How Does Laser Cutting Work?
What is a Laser?
The word "laser" is an acronym that stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation." Laser technology is based on the principle that excited electrons in an atom release photons when returning to their normal state. Inside a laser, there is a gain medium and an energy source. The gain medium is some substance made of atoms that are easily excitable and the energy source is usually some kind of light that excites the atoms in the gain medium.
Once the energy source is applied to the gain medium, the atoms release photons that bounce back and forth between two mirrors. One of the mirrors is half-silvered, allowing some photons to pass through. The photons that pass through are all on the same wavelength, creating a focused laser beam.
Laser Cutting
Laser cutting is a precise method for implementing a design on a given material. The process begins with someone creating a design on a computer using a CAD program or something similar. The design is then read by a computer that uses the information to automatically guide a laser. The laser makes all the necessary cuts, producing an exact physical replica of the design.
Specific Techniques
Most lasers can emit a continuous beam or a quick pulse. The continuous beam is used to make cuts while the pulse is used to make small piercings. Laser cutting vaporizes certain materials but melts others. When a laser is used to cut a melting material, gas is blown across the material to clear the melted portion away. With materials like glass, a laser can be used to create a small crack and then guide it in a controlled fashion to make a cut.
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