Airbag Laser Cutting
Airbag Solutions from Laser Cutting
Increased security awareness makes airbag design and deploy further move forward. Except for the standard airbag equipped from the OEM, some side and bottom airbags gradually appear to cope with more complicated conditions. Laser cutting provides more advanced processing method for airbag manufacturing. MimoWork has been researching more specialized laser cutting machine in order to meet diverse airebag design requirements. The rigor and accurace for airbag cutting can be realized by laser cutting. With digital control system and fine laser beam, laser cutter can accurately cut as the imported graphic file, ensuring that the final quality is close to zero defects. Due to premiue laser-friendly for various synthetic fabrics, polyester, nylon and other news technical fabrics can all be laser cut.
As security awareness increases, airbag systems are evolving. In addition to standard OEM airbags, side and bottom airbags are emerging to handle complex conditions. MimoWork is at the forefront of airbag manufacturing, developing specialized laser cutting machines to meet diverse design requirements.
At high speeds, thick stacks of cut and stitched materials and non-melting layers of material require highly accurate dynamic laser power control. Cutting is done by sublimation, but this can only be achieved when the laser beam power level is adjusted in real-time. When the strength is insufficient, the machined part cannot be cut correctly. When the strength is too strong, the layers of material will be squeezed together, resulting in the accumulation of interlaminar fiber particles. MimoWork's laser cutter with the latest tech can effectively control the laser power intensity in the nearest wattage and microsecond range.
Can you Laser Cut Airbags?
Airbags are crucial safety components in vehicles that help protect occupants during collisions. Their design and manufacturing require precision and care.
A common question that arises is whether airbags can be laser-cut. At first glance, it may seem unconventional to use a laser for such a safety-critical part.
However, CO2 lasers have proven highly effective for airbag manufacturing.
CO2 lasers offer several advantages over traditional cutting methods like die cutting.
They provide precision, flexibility, and clean cuts ideal for inflatable parts like airbags.
Modern laser systems can cut multi-layered materials with minimal heat impact, preserving airbag integrity.
With the right settings and safety protocols, lasers can cut airbag materials safely and accurately.
Why Should Airbags be Laser Cut?
Beyond just being possible, laser cutting provides clear advantages over traditional airbag manufacturing methods.
Here are some key reasons why the industry is increasingly adopting this technology:
1. Consistent Quality: Laser systems cut with micrometer precision repeatability. This ensures design specs and quality standards are met consistently for each airbag. Even complex patterns can be replicated exactly without defects.
2. Flexibility for Changes: New car models and enhanced safety features require frequent airbag design updates. Laser cutting is far more adaptable than die replacement, allowing quick design changes without major tooling costs.
3. Minimal Heat Impact: Carefully controlled lasers can cut multi-layered airbag materials without generating excess heat that could damage crucial components. This preserves airbag integrity and performance longevity.
4. Waste Reduction: Laser systems cut with near-zero kerf width, minimizing material waste. Very little usable material is lost, unlike die cutting processes that remove full shapes.
5. Increased Customization: Variable laser settings give leeway to cut different materials, thicknesses, and designs on demand. This supports vehicle personalization and specialized fleet applications.
6. Bonding Compatibility: Laser-cut edges fuse cleanly during the airbag module assembly process. No burrs or defects remain from the cutting stage to compromise seals.
In short, laser cutting enables higher quality airbags at lower cost through its process adaptability, precision, and minimal impact on materials.
It has thus become the preferred industrial method.
Quality Advantages: Laser Cutting Airbags
The quality advantages of laser cutting are especially important for safety components like airbags that must perform flawlessly when needed most.
Here are some ways laser cutting enhances airbag quality:
1. Consistent Dimensions: Laser systems achieve dimensional repeatability within micron levels. This ensures all airbag components like panels and inflators interface properly without gaps or looseness that could impact deployment.
2. Smooth Edges: Unlike mechanical cutting, lasers leave no burrs, cracks or other edge defects from force. This results in seamless, burr-free edges that don't snag or weaken materials during inflation.
3. Tight Tolerances: Critical factors like vent hole sizes and placement can be controlled within a few thousandths of an inch. Precise venting is vital for managing gas pressure and deployment force.
4. No Contact Damage: Lasers cut using a contactless beam, avoiding mechanical stress or friction that could weaken materials. Fibers and coatings remain intact instead of frayed.
5. Process Control: Modern laser systems offer extensive process monitoring and data collection. This helps manufacturers understand cutting quality, track performance over time, and regulate processes precisely.
In the end, laser cutting delivers airbags with unparalleled quality, consistency and process control.
It has become the leading choice for automakers seeking the highest safety standards.
Airbag Cutting Applications
Automotive Airbags, Airbag Vest, Buffer Device
Airbag Cutting Materials
Nylon, Polyester Fiber
Production Advantages: Laser Cutting Airbags
Beyond improved part quality, laser cutting also provides numerous advantages at the production level for airbag manufacturing.
This increases efficiency, throughput and reduces costs:
1. Speed: Laser systems can cut entire airbag panels, modules or even multi-layered inflators within seconds. This is far faster than die or waterjet cutting processes.
2. Efficiency: Lasers require little setup time between parts or designs. Quick job changeovers maximize uptime and minimize non-productive time compared to tool changes.
3. Automation: Laser cutting lends itself well to fully automated production lines. Robots can load/unload parts rapidly with precise positioning for lights-out fabrication.
4. Capacity: With high-speed operation and automation potential, a single laser can replace multiple die cutters to handle higher volumes of airbag production.
5. Process Consistency: Lasers deliver highly consistent results regardless of production rate or operator. This ensures quality standards are always met at high or low volumes.
6. OEE: Overall Equipment Effectiveness is increased through factors like reduced setups, higher throughput, lights-out capability and quality process control of lasers.
7. Low Material Waste: As previously discussed, lasers minimize wasted material per part. This improves yields and lowers overall manufacturing costs significantly.
Can Cordura (Nylon) be Laser Cut?
Key Importance of Airbag Laser Cutting
✔ Perfectly polished clean cutting edges in a single operation
✔ Simple digital operation
✔ Flexible processing
✔ No dust or contamination
✔ Optional automatic nesting system to save material
Airbag Laser Cutting Machine
• Working Area: 1600mm * 1000mm (62.9” * 39.3 ”)
• Laser Power: 100W/150W/300W
• Working Area: 1600mm * 3000mm (62.9’’ *118’’)
• Laser Power: 100W/150W/300W