Laser Degating for sprue
The plastic gate, also known as a sprue, is a type of guide pin left over from the injection molding process. It is the part between the mold and the product's runner. Additionally, both the sprue and the runner are referred to as the gate collectively. The excess material at the junction of the gate and the mold (also known as the flash) is inevitable during injection molding and must be removed in post-processing. A Plastic Sprue Laser Cutting Machine is a device that utilizes high temperatures generated by lasers to dissolve the gate and flash.
First of all, let's talk about laser cutting plastic. There are various methods for laser cutting, each designed for cutting different materials. Today, let's explore how lasers are used to cut plastic, especially mould sprue. Laser cutting uses a high-energy laser beam to heat the material above its melting point, and then the material is separated with the assistance of the airflow. Laser cutting in plastic processing offers several advantages:
1. Intelligent and fully automated control: Laser cutting allows for precise positioning and one-step forming, resulting in smooth edges. Compared to traditional techniques, it enhances the appearance, efficiency, and material savings of the products.
2. Non-contact process: During laser cutting and engraving, the laser beam does not touch the surface of the material, ensuring consistent product quality and enhancing the competitiveness of businesses.
3. Small heat-affected zone: The laser beam has a small diameter, resulting in minimal heat impact on the surrounding area during cutting, reducing material deformation and melting.
It's important to note that different types of plastic may respond differently to lasers. Some plastics may be easily cut with lasers, while others may require specific laser wavelengths or power levels for effective cutting. Therefore, when choosing laser cutting for plastic, it's advisable to conduct testing and adjustments based on the specific plastic type and requirements.
How to cut out the plastic sprue ?
Plastic sprue laser cutting involves using CO2 laser cutting equipment to remove the residual edges and corners of plastic, thus achieving product integrity. The principle of laser cutting is to focus the laser beam into a small spot, creating a high-power density at the focal point. This causes a rapid increase in temperature at the laser irradiation point, instantly reaching the vaporization temperature and forming a hole. The laser-cutting process then moves the laser beam relative to the gate along a predetermined path, creating a cut.
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What are the processing advantages of plastic sprue laser cutting?
For injection molding nozzles, precise dimensions and shapes are crucial to ensure the accurate flow of the resin and product quality. Laser cutting can accurately cut the desired shape of the nozzle to meet design requirements. Traditional methods such as electric shearing fail to ensure accurate cutting and lack efficiency. However, laser-cutting equipment effectively addresses these issues.
Vaporization Cutting:
A focused laser beam heats the material surface to the boiling point, forming a keyhole. Increased absorption due to confinement leads to a rapid deepening of the hole. As the hole deepens, the vapor generated during boiling erodes the molten wall, spraying out as a mist and further enlarging the hole. This method is commonly used for cutting non-melting materials such as wood, carbon, and thermosetting plastics.
Melting:
Melting involves heating the material to its melting point and then using gas jets to blow away the molten material, avoiding further temperature elevation. This method is typically used for cutting metals.
Thermal Stress Fracturing:
Brittle materials are particularly sensitive to thermal fractures, which are characterized by thermal stress cracks. The concentrated light causes localized heating and thermal expansion, resulting in crack formation, followed by guiding the crack through the material. The crack propagates at speeds of meters per second. This method is commonly used for cutting glass.
Silicon Wafer Stealth Dicing:
The so-called stealth dicing process utilizes semiconductor devices to separate microelectronic chips from silicon wafers. It employs a pulsed Nd: YAG laser with a wavelength of 1064 nanometers, which matches the electronic bandgap of silicon (1.11 electron volts or 1117 nanometers).
Reactive Cutting:
Also known as flame cutting or combustion-assisted laser cutting, reactive cutting functions like oxy-fuel cutting, but the laser beam serves as the ignition source. This method is suitable for cutting carbon steel with a thickness greater than 1 mm. It allows for relatively low laser power when cutting thick steel plates.
Who are we?
MimoWork is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the development of high-precision laser technology applications. Established in 2003, the company has consistently positioned itself as the preferred choice for customers in the global laser manufacturing field. With a development strategy focused on meeting market demands, MimoWork is dedicated to the research, production, sales, and service of high-precision laser equipment. They continuously innovate in the fields of laser cutting, welding, and marking, among other laser applications.
MimoWork has successfully developed a range of leading products, including high-precision laser cutting machines, laser marking machines, and laser welding machines. These high-precision laser processing equipment are widely utilized in various industries such as stainless steel jewelry, crafts, pure gold and silver jewelry, electronics, electrical appliances, instruments, hardware, automotive parts, mold manufacturing, cleaning, and plastics. As a modern and advanced high-tech enterprise, MimoWork possesses extensive experience in intelligent manufacturing assembly and advanced research and development capabilities.
How does a laser cutter cut plastic? How to laser cut plastic sprue?
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Post time: Jun-21-2023