在过去15年中，至少安装了3000套激光切割系统。系统设计、控制和加工方面的新技术将有助于继续接受这种制造技术。新的激光技术、改进的成本/性能结果、材料利用率的变化以及不断变化的商业条件将在本世纪末带来金属制造业的重大变化。本文将从行业角度讨论激光加工在未来制造操作中的作用。

AT LEAST 3000 LASER CUTTING SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED DURING THE LAST 15 YEARS. NEW TECHNOLOGY IN SYSTEM DESIGN, CONTROL AND PROCESSING WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINUED ACCEPTANCE OF THIS FABRICATING TECHNOLOGY. NEW LASER TECHNOLOGY, IMPROVED COST/PERFORMANCE RESULTS, SHIFTS IN MATERIAL UTILIZATION, AND CHANGING BUSINESS CONDITIONS WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN METAL FABRICATION BY THE END OF THIS DECADE. THIS PAPER WILL DISCUSS THE INDUSTRY'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ROLE OF LASER PROCESSING IN FUTURE FABRICATION OPERATIONS.