Laser cutting has many applications. This short guide will help you understand the laser cutting process and how you should design for laser.
Laser cutting is the process of cutting or engraving a material by using a focused high-powered laser beam. A CNC (computer numerically controlled) machine directs this beam by using the information stored in a CAD (Computer Aided Design) vector file.
There are various applications for laser cutting, from prototyping and testing designs for product design companies to large commercial product runs, where the machine is repeatedly used to create identical cuts. Furthermore, a fine laser cutter can produce intricate architectural models and bespoke artworks. The finer the beam, the more intricate the result.
The most common application for laser cutting is vector cutting, where the cut follows the vector line set up in the CAD file. Vector engraving follows a similar process, using just a surface level cut onto the fabric, which creates the drawing or outline on the surface. The engraving process adds the additional level of detail required by the client.
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Our Laser Cutting technology is highly accurate which allows objects to be cut to a fine tolerance. Unlike conventional techniques Laser Cutting with our machine will produce pieces with a polished edge that will not require any additional finishing.
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So, how do you design for laser?
Prepare the CAD Vector file in a format required by the machine. Software such as AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator or the free vector software InkScape (available to download online at inkscape.org) can produce files in various formats, be it .dxf, .eps or .pdf. Speak to the printing company to find out their format requirements.
Include the necessary measurements and colour key in the file. The more accurate this information, the more precise the laser cutting process will be. However, the choice of your laser cutting machine is crucial to the success of your project.
At Powerhouse PLC our Laser Cutting technology is highly accurate, which allows objects to get cut to a fine tolerance. Unlike conventional techniques, laser cutting with our machine will produce pieces with a polished edge that will not require any additional finishing. Also, because the laser beam is so fine, intricate shapes with sharp corners can be created. We can laser cut almost any material up to 16mm thick for any application.
Place your brand at the front and centre of your industry. Contact Powerhouse PLC for all your large format printing and laser cutting requirements.
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