Laser cutting of tube and box/hollow section is often seen as a specialist process, although the method itself is the same as the laser cutting of sheet material. A laser beam is produced by a laser resonator and directed through a lens in the cutting head, which in turn melts the material at the point of contact. By moving and rotating the workpiece, a continuous cut is made in the tube.
Much like the laser cutting of sheet material, the molten material is blown away by the cutting gas, which is introduced in between the lens and the nozzle and surrounds the beam during the cutting process.
The difference between the laser cutting of sheet material and tube/box section comes down to how the material is mounted. Tube and box/hollow section is fed into a chuck and rotated during the cutting process, while the cutting head itself is directed across two different axes.
Used to produce
Profiled tube and box/hollow section components.
Materials
Tube and box/hollow section in ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastic.
Advantages
Versatile process that can be used to achieve a variety of profiles.
High degree of accuracy results in a reduced kerf width.
Can be used to produce both high and low volume parts.
Profiles are produced quickly.
Disadvantages
Laser cutting of tube and box/hollow section is often seen as a specialist process and may be more expensive than laser cutting of sheet material.
