Compact cutting systems equipped with CO2 or fiber laser

Knuth has introduced the Laser-Jet 1512 and 2512 laser cutting machines. The compact cutting systems can be equipped with either a CO2 or fiber laser. Parts can be produced individually and unloaded directly at the machine. In addition, a sheet of material that has been used for a single part can easily be set aside and later reloaded.

Both laser types are equipped with a PC-based control. They handle material sheet sizes up to 8 by 4 ft. (2512) or 5 by 4 ft. (1512).

The CO2 laser source delivers high-power cutting of nonalloy and low-alloy structural steel plate up to 0.31 in. thick. It is available in 600, 1,000, or 1,500 W. Laser fusion cutting is possible using nitrogen under high pressure as the cutting gas. High-alloy stainless steel and aluminum materials can be cut with high quality in plate thicknesses up to 0.12 in., the company states.

The fiber laser source generates a 1.6-µm wavelength to make the beam more focusable. It can cut stainless steel, aluminum, and brass in plate thicknesses up to 0.24 in. with very high quality, the company reports. Much thicker plates can be cut using the 4,000-W laser source. For nonalloy and low-alloy structural steels, it can cut plates more than 0.47 in. thick. The ytterbium fiber laser is available in beam powers of 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, or 4,000 W.