Look at the comparison between laser cutting and waterjet cutting. The comparison in this section covers the differences in cutting methods and materials, precision, and cost efficiency. Understand in which scenarios laser cutting or waterjet cutting is more suitable.
Due to narrower kerf width obtained from laser cutting, less material is wasted during the cutting process compared to waterjet cutting. Expensive materials and those which are in short supply can be laser cut without making it cost ineffective since it eliminates the lessens the use of raw materials.
Smoother Cut Surfaces
In contrast with water-jet cutting, laser cutting has a smoother surface finishing due to the reduced size of the heat affected zone (HAZ). The HAZ of a laser cutter can be reduced even further if precision is prioritized in when the laser is set onto the material. In some cases, water-jet cutting can produce a rougher surface and may require some form of post-processing to be done on it.
Both laser cutting and water jet cutting are very famous in the industry of metal cutting. Laser cutting is popular because of its high speed and accuracy, which suits thin and medium thick plates. Moreover, it provides a narrow kerf with good surface quality. Water jet cutting is however, more effective in thick materials and is capable of cutting wider range of materials free of heat affected zones. Depending on the material and its thickness, different cutting methods may be employed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of laser cutting over waterjet cutting?
Laser cutting is faster than other methods, especially with thinner materials, so production is much more efficient. It is more precise due to having a narrow kerf, which means less wasteful material is used. Complex shapes and patterns can be created much easier. Sometimesthere is a smaller affected zone by heat as well. Furthermore, laser cutters tend to be more compact, which saves space when compared with water jet cutting systems.
In which situations is waterjet cutting better than laser cutting?
Waterjet cutting makes sense when looking for higher quality cuts while also having greater thicknesses. The material still being cut doesn’t have to be restricted as sensitive heat materials are usable due to there being no heat generated during the cutting process. Waterjet cutting may also be preferable due to a larger working volume are that is needed more often for other pieces of equipment.
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In comparing laser cutting with waterjet cutting, laser cutting has more pros than cons. It has greater precision and cleaner edges. The speed, especially with thin materials, is higher for laser cutting. More detailed work that involves complex shapes is done better with precise laser cutting as opposed to water jet cutting. While water jet cutting does work on certain materials, laser cutting has become the most favorable method for most of the cutting that our business requires because of the speed and precision.
With slim materials, the cutting speed of devices using lasers is faster than those using a water jet. Because a high-powered laser beam can quickly vaporize or melt materials, using a water jet is slower because it erodes. This helps laser cutting to be more efficient when there is mass production of thin-sliced parts.
Narrower Kerf and Less Material Waste
The kerf region that is produced by a laser is narrower than that produced by a waterjet cutter. This implies that there is material that is unnecessarily used in the cutting that is reduced. For industries that are sensitive to material costs such as, jewelry or electronics, laser cutting is advantageous because it wastes so little material.
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