle the laser unit when you are finished engraving or laser cutting. A clean focusing lens ensures consistent optical performance during subsequent laser cutting and engraving jobs. Keeping it clean also extends its lifespan.
Read More
Specially for you, we have prepared a website that guides the user through the process of selecting a laser head and then leads to the appropriate set for your CNC machine. Click the button below to visit this website.
Discover more
We are delighted with the designs our customers have sent us using laser engraving heads, and it is motivating us to continue creating and improving products. You can find a lot of useful information, creators' works and descriptions of their stories here. We publish the most interesting material on our website and social media profiles.
Discover more Laser Projects
Cutting and engraving wood using a CNC laser depends on the type of wood, its hardness, as well as other parameters like humidity, or texture. Materials that are easiest to cut with a laser are balsa and aviation plywood. Plywood is made of two layers of slightly harder wood, and a filler - usually balsa. Laser cutting these materials is least problematic, and the process is highly repeatable, since the wood has no knags, and has a foam-like, homogenous structure. When selecting material suitable for laser cutting or engraving, you should check its uniformity. Some variants of balsa are cheaper but may contain splinters of harder wood that are more difficult to cut with a CNC laser. Similar guidelines apply to aviation plywood.
Discover more about Cutting & Engraving Wood with CNC Lasers
Transparency is a physical property of materials, which means that light can travel through an object without scattering (on a macroscopic scale). A transparent material is a material that appears clear and of a single color. Examples of transparent materials include plate glass and amorphous plastics (e.g. acrylics, PEI, PC, ABS, PS, etc.). Films of certain crystalline polymers, such as PET and PP, are also transparent as a result of being stretched in two directions (and thus bi-axially oriented), which aligns the polymer molecules in the film&#;s plane. There is consequently no refraction because of this alignment.
Discover more about Laser Engraving Transparent Materials
You can find a lot of useful information in the same tab this article is.
To find out about typical achievable laser engraving speeds as well as laser cutting speeds for different materials, please visit:
https://optlasers.com/material-laser-cutting-tests
Step-by-step laser cutter and engraver installation guides for a wide range of popular CNC machines and 3D printer can be found below:
https://optlasers.com/user-manuals
To familiarize yourself with our laser engraver and laser cutter products installation manuals, please go to:
https://optlasers.com/user-manuals
To find the answers for standard questions, please see the FAQ:
https://optlasers.com/frequently-asked-questions
Instructions, 3D files, Software, technical drawings etc. can be found here:
https://optlasers.com/files-download
There are a lot of videos on Youtube that show laser cutter and engraver installation for different machines or present various interesting laser projects. You can also visit our Youtube Channel, which you are more than welcome to subscribe to.
There are a lot of related videos made by professional users as well as hobbyists. You can check them out here:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=opt+lasers
We have a few playlists that differentiate our videos based on the topic discussed. These for example include playlists related to specific CNC machines, Opt Lasers Educational Series or laser projects. In the link below, you can find lot of useful information about how to use laser engravers, how to install them or find an exciting inspiration for a new project:
https://www.youtube.com/c/OptLasers/playlists
We highly encourage you to join our Opt Lasers facebook group. You can use this group to show your laser work, exchange laser processing experience as well as ask any questions you might have:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/optlasers
Build a supportive community together with us!
You are also recommended to give our Facebook fanpage a thumbs up. By clicking like, you will gain the added benefit of first-hand information about our exciting new product releases, interesting laser processing movies, handy tutorials and other materials:
https://www.facebook.com/OptLasers/
You can also follow our other social media:
Opt Lasers' Twitter
Opt Lasers' LinkedIn
Opt Lasers' Instagram
Below you can find our YouTube videos showing laser cutting and laser engraving tests, technical explanations and reviews as well as other valuable content:
If you want to learn more, please visit our website protective tape for aluminium.