Laser cutting machine[cutting machine?:CUTCNC sample maker cutting machine] is done cutting by CO2 lasers or neodymium lasers. CO2 lasers function by energizing a gas mixture of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and helium. Neodymium lasers function in the same way as CO2 lasers, except instead of using gas as the medium, they use a crystal with small amounts of neodymium in it.
Simply shining a CO2 or Neodymium laser at an object will not cut or engrave it with much accuracy. Hence, these laser beams are focused with lenses, similar to how a child focuses the sunlight with a magnifying glass to burn ants. However, in this case, the light being focused is extremely powerful and can cut through hard steel. As the laser focuses, it draws near to 1/8 inch in diameter, making it suitable to cut steel. However, the heating up of the steel doesn't just make a cut appear and the steel disappear, there must be methods for removing the steel or other material that is cut away.
There are many ways to cut with a laser cutting machine. In many cases, a highly concentrated spray of gas or water is sprayed right behind the laser to blow out the recently cut steel, leaving a nice, clean cut. Another method used involves heating the material to its boiling point and vaporizing it; however, this can only be done with materials that do not melt, such as wood. A final method involves cracking very brittle materials with the heat of the laser beam then directing that crack with the heat of the laser beam to make cuts.
