Laser wood cutters: description, features and reviews. Laser cutters: types, specifications and reviews

Laser cutters are used in many industries, including woodworking, mining, metalworking. When these devices appeared on the market, their price was quite high. At the moment, there are improved models, while the cost is not so frightening. What is remarkable about this equipment and how appropriate it is to buy it for small businesses, let's consider in more detail.

Principle of operation

The word "laser" has English roots and is literally translated as "amplification of light through forced radiation". The process itself is the transformation of one energy into a narrowly focused, coherent, monochromatic, polarized flow.

On this principle, laser cutters are designed. The radiation beam is formed due to the lens and turns into a small spot. The system of mirrors fixed on the coordinate table moves by reflection the beam to any position relative to the material being processed. Under the influence of radiation, with a high energy density, the processed point of the product is heated to evaporation in a short time. By means of such installations it is possible to process wood, metal, plastic.

Benefits

The main advantages of laser installations are:

• Low power consumption in comparison with other installations.
• Absence of mechanical deterioration of equipment. The torch acts at a distance from the surface being treated.
• For the laser beam, the quality of the material does not matter, it is able to affect any kind of wood, including undried ones.
• Absence of large vibrations and noise tracking.
• High performance. Achieved by the ease of equipment.
• No chips and dust in the production process.
• Mobility of equipment. The lightweight design allows you to transport and install as desired anywhere. Do not need the use of lifting equipment.
• Strict observance of the parameters set by the CNC.
• Ability to work with any material: plastic, wood, metal, ceramics, rubber, leather, paper.

This number of advantages and deserved the high praise of professionals.

disadvantages

They include a number of parameters:

• Inability to process chipboard, so it can not be used in the production of laminated furniture.
• Plastic processing will become an expensive pleasure, as harmful odors will be released during operation.
• Care should be taken of the parameters declared by the manufacturer. As a rule, such machines can process material with a thickness of not more than 20 mm.
• When engraving it is impossible to create shadows on the image.

Disadvantages suggest that it is worth familiarizing yourself with the technical data of the equipment and deciding whether a particular model is suitable for a particular production.

Laser cutter for wood

Woodcarving is very precise. Therefore, in normal conditions, milling and turning plants, as well as manual labor, are used. The principle of operation of the above types is based on the mechanical action on the surface to be treated, during which a part of the material is cut off. In this case, chips and cracks may form. The quality of the work depends directly on the type and condition of the workpiece during such processing.

The laser cutter on wood acts on a different principle, therefore has received a high enough estimation. It works by point melting. Due to this is more sparing, but at the same time the edges due to the thermal impact will be darkened. This feature gives the carved products an additional visual appeal. Due to the principle of operation, such plants are positioned as a laser engraver-cutter. Next, consider the design of the device.

The mechanism of the device

In order to make a laser cutter yourself, you should understand what it consists of. There are five main parts of the mechanism:

• Emitter. With its help, the generation of radiation with the necessary parameters takes place. It consists of the elements of the pump system, the active medium, the resonator mirror. If necessary, it is equipped with a radiation modulation device. There are three types of radiator - solid, fiber, gas.
• System for the formation and transport of radiation and gas. This mechanism transmits the beam from the radiator to the surface being treated, and also serves to remove the fusion and cooling particles of the equipment.
• Coordinate device. Produces the movement of the laser beam and the product in space.
• Desktop. It fixes the machined parts.
• ACS. Actually the management system. You can use it to specify cutting parameters.

Given these data, you can make a laser cutter for metal with your own hands. With its help, you can process other materials, including wood.

Manual laser cutter

This is the simplest kind of equipment that you can build with your own hands. For assembly, you need a laser pointer, a manual flashlight, a set of batteries for it, a CD / DVD-RW writing recorder (the drive must be with a working laser), a soldering iron and a set of screwdrivers.

Initially, the laser is extracted from the drive. The work must be done neatly, when dismantling a soldering iron is required. Extract the detail inserted in the pointer in return for the old one. The process is painstaking, it is necessary to perform all actions without jerking and rushing to prevent damage to the device. Collect the new pointer in the flashlight and connect to its power, observing the polarity. The beam should not interfere with anything, so remove the glass and interfering parts. The design must be firmly secured.

If the technology is observed, then this device can be used manually. As you can see, the assembly technology is quite simple. Such laser cutters are low-power, but for some fine products and engraving works are quite suitable.

To produce more powerful equipment, it will require, firstly, a room where it will be assembled and stand, as well as a number of improvised materials. It is necessary to calculate, and whether there will be an economy in the long run. It is possible that it will be cheaper to purchase a finished model.

A number of subtleties

Collecting laser cutting torches with your own hands, it should be understood that if there are no improvised materials, the purchase of spare parts can cost considerably more than buying a finished device. The market does not stand still, and models for laser cutting are not so expensive as they are when they appear. Choosing the finished equipment, it is worth paying attention to a number of characteristics:

• Equipment power. This parameter is directly related to the performance and thickness of the cutting.
• Overall dimensions of the working table. It is necessary to provide such a parameter that will allow processing the expected sizes of products. They can be of different configurations.
• Manufacturer. Take equipment is only from proven manufacturers.
• Availability of service centers in the region. In case of breakdowns, it was possible to eliminate them as quickly as possible.
• Consider the exhaust device when installing the equipment. It should not be forgotten that during the heat treatment, gas accompanying the combustion of a material will be released. This is especially important when processing plastics.

If all the characteristics are taken into account, then you can choose the appropriate model.

Safety precautions

It should be remembered that the laser beam was originally developed as a weapon. Therefore, it carries a danger. It is impossible to direct such radiation on a person, he can get a burn. Work should be in special glasses to prevent loss of vision. The equipment or room itself must be equipped with an exhaust system or workers need respiratory protection.

Cost of laser equipment

Why now such devices? Of course, it all depends on the brand and the performance of the equipment. There are table and floor models. The first option for the price starts from 25 thousand rubles. Floor models can be from 120 000 rubles. In the market there are many devices of Chinese manufacturers, the price and quality of which are quite worthy. For example, a laser cutter for metal, the price of which, depending on the size of the desktop, productivity and options from 120 thousand rubles to 900 thousand rubles. While Western producers are 30% more expensive. Laser equipment was once a fantasy. Now this device is found practical in all industries. For small businesses, such plants for processing metal and wood open new promising spheres, which makes the business more stable. Self-assembly of low-power installations for private use is fully justified with available tools and some initial knowledge of physics.