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CNC Machines vs Laser Cutters

Carving your idea out of plywood takes woodworking skills and a thorough understanding of the tools and procedures involved. There are two major options for cutting plywood to make amazing wood items: CNC machines and laser cutters.

Although Automated systems and laser engraving can both carve and cut identical materials, they are vastly different. However, understanding what each of these devices perform beyond the essentials can be difficult. It might be even more difficult to distinguish between their differences and advantages. This article compares CNC machines to laser cutters and explains which is better for your business.

CNC Routers

A CNC router is a machine that is configured to accept and interpret computer blueprints in order to guide a cutter – often a router bit or a laser. CNC wood machines engrave, cut, mill, drill, and groove a variety of materials, including wood, foam, stone, polymers, acrylic, glass, Asm, metal, brass, aluminium, PVC, MDF, and so on, using cnc machines controls.

How Carving Works with a CNC Router

Cutting using a CNC machine is a basic and straightforward technique.

It just takes design and technological expertise to complete the following steps:

  1. CAD (or CADCAM) software is used to build a design on a computer.
  2. Place a piece of wood on the chopping board.
  3. The CNC router is then signaled to cut by sending the design from the computer to it through CNC software.
  4. The machine reads the draft as a set of detailed instructions and runs the cutter back and forth and side to side along the axis, cutting solid wood as the g-code is followed.

CNC machines and laser cutters.

Pros of CNC Routers

1. Practical to create

Designing and building projects has never been easier thanks to CNC machinery. They operate with practically any CAD program, including Fusion 360, Solidworks, and AutoCAD, allowing you to produce stunning wood products with just an idea, your imagination, and technical expertise. CNC Machines make it easier than ever to design and create projects. They work perfectly with almost any CAD software, so all you need is an idea, your creativity, and technical knowledge to create beautiful wood items.

2. Cutting depth

CNC machines have the benefit of being able to carve accurate and exact cuts. CNC machines can cut far deeper than laser cutters, which can only cut softwoods that are quite thin.

3. Rounded Cuts 

CNC machines tend to cut very sharp edges, but for certain artists, this is an advantage: round edges give their designs of wooden products, such as furniture, a lovely curved look and feel.

Cons Of CNC Router

1. Radius & Accuracy 

Sharp edges and angles are less effective with CNC machines. The precision of the bit is restricted by its radius.

2. Clamping 

The cutting surface must be fastened using materials. If you don't do this, the router's torque will spin the materials or, at the absolute least, destabilize it, resulting in a drastically incorrect final design. Clamps are commonly used to secure wood to a surface. Although lasers don't always require the same clamping, I always clamp my laser projects to ensure the design is etched or cut exactly where I want it. When a quickly CNC router bit is used on a firmly clamped piece of material, however, a lot of strain is generated. The wood may deform or be damaged as a result of this stress.

3. Labor 

Cutting using a router is similarly time-consuming. This might result in higher consumer expenses.

Laser Cutters

To make wooden items, wood plasma cutters carve plywood. When clean edges and fast processing rates are required, lasers are employed in woodworking. Gifts, jewelry, inlay, hobbies, and model creation are all common uses for laser sawing wood.

Fully Automated Wood Designing & Curving 3D Machine woodworking wooden door design

How Does Woodcutting Work with Laser Cutters?

Laser cutters function similarly to CNC machines. The main distinction is that lasers cut by using heat rather than friction. Rather than chopping away at the wood, a high-energy laser beam burns through it.

Advantages of Laser Cutters

1. Cuts with Care

A laser beam's radius may be as tiny as 0.1 mm, whereas the tiniest router bits have a radius of slightly under 1 mm. With remarkable precision, incredibly complex cuts may be created.

2. Cleaned & Sealed Edges

The laser cutters work by burning through the wood, resulting in clean edges.

Although some discolouration may result from the burning, there are actions that may be taken to prevent unpleasant burn marks. Burning additionally seals the borders of cut wood, reducing the changes in pressure.

Disadvantages of Laser Cutters

1. Limitation of material thickness 

When compared to other heat cutting technologies, laser cutting is not appropriate for cutting particularly thick plates. The maximum acceptable thickness is determined by the available equipment and expertise. Many metals laser can laser drilling metal up to 15 or 20 mm in thickness.

2.Cost and Hazardous fumes 

In comparison to CNC machines and other options, the cricut maker is an expensive solution.

Although the long-term savings and productivity make up for it, the initial outlay is still substantial. Emitted gases and hazardous fumes are also produced by the thermal cutting procedure.

Conclusion

Although CNC routers may cut deeper into tougher materials for less money, laser printers and laser cutter provide pinpoint precision, need less management and monitoring, and are typically quieter and less dirty.

Choosing one of these machines is entirely dependent with your and your design's requirements and wants. You may go through manufacturers like Biesse to learn more about Cnc milling and laser engraving, and perhaps choose one that meets your company's demands and specifications.

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