Working principle of laser engraving machine
The working principle of the laser engraving machine is based on the high energy density of the laser to produce a thermal effect on the surface of the material, thus realizing the processing of the material. The following is the basic working principle of laser engraving machine:
1. Laser generator: The core component of a laser engraving machine is the laser generator, which produces a highly concentrated beam of light. The laser can be continuous (continuous wave laser) or pulsed (pulsed laser). Pulsed lasers typically have a higher peak power and are suitable for most engraving applications.
2. Beam Delivery System: The generated laser is delivered through an optical system (e.g., lenses, mirrors, and optical fibers) that focuses it on the surface of the material. This process focuses the beam to a very small spot, which creates a high temperature on the material.
3. Material Processing: When the laser beam is focused on the material, the laser energy instantaneously heats the surface of the material to the melting or vaporization point, thereby removing or deforming the material. In the case of non-metallic materials such as plastics, wood, paper and glass, the laser energy causes the material to vaporize or burn. In the case of metals, the laser energy usually causes the material to melt and subsequently solidify into the desired shape.
4. Control system: The control system of a laser engraving machine is responsible for precisely controlling the movement and intensity of the laser beam. This is usually accomplished through computer software that allows the user to input design graphics, and the control system translates these instructions into a path for the laser beam to move.
5. Cooling system: Laser processing generates a lot of heat, so laser engraving machines are usually equipped with a cooling system, such as water cooling or air cooling, to keep the temperature of the laser generator and optical system within a controlled range, to ensure the stability and longevity of the equipment.
6. Workbench: The workbench is where the material to be processed is placed, and it can be moved along the X and Y axes so that the laser beam can be accurately processed in different positions.
To better understand how a laser engraver works, we can use a simple analogy: imagine that you are using a very fine pen to draw on paper, but instead of an ordinary ink nib, this nib is a miniature laser capable of emitting extreme heat.
1. The laser generator is like a pen tip: The laser generator produces a beam of laser light like the ink from a pen tip. However, the laser is not ink; it is a highly concentrated form of light energy.
2. Optics are like eyeglasses: The optics (including lenses and mirrors) act like a pair of eyeglasses by focusing the laser light onto a point where the energy density is very high.
3. the material to be processed is like paper: when you focus the laser (the nib) on the material, the material at this point is rapidly heated up by the high temperature of the laser. if it is a non-metallic material, it may evaporate or burn; if it is a metal, it may melt and rapidly cool down to the shape you want.
4. The control system is like your hand: The control system allows you to precisely control the movement of the laser (nib) on the material, just as your hand can precisely control the movement of a pen on paper.
5. Cooling systems are like air conditioners: Because laser processing generates a lot of heat, a cooling system (e.g., water or air-cooled) acts like an air conditioner to help keep the temperature of the laser generator and the optical system at a safe level and prevent them from overheating.
6. The table is like a desktop: The table is where the material is placed and it can be moved around so that the laser can be processed in different positions, just like you move paper around on a desktop in order to draw in different positions.
By working in tandem with these systems, laser engravers are able to accurately and efficiently engrave and cut on a wide range of materials. This technology is widely used in many industries because of its significant advantages in terms of accuracy, speed and flexibility.