Laser Cutting: Advantages and disadvantages
Laser cutting do offer a number of advantages, however, when compared to more conventional techniques, for example:
Laser radiation is a very "clean" form of energy, in that no contaminating materials need come into contact with the workpiece. In fact, the working atmosphere can often be controlled to suit a particular task;
Laser beams, because of their high spatial coherence, may be focused onto very small areas. This intense local heating can take place without neighboring areas being affected;
It is comparatively easy to control the beam irradiance;
The beam is readily directed into relatively inaccessible places; it can pass through transparent windows and be directed round sharp corners;
Most of the laser energy is deposited very near the surface of the target, thus enabling shallow surface regions to be treated without necessarily affecting the bulk.
There is almost no limit to the cutting path; the point can move in any direction unlike other processes that use knives or saws;
The process is forceless allowing very fragile or flimsy parts to be laser cut with no support. Since the laser beam exerts no force on the part and is a very small spot, the technology is well suited to fabricating high accuracy parts, especially flexible materials. The part keeps its original shape from start to finish;
The laser beam can cut very hard or abrasive materials;
Sticky materials that would otherwise gum up a blade are not an obstacle for a laser;
Lasers cut at high speeds. The speed at which the material can be processed is limited only by the power available from the laser;
Cutting with lasers is a very cost effective process with low operating and maintenance costs and maximum flexibility.
Disadvantages of laser cutting are:
Very large resonator cavity required per cutting head, therefore, not normally used in multiple-head configuration;
High capital equipment cost;
Requires isolation of cutting head for safety;
Mirror alignment critical and power level reduces as mirrors degrade;
Double material thickness is equal to one-half the cutting speed;
Generally not used for steel above 20 mm.