Laser cutting

Laser cutting takes place through the use of a high power beam for the thermal separation of one or more parts of a piece. Once the laser is positioned in the desired area of the object, the material is engraved according to the pre-set geometry.
Laser cutting guarantees precision, speed of execution and versatility as it allows cutting both organic and inorganic materials.
Depending on the type of material, the laser beam allows the piece to be melted for the purpose of physical separation of two parts or welding two open surfaces of the object.
Once the workpiece has been cut, in most cases no edge finishing or subsequent machining is necessary.

Since the diameter of the laser beam is very thin (0.1-0.5 mm), the kerf (laser cutting) allows cutting and/or drilling following various geometries of complex shape with high precision, thanks to the cutting path defined by the cutting rows, set by the Job Control Vision software. The program can also realign the drawing when the object is moved.

There are different types of laser cutting. Their use depends on the material to be engraved, on which also depends the power needed to vaporize it and then drill it. The first subdivision consists of the type of gas used:

• Inert gas (nitrogen, argon or helium): the inert atmosphere allows you to have a much more precise finish than the cutting area, at the expense of power (it will take more time);
• Oxygen: in this case a greater power is developed, it will therefore be possible to cut greater thicknesses in less time. However, the edges of the cut will be coated with a thin layer of metal oxide and the finish will be worse, with a partly irregular surface;

The second differentiation is based on the laser source:

• CO2 lasers: a gas mixture is "excited" by an electrical potential. Good performance and high quality of the cut surface;
• Fibre lasers: the laser source is amplified by a series of glass fibres arranged in a suitable manner. It has greater efficiency and speed than CO2 and less maintenance required;
• Diode laser: combines the advantages of the two previous techniques. It has lower energy consumption and an extremely high cutting speed;

In each of these types it will be sufficient to adjust the power of the beam, so that they can be reconfigured for a new material.

What you can do with the online laser cutting service

Laser cutting can be used to cut, pierce, engrave or weld complex geometric shapes, machining that a cutter would not be able to perform with precision.

Thanks to its characteristics, laser cutting has found space both in the creation of prototypes and in the production of large and medium series pieces, since it is able to reduce costs. This technology is particularly convenient thanks to the need for little maintenance of the machine.

Using laser cutting can also be useful to shorten production times.
Since the laser machines are automated, once the project has been sent from the computer to the machine, the latter will follow the instructions contained in the file without the need for external supervision.

Even in the case of materials with a thin thickness, the laser proves to be extremely efficient. In fact, thanks to the adjustments made on the radius, it is possible to avoid deforming the piece, altering it thermally and changing its internal structure.

Some examples where laser cutting is used:

• Automotive sector: cutting of dashboards, displays, insulation, coatings;
• Architecture sector: cutting of pipes and beams, creation of shaped joints for subsequent welding of the pipes themselves, mechanical carpentry;
• Electrotechnical sector: letters or logos for signs, templates for wave welding;
• Mechanical sector: cutting and shaping of sheets of various thicknesses, equipment and moulds, medical devices;

Online laser cutting limits

Technical features such as machine dimensions, laser beam power, maximum machinable thickness and material to be treated are among the parameters to be considered.

• Dimensions: the larger the working space of the machine, the larger the piece that must be machined. For large dimensions make sure you find the right laser beam machine. In ErreBiLab the maximum cutting dimensions are 1300x900 mm.

• Radius power and material: depending on the material and its thickness, it will be necessary to adjust the power, the diameter of the spot or the type of radius. In order to process the workpiece correctly, it will be necessary to first check the radius power necessary for your application. It will also be necessary to evaluate the possible danger of the material at the time of cutting (development of dangerous gases, flammability). As far as steel is concerned, the maximum thickness we can cut is 1.2 mm.

What materials can we work with

The materials that we can deal with are:

• PMMA (plexiglass);
• Polycarbonate;
• ABS;
• Wood;
• Steel;
• Other plastics;

We’re available should you have any doubt at all

How ErreBiLab works

ErreBi Lab is the online prototyping service for those who need to develop a model (simple or complex) quickly and at competitive costs.

We have designers who can design your model and/or direct you in the production phase: from design, to the choice of materials, up to the realization.

A few simple steps to achieve your project:

1. Choose the type of material you want;
2. Choose the type of finish;
3. Choose the colour of the material;
4. Select the thickness of the chosen material;
5. Upload the cutting file in .pdf or .dxf format (maximum size 1300mm x 900mm);
6. If necessary, you can add laser engraving on one or both sides of the panel as processing:
   1. Only front;
   2. Same front and back;
   3. Different front and back;
7. If you have chosen only front or same front and back you can upload a single file in format: pdf, svg, eps, png, jpg, jpeg;
8. If you have chosen the different front and back option, upload two different files in the formats: pdf, svg, eps, png, jpg, jpeg;
9. After uploading the file you can view your quote and the expected discounts based on the quantity;
10. Before adding the product to the cart you can review all the previously entered parameters, modify them and get the updated unit cost in real time;
11. Once the product characteristics have been defined, notes can be added for the production department;
12. Add the product to the cart and confirm your order.

For large quantities and additional processing we advise you to request a personalised quote. If you need assistance we are at your disposal: fill out the form or contact us at the reference number. We will handle your request quickly.