| Technological advances in the field of | | | | undergo stress and wear in the cutting process. If |
| manufacturing are what companies use to gain | | | | proper maintenance is performed on the optical |
| and maintain a cutting edge over their competition. | | | | mirrors used to reflect the laser beam to its |
| Thirty years ago no one would believe the | | | | target, many months of use are possible before |
| technologies of James Bond and Star Wars would | | | | they must be replaced; unlike standard tooling. |
| find their way to the metal fabricator's shop floor; | | | | Plasma cutting machines utilize a different process. |
| but they have. Two innovative alternatives to | | | | A plasma cutter or torch uses inert gas or |
| burning or oxidizing sheet and plate steel are: | | | | compressed air. It uses pressurized nitrogen, |
| * Laser Cutting of steel | | | | argon, or oxygen. Today the use of compressed |
| * Plasma Cutting of steel | | | | air is more common. |
| Laser technology gained much ground in the | | | | This air propels at high speed from the cutter |
| 1980's through Defense Department research. | | | | nozzle. As air rushes through this specially |
| The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) paved the | | | | designed nozzle, an electrical arc develops. This air |
| way for today's advanced commercial applications | | | | hits the surface of the steel sheet or plate. Some |
| of laser use. | | | | of this air (or gas) turns to plasma: plasma that is |
| Laser is a word derived from Light Amplification | | | | very hot and able to melt the steel receiving the |
| by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It involves | | | | cut. Because it moves at high speed, the plasma |
| the use of an electronic optical device. In the case | | | | blows away the molten metal. This blowing away |
| of steel, output from the device, the laser beam, | | | | of molten metal is the cutting process in action. |
| targets an area of the sheet or plate. This laser | | | | Plasma cutting machines can cut steel of one inch |
| stream receives its direction from a computer, | | | | or less. The plasma cutting process can make |
| which pinpoints the area requiring the cut. | | | | non-linear or curved and angled cuts. It works |
| Cutting steel with a laser-cutting machine offers | | | | faster on thinner steel than the burning or |
| an accurate clean cut. Many other materials | | | | oxy-fuel process. Any conductive material (ability |
| benefit from this process, such as wood, copper | | | | to transmit electricity) can have the plasma |
| and exotic alloys. Sheet and plate steel receive | | | | cutting method applied. |
| cuts of close tolerance, much faster than | | | | The introduction of smaller nozzles and thinner |
| traditional cutting methods. Laser cutting machines | | | | plasma electrical arcs are the result of advances |
| are capable of cutting steel up to one inch thick. | | | | in plasma technology. These produce cut edges |
| These machines can perform these accurate cuts | | | | close to the quality of those produced by laser |
| repeatedly and with high consistency. | | | | methods. |
| With laser cutting, the cut edges of the steel are | | | | The use of laser and plasma cutting machines |
| clean. This leaves a cut edge with a nice surface | | | | give manufacturers the ability to make cuts that |
| finish. This type of cutting allows for less warping | | | | are more precise. It also gives them the capability |
| of steel; as the zone affected by the heat is | | | | of making different types of cuts, all with greater |
| small. Laser applications mean less physical contact | | | | speed. This helps the efficiency of their operations |
| with the sheet or plate steel. This means less | | | | in the competitive business climate of today. |
| wear on the steel being cut and less chance of a | | | | The steel industry continues to be on the cutting |
| poor quality cut. | | | | edge of steel cutting technology. And lasers and |
| Another great advantage of laser cutting of steel | | | | plasma cutters are one of the methods they |
| is that there is no wear on the laser. This is an | | | | employ to stay there. |
| advantage over mechanical cutting tools, which | | | | |