Relationship between laser beam focusing characteristics and cutting quality of laser cutting machine

In today's industrial manufacturing field, laser cutting machine has become an indispensable and important equipment in many industries with its high precision, high efficiency and high flexibility. The cutting quality of laser cutting machine depends largely on the focusing characteristics of its laser beam. This article will deeply explore the relationship between the laser beam focusing characteristics of laser cutting machine and cutting quality, and provide valuable reference for practitioners in related industries.

The basic principle of laser cutting machine is to use a high-power density laser beam to irradiate the cut material, so that the material is quickly heated to the vaporization temperature and evaporated to form holes. With the relative linear movement of the beam and the material, the holes continuously form a very narrow slit, thereby completing the cutting of the material. In this process, the focusing characteristics of the laser beam play a vital role.

The focusing characteristics of the laser beam are mainly reflected in the beam diameter, divergence angle and focal length of the focusing mirror. The smaller the beam diameter, the higher the energy density and the better the cutting effect. The smaller the divergence angle, the less likely the beam is to diverge during propagation, and it can maintain a higher energy density. The focal length of the focusing lens determines the size and depth of the spot, which in turn affects the width and depth of the cutting.

First, the effect of the beam diameter on the cutting quality cannot be ignored. In laser cutting, in order to obtain a larger power density and energy density, the spot diameter is required to be as small as possible. This means that the laser beam needs to be well focused to form a high-energy spot at the focus. A smaller spot diameter can reduce the cutting width and improve cutting accuracy, while reducing the heat-affected zone and reducing workpiece deformation. Therefore, laser cutting machines usually use high-quality focusing lenses and precise adjustment mechanisms to ensure that the beam diameter reaches the optimal state.

Secondly, the effect of the divergence angle on the cutting quality is equally important. A laser beam with a smaller divergence angle can maintain a higher energy density during propagation and is not easily disturbed by the outside world. This helps to ensure stability and consistency during the cutting process and improve cutting quality. On the contrary, a laser beam with a larger divergence angle tends to diverge during propagation, resulting in a lower energy density and a worse cutting effect.

In addition, the focal length of the focusing lens is also one of the key factors affecting cutting quality. The choice of focal length needs to be determined based on the thickness of the cutting material and the cutting requirements. A shorter focal length can form a smaller spot and a shallower depth of focus, which is suitable for fast cutting of thin plate materials. A longer focal length can form a larger spot and a deeper depth of focus, which is suitable for cutting thick plate materials. Choosing a suitable focal length can ensure that the laser beam maintains the best focusing state during the cutting process, thereby improving the cutting quality.

It is worth noting that the cutting quality of the laser cutting machine is not only affected by the focusing characteristics of the laser beam, but also closely related to parameters such as laser power, cutting speed, auxiliary gas type and pressure. Therefore, in practical applications, it is necessary to comprehensively consider these parameters according to the characteristics of the cutting material and the cutting requirements to obtain the best cutting effect.

In addition, in order to improve the cutting quality and efficiency of the laser cutting machine, some optimization measures can also be taken. For example, using advanced control systems and algorithms to achieve precise control and adjustment of the laser beam; using high-quality cutting auxiliary gas and optimized gas pressure to improve the stability and efficiency of the cutting process; regularly maintaining and servicing the laser cutting machine to ensure that it is in the best working condition.

In short, there is a close relationship between the laser beam focusing characteristics of the laser cutting machine and the cutting quality. By optimizing the focusing characteristics of the laser beam, the cutting accuracy can be improved, the heat-affected zone can be reduced, and the deformation of the workpiece can be reduced, thereby obtaining a high-quality cutting effect. At the same time, other relevant parameters and optimization measures need to be considered comprehensively to achieve the best cutting effect. With the continuous advancement of technology and the continuous expansion of application fields, laser cutting machines will play an important role in more industries and contribute more to the development of the industrial manufacturing field.