Design Considerations When Integrating Laser Cutting into Your Manufacturing Business

While laser cutting is not a brand new technology, it seems that it is only in recent years that more and more manufacturers are realising the benefits that it provides the production of goods. Not only is laser cutting incredibly precise but it is fast, highly efficient and versatile too. Hence, if you are looking to increase the productivity of your manufacturing plant, you are probably looking into incorporating this technology into your daily operations. But before you can maximise on laser technology, it is vital that you understand how best to design your prototypes so that you do not end up making mistakes that would cost you a substantial amount of raw materials. To help you come up with the most effective design, here are fundamental considerations to have when integrating laser cutting into your manufacturing business.

Determine the best materials for your manufactured products

Unquestionably, laser cutting is becoming a leading solution for a myriad of industries, and this can be credited to the fact that it is compatible with a vast selection of materials. Nevertheless, you must familiarise yourself with the limitations of this fabrication technique since it is not suited to a few different supplies. For example, while laser cutting is a great choice for some types of plastics, you should never utilise polyvinyl chloride in your processes, as this material will emit toxic gases and acidic substances that are not only harmful to your operators but will also diminish the lifecycle of your laser cutting equipment. Another material you should eliminate from your manufacturing processes when working with laser cutting equipment is polypropylene foam because it will catch fire when exposed to the laser beam.

Establish the right density for your raw supplies

The second design consideration that is critical to the success of your laser cutting processes is working the right density of the material, and this is attributed to a couple of factors. Firstly, you need to take into account how elaborate your preferred design is. The more details that you want to create on the final product, the denser the material needs to be so that it can withstand the amount of engraving that it will be exposed to. If the material is too thin, the laser cuts will take off more material than you expected and this will compromise the integrity of the finished product. Secondly, the density of the material will impact how it reacts to the heat of the laser since supplies that are too thin are at an increased risk of liquefying during the laser cutting process.


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