Which technology uses an intense beam of light to melt through and cut metal?

• A. Lathe
• B. Laser Cutting
• C. Plasma Cutter
• D. Water Jets

Answer: (B)

Laser cutting works by concentrating a powerful beam of light into a tiny spot on the metal. The energy delivered by that focused beam heats the metal so quickly that it melts or vaporizes at the point of contact, allowing the material to be cut as the beam moves along the desired path. The process is precise and can be controlled by computer numerical control (CNC) to create complex shapes and fine edges. An assist gas is often used to blow away molten material and improve edge quality, which is especially helpful for metals.

Other methods don’t use a light beam to melt through metal. A lathe cuts by rotating the workpiece and removing material with a cutting tool, not by melting with light. A plasma cutter uses a jet of hot plasma to erode metal, which is intense heat but not a light beam. Water jets rely on high-pressure water (sometimes with abrasive) to erode material without melting it.