Plastics
are organic, synthetic or processed materials that are mostly
thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and
that can be made into objects, films or filaments. Because of the above
mentioned features, these materials require specialized cutting
machineries.
Now a days, laser cutting machine are much in use. Plastic cutting with
laser is a heat partition process which involves fusion and evaporation
of the material by a focused laser beam.
Depending on the dominating process, there are two methods :
- Sublimation cutting (Sufficient intensity of the laser beam
causes the material to evaporate)
- Fusion cutting (The material fuses and the fusion is expelled by
the working gas)
The following applications are possible with this plastic
cutting machine:
- Cutting against substrate
- Cutting of discrete layers of compound material
- Scoring to a defined depth (pre weakening)
- Microdrilling
- Fast cutting
- Fusion of edges when cutting textiles
Uses of laser cutting machines :
- Processing of all kinds of plastic materials or organic material
such as leather, rubber, cork or wood.
- Cutting of indoor parts (e.g. A, B or C columns, armrests,
decorative material, door trimming)
- Trimming of exterior parts (e.g., bumpers, car doors, fuel tanks
and other tanks)
The intensifying competition has led to offering of various
value added services by the manufacturers of plastic cutting machines.
Some of them are:
- CAD / CAM Support
- Design Assistance
- Prototype Services
- Low Volume Production
- High Volume Production
- Inspection / Quality Control
The vendors can also assist the producer with concepts,
manufacturing costs, manufacturing techniques and material
considerations. They may also be able to assist in upgrading or
redesigning, or re-evaluating or modernizing existing products to
increase performance and/or reduce manufacturing costs.
Features of a good plastic cutting machine:
- High level of precision
- Good edge quality
- Energy efficient
- Low maintenance requirements
- No hard tooling to buy, store or wear out
- Facility of cutting virtually any shape
Most of the laser cutting machine (especially CO2 lasers) that
work for plastics, can also be used to cut metals and non-metals
including ceramics, composites, rubber, glass etc.
Plastic Cutting Machine
