Classification and Characteristics of Laser Cutting Machine Manufacturing

From the principles of lasers, we know that lasers possess four major characteristics: excellent monochromaticity, high coherence, strong directionality, and high brightness—commonly referred to as “three good qualities and one high characteristic.”

Laser macroscale manufacturing technology can be broadly categorized into conventional laser manufacturing and laser additive manufacturing. This technology primarily leverages the high brightness and strong directionality of lasers.

1) Conventional Laser Manufacturing

1. Fundamental Principle: A sufficiently bright laser beam is focused and directed onto a specific area of the workpiece material. Upon exposure to laser irradiation with varying parameters, the material undergoes phenomena such as vaporization, melting, microstructural changes, and internal stress modifications. This achieves diverse processing objectives including material removal, joining, modification, and separation.

2. Primary Process Methods: Key conventional laser manufacturing techniques include laser surface engineering (encompassing laser surface treatment, laser hardening, laser cladding, laser vapor deposition, and laser shock peening—with common domestic laser marking also falling under surface treatment), laser welding, and laser cutting.

2) Laser Additive Manufacturing

Laser additive manufacturing is an energy-source-based additive manufacturing technology utilizing lasers. Classified by forming principles, it encompasses two primary categories: laser selective melting and laser direct metal deposition.

(1) Laser Selective Melting

(2) Working Principle: Laser Selective Melting utilizes a high-energy laser beam to scan along a predetermined path over a bed of pre-spread metal powder, completely melting it. Upon cooling and solidification, this forms the workpiece. Its working principle

Technical characteristics are as follows:

1. Forming materials are typically metal powders, primarily including stainless steel, high-temperature alloys, titanium alloys, high-strength aluminum alloys, and precious metals.

2. Formed parts exhibit excellent mechanical properties, with tensile strength exceeding castings and reaching the level of wrought components.

3. Slow feed rates result in low forming efficiency. Part dimensions are constrained by the powder-laying chamber, making it unsuitable for manufacturing large monolithic components.

Characteristics of Laser Manufacturing

1. Using a single laser source on the same equipment, various processes—including cutting, drilling, welding, and surface treatment of the same material—can be achieved by altering the laser control mode. These processes can be performed sequentially or simultaneously across multiple workstations.

2. Flexible powder-contact processing is completed in minimal time, causing no mechanical deformation and minimal thermal distortion to the workpiece. This results in reduced subsequent machining requirements and minimal material loss. The laser beam facilitates various optical transformations such as guidance and focusing, enabling automated processing of complex workpieces.