As the name suggests, laser cutting is a cutting technology that makes use of laser beams of varying intensities to cut materials. There are several reasons why laser cutting is preferred to other methods such as plasma cutting.
Lasers are capable of offering unprecedented levels of machining, especially in micro machining applications. Here are some basic and well-known advantages of using lasers as a cutting medium:The heat affected zone is very small or negligible. This leads to minimal distortion of parts. Since part distortion is minimal and the overall finish quality is much better than other cutting methods, the need for secondary finishing operations is drastically reduced. It is one of the most preferred cutting methods for intricate part cutting. This cutting technique is capable of providing narrow kerf widths. Highly advanced laser systems can be custom-built for specialized tasks. Customization also ensures that these machines have very high repeatability.Since laser cutting processes are CNC controlled, close nesting of parts ensures minimal material wastage. Less material wastage translates into more dollar savings.Laser-enabled cutting processes are much faster and more precise than most other cutting processes.
Thus, when it comes to achieving exacting tolerances and dimensions on small, thin, delicate and high-precision parts, cutting with lasers is a recommended option.
What should you expect from a contract manufacturer offering laser cutting services?
Engaging the services of a contract manufacturer for laser-enabled cutting services offers a myriad of advantages. First, it renders flexibility to your operations and saves you of intensive capital investment and time-consuming installation and training processes. On the other hand, a contract manufacturer would have specialized expertise in a narrow field and the required capital investments in place.
Laser enabled cutting can be enabled for applications such as precision cutting of surgical tools, medical devices, stents, as well as dental, orthopedic and cardiovascular implants.
An experienced contract manufacturing services provider can use their advanced lasers to cut a variety of metals including but not limited to: Nitinol, super alloys, nickel, tungsten, titanium, steel, copper, brass, aluminum and more. In addition to these commonly used metals, other materials such as plastics, wood, ceramics, fused quartz, rubber, and several other composites can be cut using lasers.
Precision tube cutting is another sought-after application of laser-enabled cutting. Precision tube cutting is often achieved by introducing a 4th axis that is used for rotating the tube during the cutting process. Using this unique method, tubes in the range of 0.0125" to a 6" diameter can be cut. These tubes are widely used in medical devices as well as implants. With the use of multi-purpose laser cutting systems, it is possible to attain the exact dimensions on small as well as large parts.
