The Difference Between Laser Cutting And Wire Cutting

Laser cutting refers to the use of high-power density laser beams to irradiate the cut material, causing it to be quickly heated to the vaporization temperature, evaporate and form holes. As the beam moves the material, the holes continuously form narrow slits, completing the cutting of the material. Wire cutting refers to the use of moving metal wires (molybdenum wire, copper wire, or alloy wire) as electrode wires to cut parts.
difference:
1、 Different principles
1. Laser cutting: Using a laser cutting machine to focus a high-power density laser beam on the workpiece, the irradiated material is accelerated to melt, vaporize, ablate, or reach the ignition point. At the same time, the molten material is blown away by the airflow coaxial with the beam, thereby achieving the cutting of the workpiece.
2. Wire cutting: Pulse electric discharge between the electrode wire and the workpiece generates high temperature to melt or vaporize the metal.
2、 Different characteristics
1. Laser cutting: after the material is cut by the laser cutting machine, the width of the Heat-affected zone is very small, the performance of the material near the kerf is basically not affected, and the deformation of the workpiece is small, the cutting accuracy is high, the geometry of the kerf is good, and the cross section shape of the kerf is relatively regular.
2. Wire cutting: Wire cutting can only cut conductive materials, which limits its application and requires cooling of the cutting fluid during the cutting process. So some non-metallic materials, such as leather, cannot achieve linear cutting if they are not at the point and are afraid of water or cutting fluid pollution. The advantage is that regardless of the hardness of the workpiece material, as long as it is a conductor or semiconductor material, it can be processed, and the electrode wire loss is small, with high accuracy; Suitable for processing small batches, complex shaped parts, single pieces, and trial products, with a short cycle.
3、 Different applications
1. Laser cutting: Controlled by a CNC program or made into a laser cutting machine. Laser cutting, as a precision machining method, can basically cut materials, including two-dimensional or three-dimensional cutting of thin metal plates.
2. Wire cutting: processing parts with micro structures or complex shapes; Processing hard conductive materials; Trial production of new products; Cutting of precious metals.