Laser cut clothing became popular when top designers began showing it on the runway. As enthusiasm for it grew, it became available to the general public in mass market shops. A CO2 laser cutting machine is the tool of choice for producing the precisely detailed fabric that these pieces require.
How Laser Cutting Works
In a nutshell, a CO2 laser cutting machine uses CO2 gas to produce a laser that’s focused with pinpoint accuracy on the material to be cut. CO2 lasers are best suited for cutting organic fibers. This includes natural materials like leather, silk and cotton.
The laser cuts and seals the edges of the cut at the same moment. This means that no further edge finishes are needed to keep the fabric from fraying. Laser cutting can produce a garment that has an allover lace-like delicacy or one with a single detailed cutout.
Laser cutting also creates very smooth and precise contours. This produces a perfect fit when two curved pieces must be joined. It’s also an advantage for cases and covers that must closely follow a shape.
Types of CO2 Laser Cutters
Laser cutting machines are large, freestanding machines that are available with different capacities. The capacity is often expressed as the working area. A working area may be 39 inches by 63 inches or 89 inches by 126 inches, for example.
Many CO2 laser cutters for fabric have an automatic feeding mechanism, so a roll of fabric may be attached to the machine and fed through continuously. This allows for an almost completely hands-free operation. The result is a fabric that is cut with no pulling, stretching or downward pressure. This process eliminates the distortions that can creep in when other cutting methods, especially hand cutting, are used.
In short, laser cutting has changed the way that the fashion industry operates.
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