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Cutting is one of the most basic manufacturing processes. And amongst the many options available, you may have heard about the precision and efficiency of laser and CNC cutting. Apart from clean and aesthetic cuts, they also offer programmability to save you several hours and boost your workshop’s productivity. However, the cutting offered by a tabletop CNC mill is quite different from that of a laser cutting machine. How so? Let’s take a look.
Before diving into the differences, let us first gain an overview of the individual cutting machines:
Key Differences Between Laser Cutting and CNC Cutting
The following are the primary differences between laser cutting and cutting with a tabletop CNC mill:
• Technique
In laser cutting, a beam of laser elevates the surface temperature to the extent that it melts the material, thereby carving a path through it to make the cuts. In other words, it makes use of heat.
While cutting with a CNC machine, you need to create the design and map it to any compatible software using CAD. Then run the software to control the router having the cutting attachment. The cutting tool follows the path dictated by the programmed code to create the design. The cutting takes place through friction.
• Tool
The cutting tool for laser cutting is a concentrated laser beam. In the case of CNC cutting tools, you can choose from a wide array of attachments, such as end mills, fly cutters, face mills, drill bits, face mills, reamers, hollow mills, etc., which are attached to the router.
• Material
Laser cutting can slice through various materials ranging from cork and paper to wood and foam to different types of metals. CNC cutting is mostly suited for softer materials such as wood, plastic, and certain types of metals and alloys. However, you can amp up the power through devices like CNC plasma cutting.
• Degree of Movement
A CNC router offers greater flexibility as it can move in diagonal, curved, and straight lines.
