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The Impact of Leveling in Laser Cutting

Since the 1970s, laser cutting in Toronto has come a long way and the latest laser machines now offer great speeds during cuts. However, there are some parts that can still cause certain issues during the forming process as well as assembly. These hiccups can occur even after those parts are processed from sophisticated profiling equipment. Usually, this has nothing to do with the laser machine but is more to do with the material itself. As the beam cuts through a smooth, burr-free edge, the internal stresses that have been trapped inside the material can turn it to bow which can ultimately make the whole process become very challenging.

 

There are several stages during metal fabrication that may cause some difficulties. For instance, when the steel is being processed, it undergoes intense heat treatment and is being drawn back to its given yield and tensile range through cooling. Contrary to common belief, leveling will not remove the stress on metal but rather it just neutralizes it. As laser cutting in Toronto has become so common, the problem of material flatness has been brought back to the forefront in metal fabrication. During the cutting process, the laser has to be close to the surface of the part being processed - in this case, a bow can become harmful to the laser head and the whole process.

In general, there are four ways to flatten a metal sheet, such as roller leveling, tension leveling, stretch leveling, and temper rolling leveling; the most common among them all is the roller leveling. The pushing effects made by penetrating rolls can create such issues like edge waves, however, this can actually be good in flattering metal during laser cutting in Toronto. It is for the reason that a mild pull creates a flat, straight bandage just like the case of an elastic bandage. Accurate measurement of flatness becomes so critical as the industry demands further precision. That is why manufacturers use sophisticated systems to measure and determine the flatness of sheets and parts and the results can be seen in the final parts created.