Abstract: In the application of CNC laser cutting technology in China, technicians should analyze the performance of the processing system, the processing materials, and the process parameters to effectively control the factors affecting laser cutting quality. In the application of CNC laser technology, appropriate process parameters should be selected according to different material thicknesses and types to improve the processing quality of laser cutting. This paper analyzes the development trend of CNC laser cutting technology and proposes several feasible suggestions to enhance the efficiency of the laser industry.
Keywords: CNC machine tools; laser cutting; development trends; market growth
In the future, my country's laser cutting technology will see greater diversity in generator selection, more varied power supply types, more stable energy output, and unique structural features. The operating costs of laser cutting machines will significantly decrease, as will the harm to the human body. The application fields of CNC laser cutting technology are constantly expanding. my country's three-dimensional cutting, automatic focusing, and constant optical path technologies are gradually maturing. The technical operation of using airborne lasers to laser cut large-format, thick plates by moving the beam will also be gradually improved.
1. Analysis of the connotation of CNC laser cutting technology
In general, the working principle of laser cutting is to use a reflector to process the laser beam on the material being cut (Figure 1). The laser emits a laser beam at a specific position on the reflector, and after being refracted by the reflector, the laser beam is focused by a special lens.
During laser cutting, auxiliary gas is ejected from a nozzle and added to the focused laser beam, ultimately forming a cutting tool containing high energy. The power of laser cutting is affected by the nozzle's moving speed, and the cutting process on the material being cut needs to be achieved by referring to the movement trajectory of the machine tool platform. CNC laser cutting is mainly used to cut metals. In addition to cutting such high-hardness materials, different laser technologies can perform three-dimensional cutting, leather, wood, paper cutting, and glass and ceramic cutting. Laser direct writing technology can also be used for medical treatment procedures.
In laser cutting quality system control, technicians should rationally adjust the positions of different focusing lenses and use multi-axis motion control cards to control the movement trajectory of the filter and CCD beam. In CNC laser control operations, technicians should rationally adjust the positioning speed (X/Y axis) of the laser beam movement based on the parameters of the CNC system's ability to process material dimensions. The maximum processing speed should be determined based on the effective cutting length, and the positioning accuracy error of the laser beam should be controlled within a reasonable range. Considering the development trend of CNC laser cutters, different materials require different cutting thicknesses.
Figure 1
2. Introduction to the Development Trends of CNC Laser Cutting Technology
Laser cutting technology has a wide range of applications. It is a precision technology used in CNC machine tool manufacturing in my country, and it has various modes and properties. Different types of lasers have different working modes, and differences in laser power and beam polarization determine the different modes of stability of the laser during the cutting process.
New laser processing technologies mainly include laser 3D etching, laser microstructure manufacturing, laser-SPM composite processing, and excimer mask etching. my country's industrial processing and manufacturing sectors place great emphasis on CNC laser technology. Technical R&D personnel should carefully analyze the characteristics and current applications of CNC laser cutting technology and optimize its application models. my country's CNC laser cutting technology will develop towards higher speeds and more degrees of freedom. Due to the significant growth trend in the domestic high-power CNC laser cutting machine market in recent years, the total demand for laser cutting machines in the industrial manufacturing sector is continuously increasing.
To meet evolving market demands, the domestic CNC laser machine manufacturing sector will see the emergence of high-speed, high-precision laser cutting machines, 3D laser cutting machines, large-format thick plate laser cutting machines, and other specialized laser cutting equipment. The cutting capabilities of laser cutting machines are gradually increasing, and the adaptability and flexibility of cutting technology will continue to expand. Horizontal laser cutting machines utilize gantry-moving optical path processing technology, performing tasks such as plasma cloud detection simultaneously with cutting. New 2.5D and 3D laser cutting machines with dual-laser cutting systems can meet the high-speed cutting requirements of industrial manufacturing, satisfying the need to process complex parts. Fiber laser cutting machines can also cut high-hardness materials, producing clean cut surfaces that facilitate subsequent coating processes.
3. Analysis of the application of CNC laser cutting technology in my country
3.1 Analysis of General Standards for CNC Laser Cutting Technology
Currently, the industry standard for laser cutting machine parameters in my country is mainly based on German laser cutting machines, etc. The development trend of CNC laser cutting technology is towards minimizing energy consumption and increasing the adaptability of working gases for laser operation. Currently, the two most common laser cutting machines in the CNC laser technology field are the SLAB-D025 laser (2500W) and the axial fast-flow laser (3000W). These two laser cutting technologies represent the mainstream development in the current industrial production field.
The SLAB-D025 laser operates on a plate discharge and diffusion cooling principle. It lacks a fixed gas flow device, eliminating the need for gas flow and thus requiring no gas power unit. This laser operates in TEM00 mode with a divergence angle of 0.15 mrad. The output window lens lifespan is approximately 40,000 hours, the pulse frequency is 5000 Hz, and it only has gate pulse functionality. The SLAB-D025 laser cutting machine can use various working gases, primarily carbon monoxide, helium, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. It can also use a German-made mixed gas, with a total carbon monoxide content of 6% and other gases comprising 94%.
This type of laser cutting machine has the lowest gas consumption, at only 0.2L/H. Another mainstream laser cutting machine currently is the axial-flow type, which operates on the principle of rapid axial discharge, with a turbine serving as the gas flow mechanism. This type of laser cutting machine consumes significantly more gas, up to 35L/H, but it boasts the highest cutting efficiency. The axial-flow CNC laser cutting machine has an adjustable pulse frequency, offering ultra-pulse and ultra-ultra-pulse functions, and can output 2.5 times its rated power (i.e., a 3000W laser can output 7500W of power). It also possesses strong piercing and cutting capabilities.
3.2 Development Prospect Analysis of Laser Cutting Technology in my country
my country is now capable of independently producing CNC cutting machines and using carbon dioxide and optical fibers as laser generators. It can use mounted gantry laser cutting, which is not limited by optical path attenuation. Its main advantage is cutting medium and thick plates.
The new market for laser cutting technology is developing towards ultra-high precision operations, with higher control over kerf width and surface roughness. The types of materials processed by laser cutting are becoming more diverse, and new development areas in the material cutting market will include textile machinery, food processing machinery, medical equipment, lighting and decoration, packaging, shipbuilding, automotive, aerospace, and steel industries. New markets for laser processing development include the laser CNC lathe processing equipment market, with applications primarily in the abrasive, component, machinery, shipbuilding, automotive, aerospace, and steel industries.
A motion controller is used for axis I and axis N servo control, adjusting the direction of I/O inputs and outputs to ensure a smoother cutting surface and reduce edge and burr wear during laser cutting. Based on the CNC system's hardware structure, a simplified audit of the control system is implemented, using a motherboard (PC bus) to control the entire laser processing system. In the development of laser cutting technology, the focus is on optimizing and upgrading the functionality of the software control module.
4. Conclusion
my country's CNC laser cutting technology is developing towards new areas. The demand from industrial production for laser processing R&D products requires technicians to continuously explore new markets. To improve the efficiency of CNC laser cutting technology, technicians should optimize the control modules of the CNC laser system. Specifically, in the system management module of CNC laser cutting, technicians should effectively manage the system database. Based on standard process library management standards, they should conduct real-time monitoring and detection of laser cutting modes, check current processing parameters according to the requirements of commonly used processing methods, analyze them against industry standard process parameters, and modify any unreasonable process information.
