Laser Cutting Technology in Transportation Industry
Laser cutting practice dates back to the periods of the 1960s when the technology was still insignificant. However, in the wake of the 1970s, Messer Griesheim became the first engineer to introduce laser cutting machines in industrial services. Through time, many laser cutting industries achieved growth and improvement in their effectiveness in society. To date, industries from manufacturing, transport, automotive, aerospace, and health care services incorporate laser cutting technology in their services.
What is laser cutting?
The technology involves focusing a highly concentrated laser beam on the surface of the working material. A laser beam consists of high intensity of electromagnetic radiation with a single wavelength. In the light spectrum, you will notice that a CO2 laser beam is infrared with a diameter of ¾ of an inch.
During cutting, the nozzle of the cutting machine channels the beam of the laser to a point of focus. A special lens or mirror effect the focusing of the beam on to the surface. Just like focusing the sun’s rays on a paper through a magnifying glass until the paper burns. The concept applies in a laser cutting machine.
The laser beam concentrated at one point increases the density of the energy in the light. The light energy converted to heat energy produces an extreme frequency of heat that is capable of cutting, vaporizing, or burning any metallic material.
Apart from the commonly used CO2 lasers, there are also ruby lasers, diode lasers, and fiber lasers. The different types of lasers serve different purposes in the transport industries.
Importance of laser cutting in the transport industry
The transport industries are achieving tremendous growth due to the current technology involved in their services. Transport industries require a lot of metal works in securing and assembling transportation vessels. Therefore it is evident that laser cutting is a prerequisite in their manufacturing activities.
Applications
- Automotive design
The transport industries employ tube laser cutting industries in the design of vehicle chassis and connecting the chassis. The laser technology also becomes useful in the framework of the trailers and semitrailers. The metal cutting by laser machine provides precision in design that makes thin metal sheets easy to use.
For instance, the Afrilaser manufacture applies laser cutting and bending in the design of canopies. The company has a large customer base due to its production of high standard canopies.
- Container design system
The transport boxes or containers are handy in the transportation industries. The containers are usually a product of complex metal works that its perfection is achievable through laser cutting machines
The GCI groups are increasing their market base in the supply of camper trailers due to the increased production effected by laser cutting technology. They use tube Lasers to minimize fabrication processes, which maximizes the output and reduces the input.
- Shipbuilding
The building process of the ship requires large sheets of metalwork accompanied by welding and cutting. Laser cutting and welding produce good precisions of metal cutting when compared to the conventional manufacturing process. Laser cutting technology reduces time and the labor cost of shipbuilding and
The primary raw material in shipbuilding is the steel metal. Therefore cutting the hull plate parts requires laser cutting to avoid wide slits and poor cutting accuracy.
Summary
Laser cutting technology perfects metal works and is improving the products of many transport industries. If you want to have a high precision metalwork that is less costly, do not hesitate to use laser cutting machines.