The History of Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is now an extremely popular process for industrial industries such as engineering, architecture, medical, marine, and construction. The advanced machinery and technology used within laser cutting means it may appear to be a fairly modern technology, however, its roots go back to the mid 20th century. Here we look at the history of laser cutting and how fibre lasers came to be one of the most powerful, precise tools in the world.

When did laser cutting start?

While people often think laser cutting is a modern process, it isn&#;t necessarily a new concept. In fact, in laser technology celebrated its 60th anniversary!

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The first pulsing laser prototype dates back to . Theodore Maiman made the first laser operate on 16th May at the Hughes Research Laboratory in California, by shining a high-power flash lamp on a ruby rod with a silver-coated surface.

In , the carbon dioxide laser was invented by Kumar Patel at Bell Labs, the most powerful continuously operating laser of its time.

The new discoveries of the laser beam caused a stir both within the scientific community and the general public. Newspapers portrayed the laser beams as &#;death rays&#; and people were unsure of this new, super technology. This fear was further promoted when Sean Connery was almost cut in half by a gold laser in a scene of the Bond film, Goldfinger.

When were lasers first used in production?

In came the first gas laser capable of continuous operation. A little closer to home in Cambridge, Peter Houldcroft used an oxygen assist gas to cut 1mm thick steel sheet with a focused CO2 laser beam.  He realised that the combination of a focused laser beam and an oxygen assist gas had the potential to improve the precision and speed of the laser machine.

The first laser designed for the purpose of production was introduced by Western Electric in , who used the machines to cut holes in diamond dies.

In August , the Boeing Company conducted research on CO2 laser cutting of &#;hard&#; materials. They concluded that the laser &#;could be an effective and economical cutting tool&#;. It was also around the early s, that oxygen laser cutting was used to cut through various materials including metal, something that carbon dioxide lasers originally hadn&#;t been capable of.

By the mid-s, Western Electric were producing laser-based cutting machines at a rapid rate.

The introduction of fibre lasers

There are two main types of laser machines &#; carbon dioxide and fibre. CO2 lasers are cheaper, but fibre laser cutting is more efficient and acts with more precision. It also uses a lot less energy in the process.

Since its invention in by Elias Snitzer, the fibre laser required 20 years of development before the first commercial devices appeared on the market in the late s.

The s was the golden age of laser cutting development. More high-powered lasers were on the market, with the ability to cut in large volumes. In the early s, fibre laser cutting was introduced to the commercial market.

The first fibre lasers for cutting reflective metals were introduced in . The different laser beam conveying methods allowed cutting metals like aluminium, brass, copper, and galvanised steel

The Introduction of Bystronic Bystar

The Bystronic ByStar Fiber 12kW is a fibre laser cutting technology that cuts even the thickest of metals with ease and handles large batches and high-volume jobs faster than ever before. This state-of-the-art Bystronic laser cutter, expertly handles thick and thin sheets and profiles, including mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminium up to a thickness of 30mm.

How Can We Help You with Your Next Project?

Laser 24 can laser cut a variety of metals and with our zero-handling process, this means that you receive the cleanest cut possible, without any manual handling damage. Our completely controlled automated process also means we are able to control the conditions under which it is cut, to produce the best quality parts for your projects. Combined with our press braking & finishing services, we can easily bend metals, grain, and de-burr.

Want more information on mixed laser cutting machine? Feel free to contact us.

We operate in several sectors including marine laser cutting, medical laser cutting, and laser projects for engineering. Thanks to our commitment to ongoing investment in world-leading machinery, we have the laser cutting & folding tools to deliver parts of exceptional quality at unbelievable prices, which is why we are one of the leading laser companies in the UK.

For more information on the services we provide across Essex, Kent, London, and surrounding areas, our capabilities, or to find out how we can help you with your next project, please call our team on 733 883 or [ protected] today.

The art of laser cutting has been around for several years. The Egyptians used lathe cutting and milling practices. While not as far back as the Egyptians, the history of laser cutting technology planted its roots during the s. Physicist Charles Townes invented the Microwaves Amplification by Stimulated Emissions of Radiation (MASER) machine. The MASER machine was the steppingstone to laser cutting technology. It was an amazing machine that actually evolved into the Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) machine. In , engineer Theodore Maiman brought Townes&#;s idea to fruition with the world&#;s first laser.

At first, engineers didn&#;t know what to do with it. However, in Peter Houldcroft of the Welding Institute in Cambridge created a cutting nozzle with an oxygen gas pump. This gave the laser a function. Then, a group of engineers at Boeing wrote a paper on how a laser cutter could cut through even harder materials. One year later, the first laser cutting machine tool was created in Scotland. And the rest is history. Today, the laser is a mainstay in both the industrial and scientific world. Laser cutting technology is now used in many fields, including aerospace, automotive and medical.

How Laser Cutting Technology Works

Laser cutting implements the use of a laser beam to remove material by either melting it or vaporizing it. With Computer Numerical Control (CNC), an assist gas or optics are used to direct and focus the laser beam. It&#;s a fast and efficient process and can be used on a wide range of materials.

The process entails electrically exciting a material. The laser beam is reflected and amplified with a mirror. Once enough energy is created, it can be focused on the piece. The three common types of lasers used today are carbon dioxide (CO2), YAG and fiber. CO2 lasers are used for engraving, and the higher-powered ones are used for industrial applications, such as welding. YAG lasers are used for etching and metal marking. Fiber lasers can be used to cut a broad range of materials. The hallmarks of CNC laser cutting include:

• Quick processing and production times

• More parts per sheet

• Minimal warping

• Ability to cut thick and dense materials

• Greater accuracy

• High quality surface finish

There are many different methods used in laser cutting technology. In vaporization, the beam heats the surface and the generated vapor erodes the material. Fusion laser technology uses high-pressure gas to blow out the molten material. With thermal stress cracking, the beam is focused to cause thermal expansion and localized heating. Stealth dicing utilizes a YAG laser for cutting. Reactive laser cutting technology uses the laser beam as an ignition source and can be used to cut very thick steel.

&#;Over the past decade, lasers have become both bigger and smaller in size, as well as more powerful and less expensive. The technology has expanded in number of wavelengths and in the range of materials used. Lasers have worked their way into everyday life and otherworldly applications. By the end of , the laser market stands at more than $12.9 billion, according to a December study by MarketsandMarkets.&#; This is why CNC Machine Sales are up.

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