Difference Between Laser Cutting And Plasma Cutting

Which is better, laser cutter or plasma cutter? In fact, both have their own advantages and disadvantages, but the differences are also very large, such as the working principle, cutting quality, the use of cost and so on are different.

1-Different Working Principles
Laser cutting machine is the laser emitted by the laser through the optical circuit system focused into a high power density laser beam. The laser beam irradiates the surface of the workpiece, causing the workpiece to reach the melting or boiling point. At the same time, the high pressure gas coaxial with the beam blows away the melted or vaporised metal. As the beam moves relative to the position of the workpiece, a slit is eventually formed in the material, resulting in a cut.
A plasma cutter is a gas that is heated to a very high temperature and highly ionised. It delivers arc power to the workpiece. The high temperature causes the workpiece to melt and be blown off, creating a working condition for plasma arc cutting. The plasma arc is then used as a heat source to melt the metal. Cutting is an arc, so there tends to be a certain amount of arc when cutting faults. Therefore, a plasma cutter is no longer suitable when the section we need is at a right angle.

2-Differences in cutting quality
In terms of cutting accuracy, plasma can reach within 1mm and laser can reach within 0.2mm. Therefore, the precision of laser cutting machine is higher.
Laser cutting machine can achieve non-contact cutting with the surface of the workpiece, the cutting gap is very small, high precision, small heat-affected zone, smooth cutting end face without burrs. However, the cutting gap of plasma cutting machine is slightly larger, the cutting end surface is rough and not smooth, and the cutting precision is low.

3-Different cutting materials
Laser cutting machines are suitable for cutting a wide range of materials: metal, non-metal, ceramics, glass and so on. Plasma cutting is suitable for cutting all kinds of metal materials, mainly thick plate cutting.

4-Cost difference
The purchase price of a plasma cutting machine is much cheaper than a laser cutting machine because a laser cutting machine is made up of a lot of precision parts and the mechanical parts cost more.

But when it comes to the cost of consumables, plasma cutting machines are very expensive. For example, the whole torch (nozzle, swivel ring, electrode, etc.) needs to be replaced within a few hours, and plasma cutters consume a lot of power. But laser cutting machines have very low consumable costs, few wearing parts and require almost no maintenance.

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