I bought a G.Weike 80W laser machine last year and love it but I have a job I can't seem to run with it. I need to cut some structural insulated panels (SIP), which consist of two panels of 3/4" oriented strand board (OSB), which sandwich a 4, 8, or 12 inch layer of polystyrene or polyurethane foam. They are used in constructing residential homes.
I think there are three parts to solving the problem:
1) lens focal length
2) laser power
3) laser cutting area
I exchanged my standard 50mm lens for my 190mm lens, which requires the lens be 190mm away from the surface of the material (if I understand it correctly), and allows the laser beam to be in focus over a much longer distance. This distance appears to be OK, at least for some thinner sections of foam I tried to cut. However, the laser power appears to be inadequate, using this lens, to even cut through the first layer of OSB. Also, I will eventually need to place 4'x8' sheets of SIP on the laser, and my machine has only a 2'x3' cutting area.
My question for the forum is what I'm doing even possible with a standard laser cutting machine? #3 is easy. G.Weike has machines this big, for example. As for #2, I'm sure one can get a laser that is powerful enough, however, can it be done for a reasonable cost. Again, G.Weike sells a 200W laser I think. Is this enough? #1 is the biggest question for me, not only to know if I can get a lens that will do the job, but can I get a machine that would then allow for that much distance between the lens and the material surface. Based on the picture on Weike's website, the large machines all appear to be fairly close to the material surface and they don't appear to have much, if any, z height adjustment.
Your thoughts are appreciated.
I think there are three parts to solving the problem:
1) lens focal length
2) laser power
3) laser cutting area
I exchanged my standard 50mm lens for my 190mm lens, which requires the lens be 190mm away from the surface of the material (if I understand it correctly), and allows the laser beam to be in focus over a much longer distance. This distance appears to be OK, at least for some thinner sections of foam I tried to cut. However, the laser power appears to be inadequate, using this lens, to even cut through the first layer of OSB. Also, I will eventually need to place 4'x8' sheets of SIP on the laser, and my machine has only a 2'x3' cutting area.
My question for the forum is what I'm doing even possible with a standard laser cutting machine? #3 is easy. G.Weike has machines this big, for example. As for #2, I'm sure one can get a laser that is powerful enough, however, can it be done for a reasonable cost. Again, G.Weike sells a 200W laser I think. Is this enough? #1 is the biggest question for me, not only to know if I can get a lens that will do the job, but can I get a machine that would then allow for that much distance between the lens and the material surface. Based on the picture on Weike's website, the large machines all appear to be fairly close to the material surface and they don't appear to have much, if any, z height adjustment.
Your thoughts are appreciated.