Laser cut stencils and engraving equipment are machines that have the CO2 laser tube as their main tool. These machines are used in several industries for cutting and/or engraving materials through the result of the behavior of the chosen material when exposed to high temperatures.
In the case of Electrical branding iron, these devices have an integrated, sealed laser tube incorporated by two other internal cylinders. In the first cylinder, looking from the inside out, the gases that are responsible for the reaction that originates the laser are located.
Although they are popularly called CO2 laser, this enclosure, in addition to carbon dioxide, has other gases including nitrogen (N2).
The second intermediate tube is responsible for the passage of water that serves as a method of cooling the first cylinder. The liquid indicated for cooling are fluids such as demineralized water that prevents contamination of the cooling system and the formation of fungi.
This water is cooled through an apparatus known as a chiller that is responsible for maintaining the fluid temperature in the ideal condition for laser stabilization. The third and last housing is responsible for keeping the laser system unharmed in relation to the weather in the external environment.
Returning to the equipment, the cutting/engraving head movement system is managed by a computerized numerical commands (CNC) controller board with X, Y type coordinate instructions.
The CNC board is controlled by a specific program of commands that can be installed on a common computer on the market according to the minimum characteristics recommended by the manufacturer.
With the help of the software, files of different formats known as; vector files (lines) with extensions of type EPS, AI, (Adobe Illustrator) and DXF, PLT (AutoCAD) or bitmap image files of type JPG, PNG (Adobe Photoshop).
The user of the equipment through the program can define instructions for speed and power to compose the work to be performed by the machine.
The useful cutting/engraving areas and the power of the CO2 laser tube vary according to the manufacturers and the source of the equipment.
The materials indicated for steel marking stamps are acrylic, MDF, fabrics, leather, cork, papers, cardboard, duplex/triplex card, among others.
The substrates for engraving are indicated acrylic, MDF, wood, leather, stainless steel, anodized aluminum, natural stones, porcelain, glass, among other materials indicated by the equipment manufacturer.
