A Small Cnc Router

[St8LineGunsmith]

You are telling that to a master welder/fitter

I know how a laser cutter works I used to work for a laser cutting company. the metal parts can be handled immediately after the part is cut and it also cuts very fast

I also know that a laser cutter can cut very thick pieces of mild steel but will only cut aluminum 1/4" thick the laser also needs a shielding gas (perferrably argon) to cut the material no gas no cut

[RavenAus]

When I spoke to the laser company they said it comes down to power. With a higher wattage laser you can cut faster which means less scorching. The other option is doing multiple low-power passes. Lasers for metal are rather different to the lasers for softer materials though, no inert gas needed. You do however need a very good extraction system to get the smoke out as it will interfere with the cut and can stain.

[St8LineGunsmith]

you will get a better cut with some kind of gas pressure to blow out the cut material out of the cut.

some materials would require less gas pressure than others.

Edited May 31, 2014 by St8LineGunsmith

[Northmount]

Leather as you well know doesn't melt. It has to burn, else will just shrivel up due to the heat. RavenAus is right about different power levels, speed, etc. affecting how clean the cut (burn) will be. Shielding gas to keep oxygen away will result in no cut, just a shrivelled line.

Tom

[St8LineGunsmith]

I really dont know anything about cutting leather with a laser my experience is with metal.

[robertmeco]

You are telling that to a master welder/fitter

I know how a laser cutter works I used to work for a laser cutting company. the metal parts can be handled immediately after the part is cut and it also cuts very fast

I also know that a laser cutter can cut very thick pieces of mild steel but will only cut aluminum 1/4" thick the laser also needs a shielding gas (perferrably argon) to cut the material no gas no cut

You are telling that to a master welder/fitter

I know how a laser cutter works I used to work for a laser cutting company. the metal parts can be handled immediately after the part is cut and it also cuts very fast

I also know that a laser cutter can cut very thick pieces of mild steel but will only cut aluminum 1/4" thick the laser also needs a shielding gas (perferrably argon) to cut the material no gas no cut

I think you are talking about a plasma cutter

[St8LineGunsmith]

No it is definately a laser cutter a big CNC laser cutter.

we used to have hand held plasma cutter here in the garage some where.

[robertmeco]

No it is definately a laser cutter a big CNC laser cutter.

we used to have hand held plasma cutter here in the garage some where.

Sorry my mistake.

[St8LineGunsmith]

here is a web page that explains the cutting process of metals with a laser cutter. http://www.rofin.com/en/applications/laser_cutting/cutting_processes/

Edited May 31, 2014 by St8LineGunsmith

[VanDutch]

I am also looking at a Laser and tomorrow I will be having some test pieces done to evaluate the finish quality etc. Will post some results.