Imagine you have CNC plasma cutting in your right hand and laser cutting in your left hand and try to impulse which on will be more appropriate for the concreted project and why? Both of these are somewhat superior materials which are employed in metal work.Which means both of them have things which one is good at while the other one is good at some other thing, the essential qualities that should be present is suitability and precision for many types of applications. CNC plasma cutting uses high ionised gas to cut through metals, while on the other hand laser cutting uses laser beams for high precision.
Let us dive down deeper to understand the mechanisms of both CNC cutting and Laser cutting to help you find which works the best for specific situations!
Cutting Mechanism and Technology
CNC plasma cutting works by easily cutting through metal by blasting a high-speed jet of ionised gas plasma from a nozzle which helps in creating a hot steam which cuts through metal. The plasma formed during this process is created by electrically charging the gas, which is able to reach 20,000C. This makes it powerful enough to cut through thick and conductive metals easily.
While on the other hand, a concentrated beam of light is used in laser cutting which allows it to accurately melt or vaporise the material through lenses and mirrors. This makes it an ideal method for creating detailed designs in thinner metals.
Material Compatibility
When it comes to material compatibility, any electrically conductive material such as steel, brass or copper is perfect to cut with CNC plasma cutting. It can without any difficulty cut through thick materials and handle a variety of gauges with ease. In terms of versatility it can be stated that laser cutting is the most suitable option because it can effectively work with conductors and insulators. These may be wood, plastic, or sometimes, even fabrics.
Cutting Speed and Efficiency
Cutting speed and efficiency of a method is a crucial aspect to be kept in mind while opting for it. CNC plasma cutting is mostly used for outpaces laser cutting specifically for thick materials. Plasma cutting can rapidly cut through materials at higher speed than laser cutting, which makes it an ideal option for big projects and heavy duty tasks.
Laser cutting is indeed slower than plasma cutting but it excels at precision and is highly productive if the task at hand requires cutting through thin and intricate designs. This aspect of laser cutting gives it an upper hand because of its focused laser beams it provides accurate cuts with minimal material waste.
Thickness and Cutting Capacity
CNC plasma cutting is known for its ability to cut through heavy materials efficiently and it can cut through 30mm or more. So, industrial tasks such as constructing large metal frameworks and processing heavy metal plates are perfectly paired with CNC plasma cutting. If we talk about laser cutting, it is limited to materials that are on the thinner side. The most laser cutting can cut is about 25mm for metals. It is because it is mostly used to do detailed work such as making designs etc.
Initial Cost and Operational Expenses
While calculating the initial and operational expenses of both CNC plasma cutting and laser cutting, it can be easily determined that CNC plasma cutting requires less upfront investment than plasma cutting. The main reason being that the plasma cutters are more affordable to buy as well as in maintaining them. The nozzle and electrodes also require lower costs in CNC plasma cutting.
Laser cutting provides working with more precision with the cost of using up more expenses. The advantage of minimal material waste plays an important role in lowering the future expenses, so the cost of buying a laser cutter easily covers that.
Applications in Various Industries
The different roles of both CNC plasma cutting and laser cutting, plays a role in enhancing the productivity of both methods. Plasma cutting is beneficial in heavy industries because of it’s ability to cut through thick metals quickly and efficiently like in shipbuilding, construction and automotive repair.
Because the area of expertise of laser cutting is cutting with precision which allows to do detailed work it is used in decorative metalwork, electronics and aerospace. Both of the technologies in fact complement each other because in the diverse industrial settings both of the methods are needed.
Safety Considerations
Safety first is safety always and in both methods safety should be one of the main concerns because there is a lot of room for trial and error working with CNC plasma cutting and laser cutting. In CNC plasma cutting extremely high temperature jets are utilised, which elevates the risk of fire hazards. The operators should wear protective gear such as flame-resistance and proper ventilations to manage the fumes which are produced while cutting.
High temperatures are also used in laser cutting, which can provoke safety precautions such as to prevent eye damage and skin burns. The operators should use protective safety goggles and protective clothing as well as the cutting area to be properly shielded so that exposure to laser radiation can be avoided.