Principle of Operation for Laser Cutting-Specific Screw Air Compressor

In industrial production, laser cutting technology is a widely used processing method, primarily utilizing high-density laser beams for precise material cutting. During the cutting process, air is also employed as an assist gas to expel heat and exhaust generated in the cutting area. An air compressor is an indispensable auxiliary equipment. Here, we introduce the working principle of the laser cutting-specific screw air compressor.

During the operation of the screw air compressor, air enters through the intake port, is filtered through the air filter to remove impurities and pollutants, then the intake valve opens to enter the main unit. The male and female rotors inside the machine head begin to rotate and compress the air, which is gradually compressed under the pressure of the interlocking screws. The compressed oil and gas mixture is then channeled through a connecting pipe into the oil-gas separator drum for separation. It passes through a low-pressure valve into the radiator, as the air is continuously compressed, the pressure and temperature also gradually rise. Therefore, the screw compressor's cooling device must lower the temperature to a controllable range. Only then can the compressed air be expelled through the exhaust valve and stored in the air storage tank for use by the laser cutting machine.

Compressed air not only drives the laser discharge tube, allowing the laser beam to accurately cut the surface of the workpiece, but also provides cooling and blowing functions for the laser cutting machine during the process, thereby reducing energy consumption. The quality of compressed air has a very direct impact on the quality of laser cutting. If there is mist or oil in the compressed air, when it is喷射 onto the lens surface of the laser cutting head at high pressure, it can severely affect the transmission of the laser beam, causing the focus to scatter and resulting in incomplete cuts and waste products. In the case of ultra-high-power laser cutting machines, even a tiny film of oil or mist on the protective lens or nozzle surface can potentially damage the laser head due to the high-energy laser emission. Moreover, laser cutting machines require a certain pressure to operate properly, so when selecting an air compressor, it is crucial to choose one that provides stable air supply and higher precision in compressed air.