Both CNC cutting and laser cutting processes are used in the manufacturing industry and can produce complex, precise, and reliable parts and components, but both processes work in different ways. Therefore, it is important to find out the main differences between CNC cutting and laser cutting processes and this can be helpful in choosing the right company and the right CNC machining method.
What is CNC cutting?
CNC routers and CNC lasers have similar functions and applications, such as: B. They are controlled by CNC machines, produce precise parts, produce little waste, have more capacity and are highly productive. They are used to create parts and allow for unlimited designs.
CNC cutting is a connection-based cutting process and produces precise parts with exact positioning and speed.
There are some differences, for example, laser cutting is done by heat while CNC cutting is done by friction. Laser cutting uses a laser rather than a physical method like a CNC router. A CNC router has the advantage of being able to cut straight lines, curves and diagonal cuts, which is not possible with other methods.
Another important difference is the low cost of CNC cutting compared to CNC laser. It can cut materials such as foam, wood, plastic and acrylic like a CNC laser. We can use a CNC laser to cut gemstones and hard metals, and this can be done using a laser beam that uses custom shape and design for cutting. Laser cutting is a connectionless method and performs many processes. The CNC laser produces complicated parts with high tolerance. Parts manufactured with a CNC laser do not require post-processing or polishing. A clean cut is possible with laser cutting thanks to burning techniques.
CNC cutting/milling uses specialized tools to produce parts quickly and efficiently. AutoCAD and CorelDraw allow you to create a customized design according to the customer's needs. CNC cutting can also be used to produce various products and use thick materials. With a CNC router, it is easy to cut and control the depth of cut. There is no discoloration of the edge and it allows three-dimensional cuts to be produced.
CNC cutting tools
Cutting tools are as necessary to a manufacturing process as other items. The quality of work and production parts can be affected by CNC cutting tools.
With CNC cutting tools, we can perform multiple cutting operations, so CNC lasers and cutting machines can perform multiple cuts. They also help remove excess material from the part through shear deformation. The type of cutting tool can affect spindle speed, feed rate, and chip size removed from the workpiece. Some features that make a tool effective are:
Common CNC tools include:
Ceramics
Ceramics are used for high-quality finishing and cutting of solid materials, cast iron and superalloys. It has high resistance to corrosion and heat.
Carbon steel
They are cheap and used for slow processes. They contain silicon, manganese and 0.6-1.5% carbon and can be used in drilling, turning, tool cutting and tool shaping.
hard metal
It is used for excellent quality surfaces and is mainly composed of other metals such as tantalum, tungsten and titanium. It is explicitly designed for high-speed operations and lasts up to 1,000 Ó C
High Speed Steel (HSS)
It is a hard material and consists of tungsten, molybdenum and chromium. A mixture of these elements improves its wear resistance, toughness and hardness. Surface treatment can be useful to improve its properties and characteristics.
Coating cutting tools can improve the functionality and service life of tools. But it also makes tooling more difficult. Some of the common coatings for cutting tools include:
- Diamond
- Titanium nitride (TiN)
- Chromium Nitride (Crn)
- Titanium Carbon Nitride (TiCN)
- Superlife titanium nitride (AL-tin)
It's best to choose the right tools for your project. They are crucial to the accuracy, excellent productivity, precision and efficient operation of the machine. Choosing the right tools leads to a progressive and successful project.
5 types of cutting in CNC milling
We can divide CNC milling into five types: drilling, male cutting, female cutting, online cutting and cleaning.
1) Drilling
Drill cuts are located inside the workpiece and are used to create holes to the exact size of the drill used.
2) Male Cuts/Male Paths
This can be an external cut of a piece around the object or the final cut. The cutter descends to the outside of the components when making external cuts and ensures that the width, height and dimension of the final parts are designed. It is applied to the outside of the piece and is slightly outside the piece. You can't hit 90-degree inside corners and sharp edges on inside corners. This is due to the use of milling cutters.
3) Feminine cuts
You can cut material to remove a piece and it is different from men's cuts. It is more important than the diameter of the CNC software to generate the tool path. It is different and a little big compared to the diameter of the CNC software to generate tool paths as male cuts. The cuts created by women's cuts are rounded at the corners like men's cuts.
4) Online cutting/centered cutting
It can follow a simple line segment and mainly uses shapes. Shapes may have one cut and require another cut, such as: B. a chamfer with a V-drill.
5) Cleaning
It can be used to create grooves in materials for 3D routing and no winding occurs during the cutting process. It may take some time and you may use large pieces to clean a large area. It can cut to a certain depth and is similar to digging a canoe.
What is CNC laser cutting?
CNC laser also refers to the cutting of sheet metal and the process of vaporizing, melting and removing material using a laser beam. Optics, a guidance system, and an assist gas can be used to focus the laser beam onto the workpiece.
The main types of cutting laser are:
- Hybrid laser cutting
- Optical flight
- Moving material
Allows consistent cuts in complex parts. The CNC laser has limitations when processing delicate parts and produces sharp vertical lines.
Features of laser cutting
Laser cutting can be done by:
- The Nd laser can be used for drilling and is characterized by slow repetitions and high energy pulses.
- CO₂ is used for cutting, marking, drilling and engraving.
- Nd-YAG lasers are used for tuning, engraving and drilling; This process uses high energy pulses.
Due to their high precision, CNC laser cutting processes are widely used in many industries such as electronics, shipbuilding and metallurgy.
The most important cutting properties are:
Advantages and benefits of laser cutting
1) Precision cuts and high accuracy
Laser cutting is one of the best options for precise, high-quality parts. Laser cutting is done by a focused beam of light that cuts the material with high accuracy and precision. Industries that require high tolerances, such as medicine and aerospace, use laser cutting processes to produce parts. The laser tolerance is 0.003mm to 0.006mm.
2) Low power consumption
Laser cutting uses less energy and has no moving parts. Power consumption is low even when you need to cut reflective and thick materials. It also reduces project costs and has a positive impact on the manufacturing process.
3) Greater use of sheets with less waste
The main advantage of laser cutting is the use of a high percentage of sheet metal to maximize the number of usable parts and components. This reduces costs and shortens production time. It would help if you had less time to form new sheets of material and would ultimately reduce material waste.
4) Lower maintenance and repair costs
CNC laser cutting tools do not have as many moving parts as other CNC cutting methods, and this is a key factor in keeping operating and maintenance costs low. Laser cutting proves to be cost-effective for small and large series. The reason for this cost-effectiveness is that there is no physical cutting surface and no tools for modifications.
What types of laser cutting are used for sheet metal?
There are three types of laser cutting for sheet metal.
- fiber
- Nd:YAG (neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet)
- Carbon dioxide
1) Fiber
fiber is suitable for cutting a variety of metals, including aluminum, copper and brass. It is a solid-state laser used as a laser medium. The main benefits of fiber are:
The short wavelength of the fibers makes the cutting process difficult. Due to their short wavelength, the fibers can produce small spot sizes.
2) Nd:YAG (neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet)
It is a crystal laser used as the medium for a solid-state laser. Nd:YAG is a good choice for cutting a variety of materials. Due to its high power density, Nd:YAG is best suited for producing precision cuts and tight spaces. The main advantages of Nd:YAG are:
One of the main disadvantages of expensive pump diodes is their short Rayleigh length. The need for regular replacement makes it difficult to cut thick and rigid materials.
3) Carbon dioxide laser
Carbon dioxide is the most powerful type of laser on the market and can produce a long infrared wavelength. These wavelengths can absorb various materials such as carbon steel, titanium, aluminum and stainless steel. The main advantages of carbon dioxide are fast processing time and the ability to cut a wide variety of materials. Some disadvantages of carbon dioxide are:
Differences between CNC cutting and laser cutting
1) High precision and cuts
High-precision cutting and design of corners and curves are the main advantages of laser cutting. We can cut radii from 0.1mm/0.004inch, while CNC milling can cut from 2mm to 0.08mm. The laser cutting method allows precise drawing of curves and corners with high precision. It also reduces material waste, ultimately reducing the overall cost of the manufacturing process.
2) High speed
High speed is another factor to consider when choosing a CNC laser as it has twice the speed compared to CNC milling. Cutting material in one pass and thick parts is easier on a CNC laser machine. No workpieces or physical force are required to produce reliable and accurate parts. A CNC laser can create a final product without fixturing and post-processing procedures, and this small change can make a huge difference in project cost and time.
3) Low processing cost
CNC lasers do not require clamping and post-processing steps in the part manufacturing process. This factor reduces the overall cost of the project. With a CNC laser we can obtain a product without major machining and without cutting around the product, which is difficult with a CNC milling machine. We cannot achieve the perfection of a CNC laser with manual labor and CNC milling. Fixture and post-processing steps are required to produce the final part.
4) Little No post-processing requirements
Laser cutting eliminates many of the additional steps you need to complete CNC cutting or milling processes. The laser can produce a finished product. No flame polishing, vacuum preparation, or material clamping steps are required, and this factor can reduce labor costs and increase profit margins in parts manufacturing.
5) Applications and Use
The shipbuilding industry has become more precise and faster, placing great demands on the precision of transmission and hull segmentation. Steel sheets are the most important raw material in the marine industry, and the use of laser cutting sheets can be an excellent alternative to some cutting methods.
In the shipbuilding industry, laser cutting, plasma cutting, flame cutting and shearing are mainly used to cut hull plate parts. Laser cutting in shipbuilding has many advantages over other methods, such as:
CO2 laser cutting technology is most commonly used in shipbuilding processing and manufacturing, promoting steel metallurgy, automotive and many other fields and industries.
Today's incredible laser cutting technology is becoming increasingly efficient and versatile. It is used in a variety of industries and produces tight, smooth cuts, especially in the medical and aviation industries. However, to a certain extent, the complexity of laser cutting, complex maintenance and high cost make it difficult to use laser cutting in the domestic sector. Only large companies use laser cutting technology, which is not used in national and local industries.
CNC cutting can cut large parts. It involves using a rotary cutter to remove material from a solid piece of wood. CNC cutting has some advantages over CNC laser cutting, such as: B. There is no discoloration of edges, good control of cutting depth, and you can make three-dimensional objects or cut with CNC cutting. The ability to cut thicker parts is also the main advantage of CNC cutting over CNC lasers.
CNC cutting systems offer a wide range of applications and can cut complex 3D parts, including pipes, high-pressure container lids and various profiles with V, Y and K cross sections. CNC cutting allows CNC machining of complicated parts.
How to choose CNC cutting and laser cutting
Using the information above, you can consider what CNC cutting and laser cutting are and how they can be the best and most ideal solutions for your projects. The respective machines, laser cutting functions and cutting applications must meet your needs.
At Wayken we have the knowledge and experience to help you. Call us or visit our website for more information.
