Why Laser Machining is Better Than Conventional Methods

Machining is an important part of the manufacturingand precision can be obtained based on the range of
process and is very expensive when the number ofduration and flux associated with the pulse. This form
items being manufactured has higher volumes. So it isof machining is extremely valuable as it can be used
important to adopt a fast and qualitative approach toboth in Industrial Manufacturing Processes as well as in
this process and use the best machining methodResearch activities.
available in the market. That's exactly the point whereSince no solvents or chemicals are used, this form of
laser machining comes into the picture to helpmachining is both operator and environmental friendly.
everyone.The machining process is very easy to automate by
Though laser machining is of great importance but ausing robots. The laser pulse is useful to clean metal
large majority still opts for conventional machiningsurfaces, remove coatings, and prepare the surface
processes. Conventional machining, by using powerfor painting activities. Although the capital investment
driven tools like lathes, drill presses, and milling machinescost maybe a bit higher but the actual running cost for
help in material removal by mechanically cutting theLaser machining is lower than other conventional
material to attain the desired geometry. Thesemethods used in the market.
methods are both expensive and slow while workingLaser machining is also very gentle on the unfinished
on a large volume of unfinished work pieces to creatework pieces as compared to abrasive techniques. The
finished products.amount of heat required on the target is very less and
Thus it becomes necessary to accept thein composite materials the carbon fibers are not
sophisticated technology of Laser machining fordamaged while using this type of machining. Laser
manufacturing process. This form of machining allowsmachining also allows momentum transfer to the
easy and quick removal of solid substances from thesurface being machined, almost similar to hitting the
unfinished work piece by irradiating it with the help of asurface of the material with a hammer. This is
laser beam. This objective of solid material removal isextremely important to machine the hardened metal
achieved with a pulsed laser beam; another optionsurfaces.
could be to use beams of high laser intensity bySo, you can easily see that laser machining is a much
passing continuous wave laser beams.better option as compared to other conventional
The basic process of solid material removal dependstechnique. Only few of the benefits are mentioned in
on the optical properties of the material and thisprevious paragraphs but laser machining has a long list
determines the amount of laser energy absorbed byof benefits that can be enjoyed after finding a right
the material. The laser pulses are very easy to controlcompany.