Improving The Efficiency Of Your Laser Cutting Processes

Laser cutting can be a beneficial way to engrave a variety of material types with unique and individualized messages. If you utilize laser cutting in your production practices, then ensuring the quality and efficiency of each laser cutting session is important.

Here are three simple things that you can do to make your laser cutting processes more efficient in the future.

1. Keep the surface of your materials covered.

When you are going to be engraving a material's surface through laser cutting, it can be beneficial to keep the surface of that material covered until the laser cutting process is complete.

Applying a thin adhesive barrier (like masking tape) to the material's surface will eliminate the potential for accidental charring caused by the smoke produced during the laser cutting process. The adhesive barrier will not impeded to engraving process, just protect the surrounding surface area from discoloration.

2. Create custom settings.

Many of the machines responsible for performing laser cutting processes are controlled through computer programs that ensure each engraving meets exact specifications. The settings required to successfully engrave a specific type of material can vary from one material to the next, so taking the time to create custom settings within your computer programs can be beneficial.

If you cut a specific type of material regularly, then generate an automated laser engraving program that will create your desired image using optimal settings. You can store custom settings for each material you use (wood, metal, vinyl, etc.) making it easier to streamline the laser cutting process in the future.

3. Always complete a test engraving.

Even though you may rely on specialized programs that run custom settings to complete your laser engraving, it is important that you take the time to complete a test engraving each time you begin working on a new project.

Using a scrap piece of material, program your laser cutter to engrave a geometric shape. You can then evaluate the quality of this test engraving to determine if you need to alter your settings before completing your final project.

By taking the time for a test engraving, you will reduce the number of errors you make and the amount of materials you waste when completing laser cutting projects in the future.

Maximizing the efficiency of your laser cutting processes doesn't have to be challenging. Be sure that you protect the surface of your raw materials from charring, that you save custom settings to streamline future laser cutting projects, and that you complete a test engraving to verify the accuracy of your settings when laser cutting in the future. For more information, contact companies like J&E Metal Fabricators Inc.


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