LASER CUTTING INSTEAD OF CNC MILLING?

CNC stands for “computerised numerical control” and means that the milling machine can process a diverse range of materials via computer-assisted numerical control. The drawback of this technology is that it is very high-maintenance. Time and again there are follow-up costs for milling as new tools need to be bought regularly. Laser cutting, by contrast, impresses due to the fact that even intensive material processing does not result in wear and tear to the laser. Even the smallest shapes and patterns can be cut or engraved precisely using a laser. There are no maintenance costs for laser technology, which guarantees optimal cost control for businesses. By contrast, CNC milling without maintenance is not possible. Investment in a high-quality JustLaser laser machine usually pays for itself quickly.

Laser Cutters

CNC milling machines must be regularly maintained by qualified servicing technicians to ensure that there are no production stoppages. Defective and worn parts need to be changed regularly to avoid machines breaking down. Due to the complexity of the systems, this maintenance is usually carried out by expensive external service providers. Anyone who wants low-maintenance CNC milling should consider an alternative technology: in laser cutting, the laser beam does not get worn out by material processing. While milling constantly incurs extra costs due to material wear or material changeovers, a high-quality JustLaser laser machine has practically no maintenance costs.

Laser cutter

• Precise edges: compared with CNC milling, laser technology produces more precise edges. Even the smallest cuts can be carried out quickly and simply. The technology is also more efficient: milled edges often need to be mechanically polished or finished. In laser cutting, this is done automatically in just one step.
• Laser technology: laser machines impress due to how little noise they produce. The amount of noise a milling motor makes varies depending on the model.
• Maximum cleanliness: lasers explosively vaporise materials. Unlike with milling, there is no chipping. That means workspaces stay clean and hygienic. Your employees don’t then have to clean up chips, which makes the process significantly quicker and more efficient.
• No fixing necessary: with CNC milling, you need a holding device (e.g. a vacuum table) to which the items to be processed need to be fixed. In laser cutting, a material can be processed without touching it and without the application of force. This means that the area around the cut remains undamaged, even with deep cuts. The material will not be damaged or warped. That means buying a holding device is unnecessary.
• No material wear: the laser beam does not get worn out by material processing, meaning there are no extra costs for material wear or tool changing. In contrast to the constant investment in replacement parts for a CNC milling machine, a laser engraver incurs practically no maintenance costs. This means there are optimal cost controls.
• Easy to integrate into work processes: the laser machine can be integrated into existing work processes quickly and easily. You can create the file in your graphics program of choice and simply send it to the laser using a print command. In CNC milling, by contrast, you need to programme details – a process which is often time-consuming.
• Efficient technology: hardly any technology is considered to be as efficient as the laser cutter. Precise and high-quality laser engravings can be produced in seconds flat. Even with a higher number of pieces, no cumbersome cleaning is required – unlike with CNC milling. It doesn’t get more efficient than that.

Laser cutter