Laser vs Waterjet technology.

Both laser and waterjet metal cutting methods use machines that have a good life expectancy as they don't make direct contact with the work piece during the cutting process also do not use dynamic machining forces. So, when both technologies can do the job, how do fabricators determine which process to use? Understanding a few key factors can help them make the choice.

While choosing between laser and waterjet steel cutting technology, two important factors need to be considered - edge quality and speed.

Thickness and speed: A 0.75 thick section of stainless steel when cut using both the methods reveals the difference in quality (laser at top, waterjet at bottom). The major tradeoff is speed; for a metal sheet as thick as this, a waterjet machine requires nearly 80 percent more time to accomplish the same cut.

Laser technology is well-suited to cut metal parts up to 1⁄2 inches. But they can also cut metals up to 11⁄2 inches thick. On the other hand, waterjets can cut material up to 6 inches thick. Metal cutting with laser machines often have a speed advantage over waterjet machines, however, waterjets can cut through significantly thicker metals, and alternative materials, with ease.

Material and material surfaces: Other than cutting metal sheets and creating steel profiles , lasers can process other materials too, but this doesn't mean they should because on other surfaces than metals laser cutting can result in hazardous chemical releases. For example, on plastics and rubbers laser cutting releases byproducts which are chemically hazardous for the environment. In such cases, waterjet machines steel cutters can easily cut these other materials without hazardous chemical releases.

Material surfaces like that of copper and aluminum are difficult for the lasers to cut because of highly reflective properties of these metals. In such cases the edge quality attained by using waterjet technique is significantly better. Laser cutting technology can be best used on the smooth surfaces rather than textured surfaces as textured surfaces can alter disrupt the beams focus thus altering the flow of assist gas. Waterjet cutting method on the other hand produces smooth cutting irrespective of the metals texture and reflectivity.

A laser performs best on smooth surfaces; textured surfaces can alter the flow of the assist gas and disrupt the beam's focus. A waterjet, on the other hand, doesn't discriminate when it comes to reflectivity or texture.

End product finish: Since waterjet cutting method does not create any heat affected zone, thus it delivers smooth edge finishes eliminating the need for a secondary finish completely. Whereas the heat from laser metal cutting method produces a small heat-affected zone near the cut, which could require secondary finishing depending on the finish requirements.

Determining the best cutting method for your industry.

How will you determine which cutting method best suits your needs and requirements? A simple answer to this question is to conduct a careful examination of your production needs to determine the best cutting method for your process. All metal steel cutting methods like waterjet cutting, flame cutting, laser cutting etc. methods have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. Typical criteria used for most process evaluations include the following points:

1. Type of material to be processed
2. Thickness of the material.
3. Accuracy and finish acquired by using any particular cutting method.
4. Rate at which the production is required
5. Operating Costs and the cost of technology being used.
6. Technical skill Requirements.

Advantages of using a laser cutting method.

There are practically many reasons that will lead you to choose laser cutting method and machines for your industry cutting requirements. Here I have listed a few:-

1. Laser cutting method is very fast as lasers can cut at very high speeds.
2. Many complex designs can be performed by using laser cutting method as there is almost no limit to the cutting path of a laser beam.
3. Metal Cutting by Laser reduces expensive tooling costs or long lead times in many cases.
4. Small diameter holes that cannot be made with other machining processes can easily and quickly be performed with a laser.
5. The laser machine does not have parts that can wear out or become dull or break easily. Thus using this method saves the part replacement costs also.
6. The process is non-contact and non-force, allowing very fragile parts to be cut with little or no support, and the part keeps its original shape from start to finish.
7. A wide range of materials can be cut using lasers producing a high quality cut without any additional process involved.
8. Laser cutting method is quite an effective cutting method with low operating and maintenance costs and maximum flexibility.

Waterjet or Laser - Which cutting method will you choose?

The quality of every finished product depends on the methods and tools used to get the product in that shape. Thus the performance of cutting and profiling methods directly effect particular products or machines overall productivity. Moreover in every machining and manufacturing system one simply cannot ignore the vital role that these metal cutting methods play. Laser cutting and water jet cutting are two commonly known powerful methods that are used to cut through many different types of surfaces or materials. Both these methods have the ability to produce complicated parts of machinery or create beautiful architectural arts.

Since both laser and water jet cutting methods are efficient, how you will determine which one will be the right process for your particular project. Here I have explained a few points that may help you in choosing the right method for your applications.

Laser cutting

Laser cutting technique is an effective cutting method that reduces costly tooling charges without leaving any rough projection on a work piece after drilling or cutting. This cutting method is a highly accurate approach for cutting aluminum, thin steel sheets, carbon steel and Stainless Steel Cutting up to 5/8 inches thick. This laser metal cutting method remarkably increases the cutting speed providing less turn around time and reducing production cost of your architectural applications.

Cutting accuracy acquired by laser cutting technique also makes it easy for the complicated parts to be machined easily. Laser cutting method allows cutting of materials for both short and long production runs and includes no set-up or tooling costs. High part to part repeatability is other guiding factor in choosing laser cutting technique. The method surpasses waterjet cutting method in terms of cost per inch and speed.

Water jet Cutting

This method can also be used to cut a variety of surfaces and materials like plastic, glass steel, copper, aluminum, Kevlar, Lexan, and more. This method has ability to process materials ranging from .001 inches up to 12 inches in thickness.

The precision of waterjet cutting method meets or exceeds that of other cutting methods, especially in terms of cutting thick materials. The method is most suited to cut complex architectural shapes with tight tolerances. The method involves a cut width of about .025 to

If both laser cutting method and waterjet cutting method are put to compete directly with each other, for materials like thin steels, stainless steel, and aluminum, waterjet may be the more expensive method per inch. But waterjet method’s versatility in reducing secondary operations makes it the best option for variety of projects.