Prototype Designer

Published: 27th July 2009
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The employment of laser machining for making plastic injection molds has been available for years, but has only received limited approval. This is partly due to the uncertainty of the new technology and the cost of the machines.

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However, for the right application, laser machining is a particularly usable option. With the newest generation of precision laser cutting machines, there are numerous enhancements. Cutting speeds have risen, accuracy has improved, surface finishes are better, and the cost has come down.

How can laser machining help a mold maker?

Precision laser cutting is a perfect operation for engraving and the machining of very intricate, small, shallow cavities. One of the benefits of laser machining is that it can engrave on difficult contours very constantly and with a high level of accuracy. It's also possible to use laser machining services to engrave molds with changing vertical wall angles.


Laser micro machining can produce little, intricate and precise cores and cavities too. As the geometry is produced right from the CAD file, the laser machining operation can faithfully reproduce the designed shape.

What about accuracy?

A precision laser cutting machine can cut within nanometers. The newer machines are also 5 axis and able to machine a large range of angles and shapes. The XYZ positioning accuracy can easily approach that of a top quality CNC machining center.

Are laser engraving machines safe?

While it may seem dangerous, a precision laser cutting machine is essentially quite safe. Of course, someone might be persuaded to ignore commonsense and stare at the laser beam with their exposed eye, but even this is not so easily done. Generally , however , the machine just hums away, doing its needed task.

Are lasers quick enough to compete?

Depending on the application, a laser machining tool is financially admissible. The applications are restricted to shallow details, which gets rid of many projects. However, if your need is for complex, shallow details, precision laser machining could be the answer .


Because the entire process is computerized and automatic, it readily adapts well to little scale production. The engraving of trademarks is an fantastic great example. If your logo is to be cut into a contoured surface, it may not be possible to CNC machine it, or maybe EDM it. This is where laser machining can be a usable choice.

What other applications are there?

tiny hole machining and shaped hole machining are good applications for laser machining. Turbine cooling holes are often laser machined. The helical shape of the blades are no problem for the laser because there's no tool holder to mess. It is just a beam of light and the head is able to move about much easier than a milling machine, for instance.

Come visit us right here for more Rapid Prototype Info and get two Prototyping Ebooks Prototype Maker.
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