The automotive industry is no stranger to innovation and has often been the first to adopt many technologies that are now used widely throughout the global economy.
One example of the car industry embracing emerging technologies is the use of laser cutting car repair.
A laser cutting machine can now be used in various parts of the auto manufacturing, upgrading, and repair process, offering a number of advantages over conventional cutting tools.
If you’re asking yourself “What is laser cutting?”, and want to know how it is used in auto repair, read this quick guide to find out.
1. How Does Laser Cutting Work?
Laser cutting may seem like a complex scientific process, but it is actually more straightforward than you might think. Put simply, a laser cutting machine usually uses electrically stimulated CO2 to create a beam strong enough to cut through metal.
Compressed gas is connected to the nozzle, and the laser emits a wavelength that is about three-quarters of an inch in diameter. The CO2 is then fired through the nozzle with enough energy to create a laser beam.
CO2 lasers are the most common simply because they are energy-efficient, easy to use, and affordable.
2. Why Are Lasers Used?
Lasers have a wide range of benefits compared to other industrial cutting processes, particularly when it comes to cars.
Most importantly, they are incredibly accurate, owing largely to the small size of the beams and the easy mobility of the laser cutting machines.
In light steel, aluminum, and stainless steel, standard lasers can be used to make incredibly intricate and accurate cuts. They are also much safer than many other cutting methods, and most energy-efficient.
3. What Does a Laser Cutting Machine Do?
If you’re asking “What is a laser cutting machine used for?” the answer is a lengthy one. If you go to an expert fabrication shop that specializes in cutting metals with lasers, they will be able to offer a wide range of services for you.
Their laser cutting machines will be able to make engravings, slice metal pipes, mark signs, slice silicon, and create the tiny marks necessary for the manufacture of nanotechnologies, to name just a few.
They can be used by expert laser cutters, or sold and rented out to individual users. Laser cutting machines are easier to use than ever, meaning that more people can take advantage of this innovative technology.
4. How Are Laser Cutters Used in Car Repair?
Laser cutting in car repair is a hugely varied field, and one of the most common uses of laser cutting machines in the world. Here are just a few ways that laser cutters are used in automobile repair:
- Repair and manufacture of apertures and antennas
- Creation of hydroformed car parts
- Airbag manufacture and repair (lasers can be used to seal any holes or seams in an airbag)
- Engine repair
- Exhaust pipe repair and alterations
- Personal engravings on the car
This is just a snapshot of the many different uses for laser cutting in car repair.
Learn More
A laser cutting machine is just one way you can fix your car up to be better than new. Make sure to read our extensive Auto Repair Manuals for expert advice and information on car repair.