From Obscurity to Ubiquity: The Evolution and Future of Laser Cutting in the Domestic Sheet Metal Industry
Laser cutting technology in the domestic sheet metal industry has evolved from being little known to becoming widely adopted. With the increasing maturity and refinement of laser cutting machine technology in recent years, future laser cutting equipment will likely follow two development paths: one involves upgrading and replacing existing technology, such as reducing costs while cutting increasingly thicker sheets; the other explores new cutting media and methods.
Improving Laser Cutting Machine Efficiency
In the context of ever-increasing demands for processing efficiency, how can the efficiency of laser cutting machines be enhanced? To further improve cutting efficiency and develop high-efficiency, high-precision CNC laser cutting machines, it's not just about enhancing beam quality and modifying cutting processes. A crucial aspect is the structural optimization of the machine bed and components, ensuring stability, reliability, and durability while achieving faster movement speed and acceleration.
Develop flexible laser cutting processing, enhancing the laser cutting machine's multi-faceted flexibility to handle complex curved surface workpieces. Promote applications in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional fields to drive flexible processing forward.
Increase research into large-format thick plate laser cutting technology, mastering long-distance laser transmission, thick plate cutting processes, and high-power laser optical path design and manufacturing techniques, and develop large-format thick plate laser cutting equipment.
Further enhance the intelligence of cutting machines, with laser control software as the core, integrating fiber lasers with CNC technology, optical technology, and high-precision workpiece positioning. Combine laser cutting machine components with other processing methods to develop more convenient and efficient laser processing methods and cutting processes.
For a laser cutting machine's control system, ensuring stability, reliability, and safety is fundamental, but efficient cutting performance and simple, diverse operational methods are even more critical. Over the past decade of rapid development, control systems and software have evolved from high-end foreign CNC systems like Siemens, Beckhoff, PA, and Fagor to domestic manufacturers like Baichu, Weihong, Jiaqiang, and AosenDike joining the market.
Loading processing files has evolved from the initial simple G-code imports to intelligent processing. The conventional processing methods can be summarized as follows:
G-code Import: Direct processing by importing manually written or nesting software-generated G-codes. This is the most traditional and reliable processing method. Foreign systems typically use this method.
Drawing/Part Library Processing: Directly draw on the cutting software or call part models from the part library, with the software automatically converting the drawings into G-codes for processing. This is a standard feature in domestic laser cutting software, simple, convenient, and practical.
Graphic Import: Laser cutting software supports directly loading CAD drawings like DXF/DWG, eliminating the need for intermediate operations on other machines with nesting software, thus improving efficiency.
Engineering File Import: Laser cutting includes not just G-codes but also corresponding processing techniques, suitable for batch processing of common products and special processes. This simplifies customer operations.
To this end, Chuangke Da has launched the Picosecond Laser Cutting Software after years of independent development. It satisfies simple and convenient software operation habits, efficient processing methods, and comprehensive processing techniques, considering different customers' operational habits and preferences. The WisCut cutting software consolidates various file loading methods, allowing customers to choose based on their preferences.
Adaptability to Varied User Levels and Scenarios
As laser cutting applications become more widespread, the skill level, habits, and proficiency of machine operators vary. Consequently, laser cutting software needs to cater to different user groups, industries, and application scenarios. The HTI Picosecond Laser Cutting Software was developed in response to this need.
