Acrylic Glass Windows: Reasons for Choosing Laser over Mechanical Cutting
When upgrading your commercial windows, you should consider installing acrylic sheets. This type of material is an ideal alternative to glass because it is shatter-resistant. In addition, the material is lightweight, so installing the new window panes will be easy. There are different factors that you must consider when planning this building improvement project. One of these critical aspects is the cutting process and equipment for the acrylic sheets.
Generally, you must engage material cutting technicians to resize the acrylic sheets to your required dimensions. There are two primary methods to consider: mechanical and laser cutting. The mechanical option uses equipment such as circular, scroll, table and jig saws while the latter method harnesses amplified light radiation. Here are the chief reasons why you should choose laser cutting over the alternative for your acrylic glass windows.
Dimension Accuracy
Laser cutting is highly accurate, so it is an ideal cutting method for acrylic glass panes. The precision ensures that the sheets can be installed comfortably into the windows for better functionality and aesthetics. Basically, the laser beam used in the cutting process is notable for its spatial and temporal coherence, which contributes to the dimensional accuracy.
Spatial coherence means that the laser can be focused on a tight spot, and it remains on that narrow area without shaking. Temporal coherence refers to the ability of laser to emit a single stream of light. This prevents damage of the material from stray beams. In addition, laser beams are normally controlled by computer programs, so the margin of error is minimal. Mechanical cutters are subject to error since they can slip and are usually operated by hand.
Improved Edge Quality
Laser cutters operate through different methods, depending on the materials. The modern laser equipment used to cut acrylic glass function by vaporisation. Simply speaking, the beam will heat the surface of the material to boiling point, and the vapour will dissipate, leaving a keyhole. This perforation will serve as the starting point for the cut. As the beam is moved, the material will keep evaporating such that the remaining edge will be finished and without residue. Mechanical cutters often leave burrs and slight cracks, necessitating finishing work.
Reduced Material Wastage
There is minimal wastage of material when you choose laser cutting for your acrylic sheets. The heat from the laser does not cause delamination or general deformation of the plastic; this is a common mechanical cutting problem. In addition, the high level of accuracy will also reduce the potential loss by a small percentage.