How to use laser cutting on wood

What laser cutting is and how it works

Laser cutting takes place through a beam of light that, focused on a very narrow area, depending on the power and type of material, cuts a part of the piece on the basis of a raster or vector drawing sent to the machine.

Specifically, to perform a laser cut on wood it is necessary to create the drawing of the shape you want to obtain through CAD programs. Subsequently, all the characteristics of the drawing and the instructions relating to the cut to be obtained must be defined, such as the thickness, the depth of cut and much more.

Once the piece of wood is positioned, the digital drawing is sent to the laser machine, which will operate on the basis of the file inputs. 

At this point it is possible to proceed with the start of the process, during which it will be necessary to monitor the machine in order to intervene in the event of a malfunction and ensure the correct operation of the process.

Laser woodworking is a very widespread technique and ideal for the customisation of handicrafts as well as for industry.

The advantages of laser cutting on wood

Other techniques such as milling are less advantageous than laser both in terms of quality and processing time. In fact, the laser is more performing in several respects.

• Reduced processing times compared to other cutting techniques: the laser is able to operate quickly and with extreme precision both in the case of a few pieces and for large quantities.
• Absence of waste material and harmful dust: the laser allows you to cut the wood with extreme precision without creating chips.
• Precision and quality: the laser allows you to create precise cutting shapes, even complex ones, whose edges are clean and without smudges. This avoids having to provide for further processing of the piece after cutting.
• Non-contact cutting: since the cutting takes place by laser, there is no wear problem as in the case of the milling cutter or saws used in other cutting techniques, which then need to be replaced.
• Versatility: the laser can accurately reproduce even complex cuts and punctures. This allows the customer to customise the piece according to their needs with great creative freedom. 
• Costs: the expense required to perform a laser cut is quite low, especially considering the quality-time ratio and the ability of the machine to also process pieces in series with extreme precision. Therefore, the cost of processing is advantageous compared to other cutting techniques.

All these advantages have allowed laser cutting to become a fairly widespread technique in different sectors both industrially and artisanally.

What types of wood are suitable for laser cutting

The types of wood suitable for laser processing are different, this allows maximum versatility and flexibility of construction.

• solid wood
• Durmast
• Cork
• Teak
• Bamboo
• Multiplexes
• Cherry wood
• Beech
• MDF
• Maple
• Particleboard
• Veneer
• Oak
• Plywood
• Multi-layer

Each of these types has its own hardness, thickness and resistance. Therefore, it will be necessary to set the laser (power and speed), depending on their characteristics in order to ensure the correct execution of the cut.

Conclusions

To engrave the wood using the laser, it is necessary to know the characteristics of the type of wood on which you intend to work, set up the file correctly and send it to the machine, which will reproduce the drawing with great precision, in a short time and at low prices. 

One of the main areas of use is certainly that of furniture and design, but also gadgets and souvenirs.

In general, wood lends itself to many processes and can be easily shaped to obtain creative and functional results.