What is Laser Cutting Machine? The Ultimate Guide for 2025

1. Introduction

Laser cutting technology was developed by Theodore Meiman invented it in 1960, but it took 20 years to put this technology into commercial application.

Nowadays, laser cutting machine is one of the best cutting methods. In this article, we will tell you the definition of laser cutting machine and introduce its technical advantages, disadvantages, applications, and other aspects one by one.

2. What is a laser cutting machine?

2.1 Definition of Laser Cutting Machine

Laser cutting machine is a device that uses high-intensity laser beams to cut and process materials. It can not only cut various materials, but also be widely used in various industries.

2.2 Introduction to the principle of laser cutting machine

Laser cutting equipment mainly uses high-intensity laser beams to heat and melt materials before cutting. The laser beam can be divided into continuous laser beam and pulsed laser beam. Pulsed laser beams mainly use high-intensity laser beams for short-term rapid cutting, while continuous laser beams require continuous cutting.

2.3 How does a laser cutting machine work?

2.3.1 Generate G-code

Since the G-code mainly controls the direction of motion of the laser cutting equipment, the machine starts working when the operator generates the G-code.

2.3.2 Generation of Laser Beam

Laser cutters mainly use different media to generate high-energy laser beams. Due to the different types of lasers, the laser beams produced will be different.

2.3.3 Amplification of Laser Beam

Due to the limited power of the laser beam, it is necessary to use some optical equipment to increase the energy of the laser beam. The laser beam mainly passes through the resonant cavity first, and then is excited by discharge or other means, and finally the laser beam will become larger.

2.3.4 Laser Focusing

After the laser beam is generated, it is usually focused through an optical mirror. The focused laser beam will not produce scattered light and will also form a strong heat source on the surface of the material, ultimately achieving efficient cutting.

2.3.5 Cutting Materials

After the laser beam is focused, high-intensity laser will heat and melt the material. Due to the different thicknesses and types of materials, the time required for cutting will also vary.

2.3.6 Cutting head movement

By inputting code on the controller, a CAD model will be formed, and then the cutting head will move to ultimately form the desired shape. Due to different materials being cut, the efficiency and quality of cutting will also vary.

3. What are the main components of a laser cutting machine

3.1 Laser Generator

The laser generator is the main component of laser cutting equipment, which can generate high-intensity laser.

3.2 Beam Transmission System

The beam transmission system is mainly a process in which the laser beam generated by the laser generator is transmitted to the cutting head. Its main transmission methods include fiber optic transmission and mirror reflection transmission.

3.3 Focusing lens

A focusing lens focuses a laser beam into a high-energy spot to achieve high-precision cutting quality.

3.4 Cutting head

The cutting head contains a focusing lens and a nozzle, which are mainly used to direct the laser beam to the material.

3.5 Nozzle

The nozzle mainly plays a role in releasing auxiliary gases, which can not only protect the focusing lens from damage, but also oxygen can also react chemically with metal materials to improve the efficiency of cutting.

3.6 Motion control system

The motion control system is mainly to control the movement of the cutting head and ensure that the cutting head moves accurately along the path planned by the control system to ensure the accuracy of cutting.

3.7 Workpiece bed

The workpiece bed is mainly used to hold cutting materials, in order to ensure that the materials are stable on the equipment and complete cutting can be carried out.

3.8 Controller

Firstly, all parameters need to be input into the controller, and then a CAD model can be formed to see the simulation diagram after cutting is completed. The controller can also manage the entire cutting process and the intensity of the laser beam.

3.9 Auxiliary gas system

The main purpose is to provide necessary auxiliary gas during the cutting process, and also to control the amount of auxiliary gas used to improve cutting efficiency.

3.10 Cooling System

The main purpose is to prevent laser cutting equipment from overheating during the cutting process, which can cause damage to various components of the equipment and further reduce the lifespan and efficiency of the cutting machine.

4. Main types of laser cutting machines

4.1 Classification by laser source

4.1.1 CO2 laser cutting machine

Carbon dioxide laser equipment uses a mixture of carbon dioxide gas as a medium to discharge and generate a laser beam, which is then focused by optical components to melt the material. At the same time, these auxiliary gases can also blow away residue, which can better complete cutting. Carbon dioxide laser equipment is generally more suitable for cutting non-metallic materials.

The general methods for carbon dioxide laser cutting are oxygen and nitrogen. Due to the formation of oxidation on the surface of the cutting material when using oxygen for carbon dioxide cutting, sandblasting treatment is required to avoid oxidation reactions. Generally, oxygen is more suitable for cutting thick materials, while nitrogen is more suitable for cutting thin materials.

The purchase price of carbon dioxide is generally lower than that of fiber laser cutting machines, and its work efficiency is also relatively low. In addition, it requires regular gas replacement and lens maintenance, so the operating cost is relatively high. “

4.1.2 Fiber laser cutting machine

Fiber laser cutting equipment generally uses fiber doped with rare earth elements as the medium, and the light emitted from the laser diode passes through the fiber, using the fiber to enlarge the laser beam and focus it on the material, ultimately forming a high-energy aperture. The rapid melting of metal materials can be achieved through efficient cutting, as the airflow generated by fiber laser cutting will blow away the melted material.

Although the initial cost of fiber laser cutting machine is higher than that of carbon dioxide laser cutting equipment, its conversion efficiency is two to three times that of carbon dioxide cutting machine. And it does not require auxiliary gas or optical mirrors, so its operating and maintenance costs are relatively low.

4.1.3 Direct diode laser cutting

This cutting method mainly utilizes the high-energy laser beam directly generated in the diode for the cutting process. Due to the fact that this method does not require the use of auxiliary gas for discharge, nor does it require the use of optical fibers to amplify the laser, it is more cost-effective and has a very high cutting efficiency.

4.1.4 YAG laser cutting machine

This is a solid-state laser cutting device that mainly involves placing crystals such as neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet into a laser generator to enlarge the laser beam. It can also input a continuous laser beam.

4.2 Classification by Mechanical Structure

4.2.1 Longmen laser cutting machine

The two ends of the beam of this laser cutting equipment are supported by parallel guide rails, and it is generally used for cutting large materials. Moreover, due to its good rigidity and stability, it is more suitable for cutting thick materials.

4.2.2 Cantilever laser cutting machine

This laser cutting equipment has a smaller footprint than gantry laser cutting equipment because its crossbeam is only supported by guide rails at one end. But it has the advantages of high flexibility and fast speed, so it is more suitable for cutting thin sheets.

4.2.3 Hybrid driven laser cutting machine

This cutting equipment mainly combines the advantages of gantry and cantilever, and its biggest advantage is that it can allow the X-axis drive in the cutting head and the Y-axis drive of the crossbeam to move independently.

5. What materials can a laser cutting machine cut?

5.1 Metal

The commonly used metal materials for cutting include steel, aluminum, alloys, etc. Laser cutting equipment is applied in various industries because it can cut metal sheets of different shapes.

5.2 Non metallic

Laser cutting machine is suitable for cutting some non-metallic materials such as plastic, wood, textile, foam, etc. Among them, plastics include resin, propylene, ethylene, etc. These plastics are mainly used for cutting electronic products and commodities, which can give plastics complex shapes and clear edges.

If the cutting temperature of plastic is too high, it may produce toxic gases. Laser cutting is mainly used for wood carving, but the thickness of the cut wood cannot exceed 20mm. The wood is mainly cork, hardwood, plywood, etc. Textiles are mainly processed by high-energy laser beams to seal fibers. Common textiles include leather, silk, cotton, etc.

5.3 Prohibited or Cautious Materials

The laser cutter can generally cut any material, but some materials are not suitable for cutting, such as glass fiber materials, polypropylene foam materials, ABS materials, PVC and vinyl.

Glass fiber is not suitable for cutting due to the generation of toxic gases during laser cutting. Polypropylene foam material is easy to catch fire because it will keep the melted foam burning and will not extinguish itself when cutting. When the melted foam cools down, it will become a particularly hard foam.

When the temperature reaches a certain level, this ABS material will release toxic gases, causing harm to operators. PVC and vinyl release chlorine gas during heating, which may corrode components and damage laser cutting equipment.

6. Main advantages of laser cutting machine

6.1 High precision

Laser cutting equipment has the highest cutting accuracy among all cutting methods. It focuses the laser into an extremely fine laser beam for cutting. Its cutting accuracy can usually reach micrometer level precision.

6.2 High efficiency

Due to the extremely fast cutting speed of laser cutting equipment, which basically exceeds 3 meters per minute, the production speed is very fast.

6.3 Clean cutting edges

Due to the ability of laser cutting equipment to cut smooth edges without any other impurities during cutting, no dust is generated on the equipment and subsequent processing is reduced.

6.4 Non contact cutting

Non contact cutting does not involve direct contact between the mold and the sheet, which can effectively prevent mold wear and may also cause excessive deformation due to pressure. This technology is very useful for materials that are prone to deformation.

6.5 Multifunctionality

Laser cutting equipment can not only perform cutting, but also various processing methods such as engraving. It can also cut different materials such as metals and non metals, with a wide range of applications, and can ensure stable cutting quality.

6.6 Quick Settings

Laser cutters can quickly identify cutting tasks and allow for tool changes. The flexibility of configuration changes is also very high.

6.7 Automation Compatibility

Due to the use of a CNC system in laser cutting equipment, automated production can be carried out through the CNC system, thereby reducing labor costs.

6.8 Minimum Material Contact

Due to the small contact area of laser cutting equipment during material cutting, it can reduce material deformation and waste, thereby improving material utilization and minimizing workpiece pressure to the greatest extent possible.

6.9 Scalability

Laser cutting machines can be extended according to different materials, making it easy to expand from the original design to comprehensive production. This not only expands production, but also ensures that cutting quality does not decrease.

7. Limitations of laser cutting machines

7.1 High initial investment cost

Due to the complex technology and expensive components of laser cutting machines, the initial cost is relatively high, and the laser cutting machine also requires regular maintenance, which increases its operating costs.

7.2 Thickness restrictions

Laser cutting equipment is good at cutting thin and medium thick sheets, so it is not suitable for cutting some ultra thick metal blocks. If cutting materials with high thermal conductivity, it will further limit the cutting effect.

7.3 Cutting risks or toxicity of certain materials

Some materials may cause equipment damage and personnel injury, and are not suitable for cutting. For example, some highly reflective materials can cause energy loss through reflected laser beams, thereby damaging the components of laser equipment. Moreover, the degree of melting of some materials may also be unpredictable, which often brings greater risks.

7.4 Explanation of Environmental and Operational Requirements

In order to ensure the safe operation of the equipment and extend its service life, it is necessary to provide regular operation training for operators, as well as training them on safety knowledge and how to maintain the equipment.

8. Application Fields

Due to the wide application of laser cutting equipment, it is generally suitable for integral frames, blades and other components in aerospace, car frames, components inside cars, bearings, as well as parts of electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers and televisions. In addition, it is also used in processing workshops, billboards, medical equipment and other fields.

9. Conclusion and Call to Action

From the above content, it can be seen that the main content of this article is about what laser cutting equipment is, the main components of laser cutting machines, the main types, the materials they are suitable for, and also introduces the advantages and limitations of laser cutters, as well as their applications in various industries?

Through these introductions, we have learned that laser cutting machines are not just tools, but can also bring a lot of convenience to our lives, thereby improving production efficiency and product quality.

RAYMAX has always been dedicated to the manufacturing of laser cutting machines. If you want to learn more about laser cutting, please feel free to consult the Raymax official website, and we will provide you with detailed answers.

10. Common Q&A Tips