Modern laser cutting machines have great potential when organizing a business. CNC laser machines allow you to apply images to various materials: from fabrics to metals. Powerful devices are also used for cutting plywood, metals and plastics.
Read our article about ways to organize a business using a laser machine.
What is CNC laser machine and laser engraving?
A CNC laser machine is a device for automatically processing various materials (wood, plastic, metal, fabric, leather, etc.) with a laser beam. The principle of operation of the device (for example, LaserSolid 690 Lite 100W Ruida) is to convert the energy of a beam of high-power coherent light generated by a laser emitter into thermal energy, thanks to which it is possible to remove the surface layer from the material being processed, or cut or burn a sheet of plywood, metal (fiber optic CNC machines) and other materials. The main advantage of laser machines is exceptional accuracy, which is achieved, in particular, thanks to the minimum diameter of the laser beam spot and precise positioning of cutting or engraving lines.
Laser engraving is a method of processing various surfaces with a laser beam, which allows you to create images of almost any complexity. The laser machine provides high precision during the engraving process, which is not guaranteed by a milling or any other CNC machine. Given the ability to process even hard metals, a laser machine is the optimal tool for creating a business.
There are the following types of laser engraving:
- Vector – the drawing is formed from lines;
- Raster - a picture is formed from dots of various shades, as in digital photography.
Advantages of laser engraving compared to alternative methods:
- Non-contact application method - prevents deformation of untreated areas of the material, so laser engraving can be used on fabrics and leather;
- High degree of automation;
- High image detail;
- Processing speed;
- Resistance of images to physical influences;
- After engraving is completed, no additional processing of the product is required.
Disadvantages of laser engraving:
It is necessary to observe safety precautions when working with the machine, including the fact that it is prohibited to leave the machine in operation without supervision, for fire safety purposes, which means that 24/7 operation will require the constant presence of an operator.
Selection of devices
The more functions and power a plywood cutting machine has, the higher its cost. Thus, a small 40 W engraving tool can cost about 100 thousand rubles, and a more powerful device with the ability to process metal will cost 3-4 times more.
For cutting wood, plastic, leather, and glass, devices based on gas lasers (CO2) are mainly used. If you need to process metals, then you should choose machines with solid-state laser emitters (fiber and vanadates).
When choosing a laser tool for engraving, you should also take into account the height of the products to be processed and the area of the working field. Small-format laser cutters for plywood have a field size of 300 x 420 mm (you can process small products made of wood, acrylic, glass), and large-format ones – up to 2000 x 3000 (for furniture, parquet, advertising signs). There are also medium format models that occupy an intermediate position.
Laser machine operating technology
Engraving
Laser engraving is a popular service when making souvenirs and merchandise. Laser engraving allows you to quickly create a one-of-a-kind item and reproduce it in the shortest possible time, so the service is often ordered for personalizing gifts and branding souvenirs or branded products.
Images formed by a laser beam can withstand exposure to caustic environments and mechanical abrasion, provided that the material of the product itself can withstand the aggressive effects.
A CNC laser machine can reproduce even complex photographs on various materials with high accuracy, so the image application technique is used to decorate such items as:
- Watches, lighters, cigarette cases, pens;
- Wallets and other leather accessories;
- Jewelry;
- Weapon;
- Prints;
- Various decorative items.
And also in the production of plates, signs, seals and stamps.
The convenience of working with a laser engraver also lies in the ability to apply images to cylindrical and more complexly shaped objects. To do this, it is necessary to install a special rotating mechanism on the machine, with which the CNC machine will be able to apply an image to a curved surface without operator intervention.
Marking
Source: fobalaser.com
Laser marking offers the same benefits as engraving. In this case, the significance of these advantages is even higher, because markings are used to identify an object, including by automatic methods - the resistance of the applied image to external influences and readability are extremely important here.
Laser marking facilitates the identification and classification of products, which is necessary in the process of accounting, storage and transportation. Most often, the marking indicates the serial number of the product, the date of manufacture and expiration date, and restrictions that exist during operation.
Special markers are used to apply laser markings to objects. The peculiarity of this type of device is the relatively small dimensions of the working field and special software containing an extensive database of fonts, barcodes, etc.
Drilling
Laser drilling is a very effective procedure because it produces holes of a precisely defined diameter that do not require additional machining.
The operation of the machine is to burn the material with a laser beam through or to a specified depth. Laser “drilling”, or more correctly, perforation, is used for decorating clothes, shoes and leather goods, as well as in many areas of industrial production where maximum precision of products is required.
What can be done on a CNC laser machine: business ideas to make money
Laser cutting of metal as a business, engraving and other ideas
To perform laser cutting on metal, you will need a machine with a fiber emitter. For engraving metal and simpler materials, machines with a minimum power of 60 W (LaserSolid 690 Pro and LaserSolid 690 Lite) will be sufficient, the recommended one is 90-120 W (LaserSolid 1325). There are also ultra-low power devices - 50 W, which are designed to work with any materials except metals. These are LaserSolid 640 Lite and LaserSolid 640 Pro+.
The more powerful the machine, the more complex composition can be created on it. High power allows you to perforate metal products. Low-power machines are only suitable for engraving.
Clients often order laser engraving of metal to decorate souvenirs: key rings, pens, USB flash drives, watch cases and various devices.
Engraving on plastic and rubber, production of stamps
Laser engravers allow you to apply images or codes to polymer materials. Engraving on transparent plastics can be illuminated with LEDs to obtain an original visual effect. This is how decorative lamps, night lights, and advertising signs are decorated.
Rubber, soft plastics and silicone can be used as materials - this allows you to produce stamps and seals of very high quality almost instantly. One laser machine is enough to start producing custom stamps. With this application, the machine can bring a stable and very good income.
Laser cutting of plywood: manufacturing of furniture and interior items
From the point of view of business projects, it is of interest to create unique pieces of furniture and decorative products from plywood on a laser machine. The principle of operation is very simple: a complex image is created on a computer, which can also be three-dimensional, multi-layered, and a CNC laser machine cuts out the required composition. From the point of view of the use of resources, such work is economical, while the resulting result may have high aesthetic properties and uniqueness, which is why it will have a high cost, and therefore potentially be able to generate income.
Most often, eight-millimeter plywood is used in the manufacture of furniture. Finished items have sufficient strength. When creating decorative panels and screens for heating systems, such as battery casings, you can use thinner wood boards. Conversely, thicker sheets of plywood make it possible to make even decorative walls for large rooms.
Souvenirs, engravings and key rings made of plywood
The scope of application of desktop laser engravers, such as the LaserSolid 3020 Lite, is the production of small souvenir products from thin plywood. Currently, the production of merch is popular: applying logos to keychains, magnets and other souvenirs.
Taking into account the current trend towards the use of exclusive items made from natural materials in interior decoration, a small laser engraver can be used to start serial production of engraved paintings on plywood. A businessman can produce both standard paintings and make panels based on customer sketches.
Production of outdoor advertising, props, decor and street signs
Source: grizli.club
The machines are used for laser cutting of plastic panels necessary for the creation of outdoor advertising and signs. The most popular materials in this case are vinyl films, plexiglass, polycarbonate, PVC.
The business of laser cutting of polymer materials provides services for the design of exhibition stands. If there is sufficient production space, it is also possible to organize the assembly of large-sized structures required for street signs. To optimize the assembly process, you can additionally use 3D printers to print curved elements. The introduction of additive manufacturing will simplify the assembly process and reduce the likelihood of plastic panels breaking when bent.
cutting
Laser carving is the production of fantastically beautiful and complex products from paper or wood. The photo shows one of the works of Eric Standley, who creates stained glass windows from a large number of layers of colored paper
Material cutting is the most common use of laser equipment. Machines that use a laser beam as a cutting tool can be found in metal and woodworking, in jewelry and advertising, in dental prosthetics, in enterprises for the production of packaging containers and rubber sealing gaskets, in shoe and sewing studios and in many other production areas . The leading positions in the far from complete list of products produced on laser machines are occupied by:
- entrance and interior doors;
- souvenirs;
- elements of external and internal advertising structures;
- construction sets and puzzles made of plywood or cardboard;
- toys and items for interior decor made of felt, fleece, cardboard and plywood;
- covers for upholstered furniture and cars;
- parts for automobile and aircraft modeling.
It should be clarified that there are two types of laser equipment (we are talking about machines that are widely used in industry). Carbon dioxide or CO2 lasers are used when working with any materials of the non-metallic group and an extremely limited range of metals (brass and aluminum). Fiber laser machines are used to effectively cut and engrave metal surfaces.
Business plan: laser cutting of plywood
How to organize a business using a laser machine? Let's consider a case using the example of a production facility where plywood is cut.
You can install a laser device in a small warehouse, but fire safety standards must be taken into account. Then you need to find reliable suppliers of consumables, that is, the plywood itself. Every time you buy a batch of plywood, you should check the quality of the board - the accuracy of the design, the accuracy of processing and the strength of the finished product depend on this.
Before implementing the project, you should develop a cutting model on a computer, and then transfer the data to the machine.
The financial aspects of a business depend on the goals that the company sets for itself and the equipment chosen. As an example, let’s evaluate what you need to buy when using a large, powerful (100 W) LaserSolid 1080 Pro laser machine. The price of the device is 465,000₽.
The workroom must have a powerful exhaust hood, since cutting plywood produces a lot of dust and smoke. Space should be provided not only for the machine, but also for the materials used. At a minimum, you will need a room of 10 square meters. m. The cost of renting or purchasing premises depends on the region.
In addition to the machine, it is necessary to purchase a circular saw, because plywood sheets are much larger in area than the working area of the machine. You will need a grinder to remove carbon marks after cutting. We will also add the cost of the plywood itself.
Benefits of using a CNC laser machine for business
CNC laser machines are preferable for organizing your own business than devices with metal cutting tools (if you are just starting out, it is better to have both as you develop).
Key advantages of laser machines:
- Fast engraving, which ensures the execution of more orders per unit of time;
- Exceptional accuracy of the finished product (possible deviations from the established parameters - 0.01 mm);
- Almost eternal life of engraving on objects;
- Use of any materials: from fabric to metals;
- Automation through computer control;
- Simple fixation of the material thanks to the non-contact processing method;
- The edges and walls of the material remain in perfect condition after processing;
- Low level of dust and noise;
- The minimum number of additional tools required.
How can you cut transparent materials with a laser?
There is a common myth that lasers cannot cut glass and plexiglass. Allegedly due to the fact that the beam passes through the material and begins to cut what is behind it - and the glass remains uncut and, as it were, mocking the pathetic people who decided to test its transparency in this way.
This would be true if absolutely transparent glass existed in the world. But absolutely transparent glass does not exist. Even air is not absolutely transparent, let alone a solid body. And the laser beam passing through the material still heats it.
The only question is to choose the appropriate power. Take into account the transparency coefficient of a particular material and select a laser unit whose beam power will be sufficient to melt the glass in the cutting zone. And it will be cut.
We tell you how we work:
Case - development and production of a case for electric charging
conclusions
A CNC laser machine allows you to set up large-scale production with relatively small investments. Installation of the machine does not require much space, and prices for machines start at approximately 100,000 rubles. The entire process, from developing a sketch or digital model to receiving the finished product, can be completed by one worker. Thanks to the high precision of the machine, the result is predictably excellent.
Buy a CNC laser machine from Top 3D Shop - get an excellent tool for business, with an official guarantee and the best technical support.
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