5 Innovative Ways That Laser Cutting Makes Manufacturing Easier
The world changes rapidly, and manufacturing companies must change alongside it. From simple hand tools to more advanced machinery, what was once a manual process has become automated and digitized. Manufacturing has evolved with the times.
One such advancement in contract manufacturing is laser metal cutting. Laser cutting has become a key way for manufacturers to achieve fast production, maintain consistency, and deliver high-quality products—all while saving valuable time. It has been around for decades and is today one of the most popular cutting methods in manufacturing.
What We’ll Cover:
- What is laser cutting?
- Scale your automation
- Reduce turnaround time
- Build more complex shapes
- Create a cleaner process
- Cut to exact specifications
- Key takeaways
What Is Laser Cutting?
The process works by focusing a beam of light on the material that needs cutting. The light heats the material and cuts through it.
This process leaves behind a clean cut without buffing down the edges afterward. This technology commonly helps the automotive, engineering, aerospace, consumer electronics, jewelry, and medical industries. It is fast, accurate, and versatile, which makes it perfect for use in manufacturing processes where precision is key.
Keep reading to discover how laser cutting can make your manufacturing process easier!
How Manufacturers Use Laser Cutting
Laser cutting, a versatile and precise fabrication method, has revolutionized manufacturing across multiple industries. In the automotive sector, manufacturers rely on laser cutting for intricate component shapes that require extreme precision, from engine parts to intricate dashboard designs. The aerospace industry benefits similarly, using laser cutting to produce lightweight, high-strength components that can withstand extreme conditions.
In the world of consumer electronics, where miniaturization and precision are paramount, laser cutting is indispensable for creating complex circuits and components. Additionally, the architectural field utilizes laser cutting to bring to life elaborate metal panels and structures, offering not just functionality but also aesthetic appeal. These examples only scratch the surface, showcasing how laser cutting is an invaluable tool for manufacturers seeking efficiency, precision, and innovation in their production processes.
Keep reading for more specialized examples of how laser-based manufacturing can save you time and money.
Intricate Component Fabrication
Industries such as aerospace and automotive regularly employ laser cutting to produce intricate components with high precision. These can range from small, complex parts in aerospace engines to detailed panels in automotive manufacturing. The precision of laser cutting ensures that even the most intricate designs are produced accurately and consistently.
Customized Metal Works
In fields like construction and custom metalwork, laser cutting enables the creation of unique designs and patterns in metals. This capability is particularly valuable for architectural metalwork, where bespoke designs are a significant selling point.
Prototype Development
In product development, especially in electronics and consumer goods, laser services create prototypes rapidly. This speeds up the design process, allowing for quicker iterations and faster product development cycles.
Production of Consumer Goods
Many everyday products, from jewelry to kitchen appliances, benefit from the precision of laser cutting. It allows for the production of consistent, high-quality parts that are essential for the mass production of consumer goods.
Medical Device Manufacturing
The medical industry relies on laser cutting to produce surgical tools and devices. The ability to produce small, precise, and sterile components is crucial in this field, and laser services are perfectly suited for such requirements.
By integrating laser cutting into their manufacturing processes, businesses are not only enhancing the quality and precision of their products. Still, they are also streamlining their production lines, leading to greater efficiency and reduced costs. This technological advancement is not just about cutting materials; it’s about opening up new possibilities in manufacturing and design.
1) Laser Cutting Helps You Scale With Automation
Firstly, you can automate your manufacturing with a metal laser cutting service. This feature makes it a good option for producing large quantities of products with minimal human input.
Many CNC laser machines now use computer programs to execute the desired design. Engineers can input the metal-cutting process into a computer and let it do all the work.
The laser cutter will use the coordinates made on the computer to cut the material. This programming makes it an attractive choice for companies that need to scale up their production.
2) Laser Cutting Reduces Your Turnaround Time
Secondly, lasers are an innovative manufacturing process that creates high-quality products in a fraction of the time. This speed helps companies stay ahead of the supply chain and their competition!
The software lets design engineers send their design files and mass-produce them in hours. This advantage saves them time and improves your sheet metal quality control measures.
With this technology, you can produce up to 4 times as many parts as traditional methods. The high-tech metal laser cutting machine handles orders much faster daily, saving time while allowing you to focus on other tasks and still produce quality products. This automation means that you can produce more products in less time.
3) Laser Cutting Builds More Complex Shapes
Thirdly, traditional cutting methods are disadvantageous in creating complex shapes with intricate details. On the other hand, lasers help you make precise cuts, as they allow for complex shapes with high levels of detail and precision.
The complexity and fine accuracy of laser manufacturing are astounding. This benefit makes them ideal for more complicated shapes that are difficult or impossible to make with a mechanical process.
Laser-based manufacturing allows for enhanced design for metal cutouts. Hence, design engineers can create better designs without having to worry about compromising on the shape. This process has revolutionized the manufacturing industry and made creating intricate shapes possible.
4) Laser Cutting Is a Cleaner Process
Fourthly, laser automation provides smooth cuts, which reduce the need for secondary deburring operations, saving time and increasing production. While traditional cutting creates rough edges, lasers provide a material with smoother and cleaner edges.
When cutting metal, the force and speed of the saw or sheer can often leave sharp burrs along the cut edge. Cut edges would need further deburred to remove the jagged edges and keep them safe for handling. These jagged burrs can cause damage to the metal and even create safety hazards if not promptly deburred.
Laser cutters avoid these issues because they leave a clean, finished edge compared to traditional cutting methods. The laser’s heat helps smooth the edges and produce an even edge without leaving burrs or rough edges.
5) Laser Cutting Can Cut Material to Exact Specifications
Lastly, this cutting-edge technology is efficient at cutting through virtually every type of material on Earth. Its high temperature will allow for a quick cut of almost anything, regardless of its hardness.
Laser machines can cut through aluminum and harder materials like titanium. Positioning a laser over a certain area allows the laser beam to heat and work on the material. Once fully heated, the laser will melt and cut through this area.
There is little doubt that laser machines are here to stay, whether for prototyping or large-scale manufacturing. Technology is advancing rapidly and will only get better soon. With a laser cutter, there is no telling what you can create.
When you need precision and quality combined, our metal laser cutting service is the right choice for your business! Regardless of your project, a laser-based manufacturing process guarantees the highest quality of finished parts. With second-to-none machinery, we always ensure flawless results.
Key Takeaways
Cutting with a laser is an exciting alternative that many manufacturers have embraced. It allows them to cut with greater accuracy and speed than they can when using other methods. Nonetheless, there are some drawbacks to using lasers. These cutters require a certain level of training and typically use more power.
Overall, metal laser cutting service requires less investment than other processes like wet cutting. The long-term benefits of laser machines can scale your manufacturing to the next level.