Discover everything you need to know about laser-cutting robots and how they can improve your machining process. Learn about the different types and how modern industry benefits from them.
When we think of robots, science fiction characters from movies often come to mind. However, industrial robots have become a reality and play an active role in modern manufacturing. Among them, multi-axis laser cutting robots are famous for their precision, speed, and accuracy in handling complex machining tasks.
This guide takes an in-depth look at what laser-cutting robots are, their types, and their applications in various industries.
What is a laser-cutting robot?
Laser-cutting robots are computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines, reprogrammable, and can move on three or more axes. These are multi-purpose machines with high levels of automation and the ability to simulate complex movements in space. To be clear, both "multi-axis laser cutting robotic arms" and "multi-axis flatbed laser cutting machines" fall into the "industrial robot" category.
Laser-cutting robots are advanced machines that can create complex designs at extremely high speeds without compromising on quality. Its precision guidance system is driven by a high-processing computer and is far more precise than traditional 2-axis laser cutters, multi-axis mechanical cutters, and plasma cutters.
Multi-axis motion refers to:
X-axis: moves horizontally from left to right.
Y-axis: horizontal movement from front to back.
Z axis: vertical, up and down movement.
A-axis: Horizontal rotation around the X-axis.
B axis: Horizontal rotation around the Y axis.
C axis: Horizontal rotation around the Z axis.
A robotic laser-cutting machine with all six degrees of freedom of motion mentioned above is called a "six-axis laser-cutting robot."
Applications of laser cutting robots
Laser-cutting robots have unique characteristics that make them ideal for specific industries.
1. Automotive and aerospace
Building cars and airplanes requires complex components that are difficult to manufacture using traditional methods. That’s why multi-axis laser cutting robots are used in these industries to increase precision, streamline production, and continue to innovate.
2. Medical Industry
Medical device manufacturing requires extreme precision, and multi-axis laser cutters can easily achieve this.
3. electronic product
Electronic products such as PCBs and semiconductors require very small-scale processing, making it difficult to achieve a high level of control using mechanical tools. This is why laser-cutting robots are so popular in this industry.
4. Industries that require multiple tasks
The laser cutting robot can also perform laser welding, cleaning supplies, and marking by replacing the laser cutting head. This high level of flexibility makes it an extremely economical and versatile machine for any industry.
How do laser-cutting robots work?
You may be interested in how laser-cutting robots can mimic human movement during processing. Here’s a quick look at the inner workings of a laser-cutting robot. To make it easier to understand, we divide the machine into three components.
1. Laser source
Each laser-cutting robot has an individual laser source, such as a CO2 laser and a fiber laser system. The power, wavelength, and intensity of the laser beam affect factors such as cutting speed, cutting depth, finish, and material compatibility. Smoke extraction and auxiliary gas operations also play a vital role in machining.
2. Assembly and components
Due to their complex components and assembly, laser robots can be 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-axis laser cutters. Typically, cutting-edge stepper motors, laser scanners, servo motors, smooth rails, and pneumatic and hydraulic systems, all work together to provide the machine with a full 360-degree range of motion. This is truly an engineering marvel.
3. software
The automation and complex movements of laser-cutting robots in three dimensions are made possible by sophisticated software running on high-performance computers. Cypcut and Cypone are examples of laser-cutting software. With continued advancements, we are also witnessing the incorporation of artificial intelligence into the CNC systems of these machines. So, the potential is limitless.
What materials can laser robots cut?
Laser-cutting robots are extremely versatile and can cut on almost any material available on the market. However, it is not surprising that certain laser technologies are more compatible with specific materials. Therefore, no one laser-cutting machine can handle every task.
Modern CNC laser cutting systems are designed to make replacing laser sources and heads easier, maximizing machine adaptability. Additionally, multi-axis laser-cutting robots can move around blocks of material to perform complex cuts.
Let’s briefly discuss some materials and laser-cutting robots that are compatible with them.
made from metal
Stainless steel, carbon steel, mild steel, aluminum, and their alloys are best cut by multi-axis fiber laser cutting robots. Likewise, copper and nickel alloys are also compatible with these machines. It can cut thicknesses up to 22 mm with the correct force and control parameters.
Some advanced laser-cutting machines are capable of processing titanium parts as well. The automotive industry uses six-axis fiber laser robotic arms to create complex curves and shapes.
Non-metallic
Non-reflective materials such as wood, leather, glass, ceramics, and fabrics are best cut with a CO2 laser cutting machine. In addition, many industries also use such machines for acrylic and plexiglass laser cutting.
The main advantages of using laser-cutting robots
Laser-cutting robots are the future of manufacturing and rightfully so. Here are the main advantages of laser-cutting robots over traditional CNC machinery.
1. Range of motion and stretch
Multi-axis robots offer a wide range of motion, which means the machine is no longer limited to moving on traditional planes, such as in mechanical or plasma cutting. While traditional machining has its place in repetitive machining processes, high-tech laser robots have a strong presence in the rapid prototyping of complex geometries.
2. Rapid complex design
Industries such as aerospace require highly precise manufacturing; if not performed properly, it can cause serious problems. Therefore, laser-cutting robots have become an excellent choice in such environments. In addition, fast-processing CNC algorithms provide "fly cutting," providing unrivaled machining speeds.
3. Smaller footprint
Compared with traditional laser-cutting machines, laser-cutting robotic arms take up significantly less space, making production cleaner and smoother. However, the arm does require unrestricted, empty vertical space to move freely in any direction required for the cutting path.
4. Work autonomously
With the right programming software, laser-cutting robots can operate in automatic mode, requiring minimal human intervention even for complex jobs.