subject: Determining What Quality Standards To Hope For From CNC Laser Cutting Services [print this page] Determining What Quality Standards To Hope For From CNC Laser Cutting Services
What quality standards to hope for from CNC metal cutting services, in a word is, 'clean'. CNC is short for 'Computer Numerical Control' and, as almost folks realize these days, a computer controlled laser can be used for anything from making accurate but economical items like key chains to delicate operations like laser eye surgery. The use of lasers is prolific and new uses are being revealed all the time.
One typical use for lasers in industry is for the cutting of metals in different manufacturing applications. In this process, a high-output laser beam is directed and accurately concentrated on the steel to be cut. That material is then either burned, melted or vaporized away, leaving a very smooth, finished edge.
This cleaner edge is one advantage lasers provide over mechanical cutting. Another advantage is the lack of contamination from cutter to material, which is common in the mechanical course of action. Also, exactitude with lasers should be better than with the mechanical choice due to there is no wear and tear of the laser beam during the operation. There is also much less probability of the material being cut to warp, for the reason that the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of a laser cut is as a matter of fact quite tiny in size.
One drawback of using a laser beam to cut metals is that this process involves a large degree of energy consumption. On the other hand, laser-cutting may make it possible to cut certain materials which may be very difficult or impossible to cut in other, more traditional ways. Some other non-traditional cutting means that may be considered as an selection to laser cutting include plasma cutting and water jet cutting.
Asking what quality standards to hope for from CNC laser cutting services should be directed at the service provider at the time of the cost estimate. The answer will depend on the type and size of the steel being cut. There is a high probability that one supplier of laser cutting services also have water jet and plasma cutting machines.
