5 Benefits of Laser Cutting in the Automotive Industry
Automotive production is highly competitive, and being in this industry means that you know there’s little room for error here. Products need to be of high quality and must be made quickly. Therefore, automotive professionals use different methods to deliver quality with a quick turnaround time. One of these methods is laser cutting.
Laser Cutting Technology
Laser cutting ensures precise quality cutting with clean edges quickly. This type of technology can also be used for welding, engraving, cladding, and marking. It has become a vital tool in automobile production all over the world.
The Benefits of Laser Cutting
Curious to know the benefits of laser cutting in the automotive industry? Here are some of the reasons making the switch to laser cutting is one of the best decisions you will ever make for your company.
1. Produces Clean and Perfect Cuts
Laser cutters have a light wave at a wavelength of 10,000 nm. The energy is absorbed by the metal; in turn, it creates a change in the molecular structure. With that, it paves the way for precise cuts.
Another reason the cuts are nearly perfect is due to the Beam Parameter Product (BPP) in which CO2 lasers usually have 8-9mm BPP paired with the highly concentrated heat.
2. Reduces Fringed Edges
Laser cutting technology uses intense and focused heat that seals the edges of cloth used in sealing airbags. This is highly recommended because they have zero defects. Since airbags are a safety feature, laser cutting is crucial.
3. Fits into the Contours
Laser cutters come with a CNC-controlled cutting head. With that, it can move to cut the contours as programmed into the machine. The laser cutter is an invaluable tool because it also helps lower production time and ensures a consistent part every time.
4. Cuts Costs
Because of the industry’s highly competitive nature, cutting costs without sacrificing quality is crucial. Laser-cutting machines help cut costs in the automotive industry in many ways. One of these is through operating 24/7 as long as a standard predictive maintenance program is in place. This can save companies time and money for the OEM.
Another thing is that due to the high-precision cutting ability of the laser, you can expect fewer errors from it. You can expect that using this type of technology can deliver almost no quality defects, which is why lasers are a popular manufacturing choice.
5. Lowers Manufacturing Time
Laser cutting can now cut as fast as 40 meters per minute to compete with lower-cost options. It then allows for great flexibility in the manufacturing process. Additionally, since lasers are computer numerically controlled, necessary changes can be done quickly.
Conclusion
Laser cutting technology has made noise in the automotive industry. With the use of this technology, automotive manufacturers can benefit from clean and perfect cuts, which eliminates the time usually needed for edge reworking. Moreover, you don’t need to worry about tool wear, which means it will always deliver consistent high cut quality. Using laser cutting technology offers a high level of flexibility in the choice of contours without any need for tool construction.
If you are still not using laser cutting, it’s time to make the switch. Rost Machining & Fabrication is a Santa Clara-based company offering laser cutting in the Bay Area. We offer personalized services for the automotive industry. Contact us today!
