4 Industries that Depend Heavily on Laser Cutting

Laser cutting has various applications in different sectors. Its popularity and capabilities depend on the cut, speed, and high precision. But still, lasers are faster and accurate than other cutting equipment. They are safe as execution takes place in a tight lightbox. It means the laser is away from hands and other body parts and thus prevents any accidental harm. 

It is also cost-effective. It reduces the wastage of materials, requires less maintenance (all thanks to consumables such as Hypertherm powermax 65 fine cut consumables), and can work with an array of different materials. Besides, spares like Hypertherm plasma cutter parts extend their life shell, which again helps save cost. 

All these factors are the reason why many industries prefer laser cutting services. 

Here are a few of those:

1. Aerospace

The aerospace industry is one of the greatest utilizers of precision engineering. They need high-quality lasers to cut down metal sheets and parts and produce airplanes. 

These laser cuts provide them with the accuracy and versatility that are must for mechanical and construction work. Using it, they can cut parts into significantly smaller ones and also create microscopic holes. They can also cut heavy-duty aluminum alloys and other rare metals with low heat-affected zones and flawless finish. 

Apart from this, laser cutting can also help with combustion liners, metal detectors, trolleys, conveyors, and stillages. The combined use of laser drilling and engraving methods can produce unmatched results.

2. Automotive

Just like aerospace, the automotive industry depends on intricate parts and components. And you can engineer them via laser cutting methods. For example, turning metals into different forms. 

Most of the manufacturers prefer metal turned into 3D forms, especially on exotic vehicles. And for this, they prefer high precision laser cutting services. They can produce clean, smooth, and consistent designs without any error. 

However, that's not the only limit to the use of laser cutting. You can also use it to sever cloth for airbags. When used on airbags, they can instantly melt the fabric leaving no fragments of frayed materials. 

3. Electronics

In this industry, laser cutting has a high demand due to its ability to accurately cut delicate parts and components. 

With every passing year, this demand doubles. The transition of SD cards to microSDs is one of the examples to justify it. 

This transition also states that you cannot use conventional processes for cutting. It has to be ultra-precise laser tools. One of its popular examples is multi-layer circuit boards. 

As lasers require less marginal space to cut, they can cut accurately. And thus, manufacturers can design circuit boards in the smallest dimensions. 

Lasers also play an essential role in cutting finished products—for example, plastic and metal cases for mobile phones and laptops.

4. Medical

This industry produces parts, equipment, and devices that need to be swift, precise, and flawless. Lives depend on them, and so quality, consistency has to be of the highest standard. 

Indeed, laser cutting makes it possible for devices to be perfect. Look at high-grade stents that relieve kidney stone pain and birth control measures. Lasers cut them. 

Laser cutting technology is also used to produce hospital supplies such as stainless steel bed frames and trolleys, bone reamers, valve framers, vascular clips, etc. 

They also help with cutting exotic metals like titanium. These metals prove useful for surgical tools and orthopedic pins and clips. Based on their nature, i.e., hard to process and extensive tool wear, laser cutting cuts down the material. 

Perhaps, the most significant use of laser cutting in medicine is to perform surgery on human skin, bones, and organs. As they cut precisely, swiftly, and cleanly, they are a preferable option.

Overall

Laser cutting technology provides the best precision over other methods. It's only because of it that we can enjoy the advancements in technology and services. Today, it's four. Soon, it shall be in demand in almost all the industries.

That's it for the day!

Meanwhile, keep reading and experimenting with laser cutting technology. If any of the parts wear out, go for Hypertherm plasma cutter parts.

Source: https://altpartsinc.wixsite.com/altpartsinc/single-post/4-industries-that-depend-heavily-on-laser-cutting

Plasma Cutting And Plasma Cutting Parts - A Guide

Plasma cutting came to light in the 1960s, out of plasma welding, and commenced as an effective process to slit metal sheets and plates in the 1980s. 

It had the edge over the conventional “metal against metal” cutting of producing no metal chips, giving perfect cuts, and producing a cleaner edge than Oxy-fuel cutting. 

What is a Plasma Cutter?

Plasma Cutter slits down the metal by directing air or inert gas through the plasma torch, sparking an electric arc, and then forcing plasma through the torch tip to slit the metal.

The plasma cutter curve can reach up to the temperature of 45000 degrees F, which turns it into one of the fastest ways to slice the metal. 

Plasma cutters come up with an on/off switch and amperage settings that regulate the power to use for cutting.

Provided with so much power yet plasma cutting is a safe, and clean way to cut metal.

Process of Plasma Cutting

Plasma Cutting, also known as plasma fusion cutting, is a process that employs superheated, ionized gas channeled through the plasma torch to heat, melt, and ultimately slit the material into shapes and designs.

Plasma cutting is a constructive way of cutting for a wide range of materials like structural steel, copper, and aluminum, and thickness ranging between 0.5mm to 180mm. 

Plasma cutting is often presented as a substitute for laser cutting and water-cutting and has certain advantages over these options, like faster cutting and low operational cost.

Plasma Cutter Parts

In a nutshell, the plasma cutter parts are components of the plasma cutter. Most of the plasma cutters consist of a swirl ring, electrode, nozzle, shield cap, and retaining cap.

These components remain the same for the cutting torch, including Hypertherm powermax 65 fine cut consumables and Hypertherm plasma cutter parts.

1. Swirl Ring

It is a small component inside the torch that revolves the gas surrounding the plasma arc. Basically, it is a protective layer that protects the Nozzle from burning.

2. Electrode

An electrode is a slim piece of paper containing hafnium. Its main task is to carry electric current from the torch to the plate where it is connected and to focus the charge through the tip, which causes it to work on the workpiece.

3. Nozzle

The Nozzle focuses the arc and the gas surrounding the material to make a slice clearly. The bigger nozzles are good for gouging, while the nozzles with small openings are better for the fine detailed work.

4. Shield Cap

This cap’s role is to protect the torch and other components from sparks during the plasma cutting process. 

5. Retaining Cap

The role of the retaining cap is to hold all the consumable parts of the torch together. As this component holds the consumables together, it degrades over time.

Tips to prolong the plasma cutter consumables

Cutting Parameters: Slicing quickly, slowly, and at the wrong distance from your material can wear your consumables more quickly.

Right Installation: Installing your parts is essential for the perfect functioning of the plasma cutter. Make sure the consumables can tolerate the amperage and are well assembled.

Observing: Keep track of your components and how they are wearing so that you can replace the worn part with the new one. This keeps other parts unaffected. Also, make sure to change the Nozzle and electrode frequently, or they will strain the whole system.

The above tips apply to all the plasma cutter parts, including Hypertherm plasma cutter parts.

Benefits of Plasma Cutting

Plasma cutting has many benefits that have made it an attractive application in many industries. Let’s have a look at them:

• Enhances the speed of cutting.
• One can work on a wide range of materials.
• It offers portability to work on job sites.
• There is no requirement for the preheat cycle.

End Words

As with any other machinery, it is essential to check out the plasma cutter and to make sure the plasma cutter you buy has a good return policy in case it does not work for you.

In addition, you should also keep the above tips in mind to maintain your plasma cutter and plasma cutter consumables.

Source: https://altpartsinc.wixsite.com/altpartsinc/single-post/plasma-cutting-and-plasma-cutting-parts-a-guide