Introduction to flame cutting

Flame cutting is a technical process that uses thermal energy to create cuts in two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects. In laser flame cutting technology, this thermal energy is generated by a laser that vaporises or melts the material. If the material does not vaporise directly due to its thickness and volume, it must be expelled in a liquid state by supplying cutting gas.

Areas of application for laser flame cutting

Laser flame cutting is ideal for non-contact cutting of various materials with low to medium reflection and high quality. This also enables cuts to be made in hard-to-reach areas of the workpiece that would be difficult or impossible to reach using conventional cutting techniques.

The high processing speed and quality of laser flame cutting, especially in combination with CNC-controlled devices, enables independent mass production. This is economically advantageous due to the high speeds and quality of the cuts. The costs for the equipment and cutting gas for laser flame cutting are offset by the high speeds, reproducibility as often as required and the low cost of post-processing.

Differences to other cutting methods

Laser cutting is carried out without direct contact between the machine and the material. Similar to water jet cutting, the beam is directed at the workpiece from a distance and produces computer-controlled cuts. The heat load depends on the thermal conductivity of the material to be cut and can be precisely controlled by using pulsed lasers.

Laser flame cutting is particularly advantageous when high-quality cuts in small dimensions or automated processes are required. In contrast to waterjet cutting, flame cutting produces only minor contamination outside the cut edges.

Materials for flame cutting

Flame cutting with the Laser can be used for wood, paper, leather, plastics and metals. Different laser technologies are used depending on the type and thickness of the material. In addition to cost-effective CO2 lasers for semi-professional and professional use, fibre lasers with particularly high power are often found in industry.

Thin materials with low density can be vaporised directly during flame cutting. Separate removal by feeding cutting gas is not required for laser flame cutting of paper, leather and thin wood.

At the Laser flame cutting of metals with a reflective surface, cutting is technically more demanding in order to achieve optimum cutting results. When cutting aluminium with a laser, for example, the beam focus is directed onto the underside of the Sheets and the outflow of the melt is accelerated by supplying cutting gas.

Advantages of laser flame cutting

Laser flame cutting offers a number of advantages over other cutting techniques. It enables precise and clean cuts that would be difficult to achieve with conventional methods. It is also a non-contact method that minimises the risk of material damage. The high speed and quality of the cuts make laser flame cutting an economically advantageous method, especially for mass production.

Conclusion

Flame cutting is a versatile and efficient technique that is used in many industries. With its ability to produce precise and clean cuts in a wide variety of materials, it is a Indispensable technology in modern manufacturing.