Laser Cutting Machine: From 2D to 3D Fabrication

Laser cutting technology has been a revolutionary force in manufacturing and fabrication for decades, offering precision, speed, and versatility unmatched by traditional methods. Originally confined to two-dimensional cutting, recent advancements have propelled laser cutting into the realm of three-dimensional fabrication, unlocking a myriad of new possibilities across industries. In this guest post, we delve into the evolution of laser cutting machines, tracing their journey from 2D to 3D fabrication and exploring the transformative impact on modern manufacturing processes.

Laser Cutting Machine 3D

3D laser cutting metal is a high-end manufacturing process that utilizes a laser beam to make precise cuts in three dimensions. It offers a wider range of applications and greater manufacturing flexibility than traditional 2D laser cutting. The 3D laser cutting machine can work on any surface without manual angle adjustment.

The 3d laser cutting metal machine can move and rotate freely in three-dimensional space to realize the cutting of complex surfaces. Whether it is 3D engraving, cutting of irregular parts, or processing of complex structures including beveling, beveling, grooving, and opening, 3D laser cutting technology can easily deal with it.

3D Laser Cutting Machine Features 

High Efficiency

3D fiber laser cutting machine speed, high degree of automation, can greatly reduce the processing time and labor costs, is more than ten times the traditional cutting production efficiency, improve operational efficiency.

Precision Manufacturing

Fine processing technology, excellent precision, narrow cutting mouth, and small slit, able to carry out difficult processing and cutting of miniature parts, and greatly reduce the waste of tail material.

High-Quality Cutting Edge

Laser cutting smooth fracture, can save man-hours and labor costs, and do not need to repeat the processing can be used, play a very good production optimization.

Small Heat-Affected Zone

The heat-affected zone of three-dimensional laser cutting is very small, making the workpiece deformation is very small, the material around the slit is not affected, and the cutting quality of the product is good.

Wide Adaptability

Laser cutting can be applied to a wide range of materials, including metal, non-metal, composite materials and so on.

Three-dimensional laser cutting technology has many advantages, but there are also some disadvantages, such as:

High Cost

3D laser cutting systems usually require expensive equipment and high-performance lasers, making their investment cost relatively high. This may make it unsuitable for some applications with limited budgets.

High Maintenance Requirements

Maintenance of laser cutting systems can be complex, requiring regular calibration and repair. The performance and condition of key components, such as the laser, is critical to the quality of the cut and requires specialized personnel to maintain and service.

Limited Material Suitability

3D laser cutting can be challenging with some specialized materials. Some materials may reflect or absorb laser light poorly, affecting cutting results. And they may require more machine setup time prior to the cutting operation.

3d Laser Cutting Applications for Metal

3D laser cutting machine is widely utilized in industries such as sheet metal processing, metalworking, advertising production, kitchenware, automotive, lighting fixtures, saw blades, elevators, metal crafts, textile machinery, food machinery, glass manufacturing, aerospace, medical equipment, and instrumentation. Particularly in the sheet metal processing industry, it has replaced traditional processing methods and is highly favored by industry development users.

Materials that can be processed include stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, silicon steel, spring steel, aluminum, aluminum alloys, galvanized sheet, aluminum-zinc plated sheet, copper, silver, gold, titanium, and other metal structural sheets and pipes for cutting.

Pros. and Cons. of 3d Laser Cutter for Metal

3D 6-Axis laser cutting machine is widely used because the laser cutting machine has a common outstanding advantages and leading processing technology, which is the traditional cutting tools cannot be compared with the advantages. Three-dimensional laser cutting machine processing is characterized by fast speed, cut off the narrow, clean appearance of the kerf, heat-affected area is small, three-dimensional laser cutting machine in the processing not only improves the efficiency of the production and the quality of the cut pieces, to overcome the waste of materials in the original cutting processing methods.

What Is 3d Laser Cutting?

The laser beam, focused through a converging lens, is directed onto the workpiece, rapidly increasing the surface temperature due to intense thermal energy. This rapid temperature rise causes rapid melting or vaporization at high temperatures. Simultaneously, the melted material is blown away by high-speed airflow, achieving the cutting objective as the laser head follows its trajectory. This technology enables precise cutting of various materials, including metals, non-metals, and composites. The entire process is controlled by CNC computer numerical control, providing high efficiency and accuracy.

According to the size of the user’s cutting and processing workpiece size as well as different, you can choose to program the robot side of the historical trajectory data for demonstration or offline programming, the robot’s six-axis loaded fiber laser cutting head for irregular workpiece materials to analyze the three-dimensional cutting. Fiber laser cutting head is equipped with a follower device and optical transmission control device, the use of fiber optic laser transmission to the cutting head, the different shapes and thickness of the plate for multi-directional cutting.

3D Laser Cutting Industrial Applications

Traditional CNC cutting machines can only handle two-dimensional plane, the 3D laser cutting technology to break this limitation. By adding 2 or more rotary axis, the 3d laser cutting metal machine can move and rotate freely in three-dimensional space to realize the cutting of complex surfaces. Whether it is 3D engraving, cutting of irregular parts, or processing of complex structures including beveling, beveling, grooving, and opening, 3D laser cutting technology can easily deal with it.

Automotive industry: The six-axis laser cutting robot adopts a mechanical arm structure and is equipped with a high-performance worktable. It mainly solves the problem of cutting holes and trimming the edges of hot-formed parts made of high-strength steel, and is widely used in automobile manufacturing, such as cutting and welding of body parts. Its high-precision and high-efficiency features make the automobile manufacturing process more accurate and faster.

Aerospace: In the aerospace field, laser 3D cutting technology in high-performance 3D laser cutting head is used to manufacture high-precision, high-quality parts, such as aircraft engine blades, rocket propellers and so on.

Electronics: In manufacturing in the processing of electronic products, laser 3D cutting technology can realize the accurate cutting of small parts, such as components on circuit boards, miniature sensors and so on.

New energy and metal shell: for example, lithium battery liquid cooling plate welding, household appliances metal shell and other large volume, high volume and consistency requirements for the manufacture of parts. Through programming and automation control, laser cutting robots can ensure uniformity in the production process, reduce human error and improve product quality.

Construction Materials: Heavy materials used in the construction industry are cut using laser tools for a variety of parts. For example, we can laser cut on thick metal plates and also for steel structures.

In the field of electronics manufacturing, laser cutter can cut and circuit boards hole drilling of electronic products. In addition, in the field of textiles, leather, and plastics, 3D laser cutting machines are also capable of cutting and engraving complex shapes for the production of clothing, shoes, and bags.