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Laser Cutting: The Fundamentals

When we imagine lasers, we may conjure up something seen in the movies. Lasers, however, are a part of our everyday world, making cutting and processing objects much simpler in industry. In laser material processing, a laser will make contact with a target and alterations to that object will happen, such as through the soaking up of photons, which are particles of light given off from the laser. These particles will be changed into heat energy.

How Lasers Actually Work

Lasers are the instruments that control how highly stimulated atoms emit photons to create a stream of light. There are only three things that can happen when a laser connects with a material. The laser light stream will either be reflected, sent, or it will be absorbed into the object. Sometimes two or three of these occurrences, such as transmission and absorption, may occur simultaneously. The beam will be one wavelength and one color as well as compact and concentrated, not like beams of light normally found in everyday life. If the majority of the beam is absorbed into an object, which is commonly the case in laser material processing, the main traits that have to be taken into account are the average power the laser light has, its intensity on the subject it hits, and its wavelength. Intensity on a basic level is the brightness of the laser beam. The wavelength is the series of waves the photons create. Think of a moving water wave, the particles of light are fluctuating in the same type of wave. The average strength of a laser beam is measured in watts (W). Lasers all contain an active medium that takes in energy. The medium can be made of either a solid crystal-like material, liquid, gas (such as in a CO2 laser), or a diode, and contains the atoms absorbing the energy. A laser also has to have a way to make the atoms become excited. This could be a light source, for example.

The optical resonator is a set of mirrors that are found inside the laser system. One of the functions of a laser is to pump up the atoms to get them in an excited state. This is done by pumping up what is referred to as a lasing medium inside the laser. At each extreme of the lasing medium is a mirror. light particles reflect off of both of the mirrors and energize other electrons to discharge even more photons. The mirror at one extreme lets some light escape, which is the laser beam. Getting the atoms excited takes getting their corresponding electrons at a advanced level of energy. The excited electrons that first absorbed energy to get excited can now emit energy as light energy, or a flow of photons.

Classifications

Lasers are rated according to the traits of average power, wavelength, and intensity. This implies they are either solid-state, liquid, gas, or semi conductor lasers. Solid-state are lasers with substance that is optically clear and the active medium is solid. Liquid, or dye lasers have a environment that is liquid and they can operate with pulsing or continuous wavelengths. Gaseous lasers have an environment of gas. Examples of gas lasers are carbon dioxide lasers and neon signs found in shop displays. And the fourth category is semi conductor or diode lasers that are the most common type of laser.

Laser Cutting

Using CO2 lasers as an illustration, carbon dioxide atoms in gaseous form become energized at a low pressure between two mirrors. One of the two reflective mirrors lets some of the beam leak through. They produce a large amount of heat. The light output is found in the infrared spectrum at the end. Having a beam of high quality is paramount, especially in cutting. Lasers cut via the beam of light produced by the laser. The beam starts by melting what is in its path or sometimes vaporizing the material. Slicing happens when the beam has cut through the subject. There are different types of lasers designed to slice various types of materials. CO2 lasers have high capacities for absorption, and are often used in the cutting of a plethora of materials such as metals, plastics, and wood. CO2 lasers have other materials in them besides carbon dioxide; they have a mixture of gases including helium (He) and nitrogen (N2). Nitrogen will slice up to ½ inch thick stainless steel in addition to aluminum. Oxygen is able to slice carbon steel. Laser cutting pros include no ill effects on machines, are faster than using other options for cutting, and can cut through thicker materials.

Lasers have applications from communications in data storage to the medical field. They have revolutionized surgery and cutting in industry. It is exciting to see what is in store for cutting applications with lasers in the future.

About the Author

Marc Anderes is the Vice President of Operations of Maloya Laser which specializes in Metal Manufacturing and Laser Cutting with advanced laser technologies, servicing aerospace, scientific, transportation, medical and machinery needs.

Using Helium in tires to save weight.?

Nitrogen is the NEW substance used in tires. Helps stop rust build up and leaks out slower. Has anyone used helium? If so, how much weight could be "Saved" if used on a semi?

Nitrogen has been used in aircraft tires for decades -- nothing new about that at all. The primary benefit is a reduction of deterioration due to oxidation, especially at the higher pressures used in aircraft tires. It does not leak out slower than ordinary air (which is 78% nitrogen to begin with) and internal rust buildup is negligible to non-existent.

Helium atoms are so small that they leak out MUCH faster than air or nitrogen would. Ever notice that a helium balloon goes limp much faster than one blown up by mouth? You'd have to check tire pressure every few miles.

Any weight savings, if any, would be on the order of a tiny fraction of an ounce and probably could not be measured easily.

Large Hadron Collider performing well
A detailed check of the world's most powerful atom smasher -- the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) -- has shown that it is 'performing well,' the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, has said on its website.

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