When it comes to laser cutting versus waterjet cutting, there is a lot of debate. The fact is that both options have their own level of benefits that they can offer to the user. But with that being said, you should know which one is best for you before you start any job. If you don’t, you could end up with below-average results or paying more money than you owe. So to avoid this, knowing the benefits of both cutting methods will save you time in the long run.
As a general rule of thumb, if a laser and waterjet can do the job, you’ll want to go with laser cutting technology. There are actually two main advantages of laser cutting technology that make it so popular.
Firstly, with laser profiling you will be able to complete the job much faster than with any other method. This is vital in market sectors such as automotive or aerospace, where the supply of laser cut parts has become an integral part of large projects. Typically, components are made available for prototyping or testing purposes, while high-volume production tooling is still being designed. This means that the final car or plane reaches the market much sooner, shortening the time it takes to recoup development costs.
And in addition to saving time, with laser cutting the components are also immediately ready for operation. There is no need to go through a tedious cleanup process once the cut is complete. Most quality laser cutting machines, such as those made by Trumpf, allow the operator to change gas pressures and cutting speeds to ensure a near perfect finish is achieved.
The other great benefit of laser profiling is that it offers precision cuts. Due to an extremely narrow cutting width, you never have to worry about not getting what you want. Detailed work can be done with precision thanks to cuts as small as 0.1mm. This means that laser profiling is suitable for many varied uses, such as intricate furniture or sculpture.
Finally, laser cutting is also thought to be one of the cleanest of all cutting methods. For the customer this means there is no risk of their parts being damaged or affected by the waste products associated with waterjet cutting.
As you can see, there are many benefits that go along with this cutting method. This is not to say that laser cutting is always the best option, but for most people this is the way to go. If you don’t have the necessary equipment to complete a job, you can always turn to a laser cutting specialist for help. This way, you’ll have a professional working with you to finish the job and advise you on best practices.