It’s absolutely amazing how many things can be made from a piece of wood. By processing this material, extremely practical and unique creations can come out, from pieces of furniture, to resistance elements, gifts, etc. However, although wood is a versatile base material in many current industries, it is not at all easy to process it.
But it is no news that technology has evolved, today there are even seemingly simpler ways that can help process wood and achieve impeccable finishes. In the industry, however, there is no room for compromise. And the work processes must be carried out quickly, but also accordingly, so that they can be successfully related both to the legal standards of the activity, and from the point of view of the quality and appearance of the finished products.
Laser cutting therefore complements the industrial processes that it facilitates, even when it comes to wood processing. If you are curious to find out how the whole operation goes, let’s discover the most relevant details together.
CNC vs. Laser cutting
CNC equipment is very popular in the industrial environment. It involves the use of an apparently similar technology which involves extra effort. Everything is done with the help of machines that cut the raw material, managed by a computer and software that can establish the cutting path.
Laser is also used more often in order to engrave certain elements. However, the new products in the market make it possible, including the replacement of the CNC process, with the cutting by means of the diode laser or the one that works in the presence of carbon dioxide.
In order to determine exactly what type of laser you need, we inform you that those with diodes are suitable for cutting thin pieces of wood or derivatives. While, at the opposite pole, for engraving or ample cutting, those with carbon dioxide will offer excellent performance.
These in turn can be divided into several types of equipment, and the more difficult it is to process wood, the more you should focus on higher performance, with higher investments.
When choosing a laser, you must therefore take into account the materials you are going to work with, their thickness, hardness or malleability, respectively the power of the device, the technology or the performance offered. And last but not least, you will also be able to determine what costs you have to allocate or the budget you can afford, according to your expectations.
Is laser wood cutting mandatory?
Certainly not. We have already discussed that on the market there are already many ways in which cutting, engraving or marking of wood surfaces can be done using various other technologies and tools. But by far the laser is the most accurate, lightest and most efficient option so far.
Therefore, the investment in such equipment is recommended to the industrial sector or to those businesses whose main field of activity is wood processing, especially when large quantities of wooden objects and surfaces are handled and / or executed. They will increase the precision and safety of work, just to ensure optimal and more pleasant working conditions for employees, as well as to provide top quality, at the value of the price paid for the finished product.
They could also be useful in spaces where trades or research processes are developed (for example, in educational institutions, production halls, laboratories, etc.).
You should also keep in mind that this equipment still requires a generous amount of storage space, operation under certain conditions and, as it should happen, you will also need to invest in their maintenance periodically.