Processing
textileswith laser precisionLaser processing of textiles
Lasers can be used to process a widebags can be processed using our lasers.

offer numerous advantages; complex

automotive manufacturing use the same

variety of textiles and fabrics and they
shapes can be cut out with ease andprecision, textures and designs can beapplied to sheets of fabric or finisheditems, and the whole process is both

repeatable and adaptable. Design changes
are easy and quick to implement, cutting
profiles can be complex and highly

detailed, and quality is consistent. In manycases the laser seals the edges of thefabric to prevent fraying, allowing easier

handling of the cut pieces and eliminating
the need for further finishing.

Both the fashion and technical textile
markets use Luxinar’s CO2 lasers

for cutting, marking and texturing

applications. Within the fashion industry,
items including clothing, shoes andTechnical textiles such as those inlasers to process a range of fabrics for

car interiors, including seats, seat belts,
airbags, interior trim, and carpets.

Compared with traditional processing,lasers can save both time and money,

increasing productivity, improving quality,and reducing environmental impact.

Case study:

cutting edge fashion
Laser cutting has helped to streamline

Buttons that are used in clothing often

recent years. Cutting room processes canpatterns or manufacturer’s details andgarment production across the industry in
now be fully automated, with the speed

have decorative or functional logos,

these can be laser marked. CO2 laserand efficiency of laser cutting minimisingmarking systems such as MULTISCAN

processing is flexible, allowing designs

this data on both stationary or movingboth downtime and fabric waste. Laser

to be created and modified with ease, tokeep up with rapidly changing fashions.

represent an inkless method of applying
objects.

measure garments have become mucheasier and more cost-effective to produce
using laser technology, men’s suits beinga prime example of this. The client’s

measurements are sent to a production

facility, where a CAD system designs thepattern and a laser cuts out the fabric.

within weeks, at a fraction of the cost of a
traditionally tailored garment.

created quickly and costeffectively using a laser

One-off, customised and made-to-

The finished suit is delivered to the client

Customised suits can be

Laser marking buttons is a clean and flexible
processCase study:
designer denim
Lasers are becoming increasingly

commonplace in the denim industry, where
they are used to apply patterns and effects

to jeans and other clothing. Laser processing
is a sustainable solution, reducing water
usage and eliminating the need for theharsh chemicals associated with traditional
processes. Productivity is dramaticallyincreased, as laser finishing is much fasterthan conventional processes.

CO2 laser finishing systems transfer agreyscale design to the jeans by varying theintensity of the focused laser beam as it scans
rapidly across the garment. The laser beam

selectively removes pigment from the denim,

creating shading without damaging the texture
or compromising the strength of the fabric.

The same laser can be used to introduce rips,abrasions and other effects, according to thelatest fashion.

Denim marking with a

CO2 laser is a sustainable

solution

Case study:

engraving heat transfers for T-shirts
CO2 laser cutting machines can be usedto create designs on heat transfer film,
used to decorate T-shirts and otherfabric garments. The laser-friendly film
is engraved using the laser, removing
excess material and leaving only therequired design intact. The design is thentransferred to the garment using a heattransfer press. Fully engraving the film

has the advantage that the transfer does

not require “weeding” before use – this is
the time-consuming process of removing
small pieces of waste material from thedesign, which would be left by simply

cutting the profile out. With an engraving
process, all of the waste is removed by

the laser, reducing the total process timesignificantly.

Laser engraving of T-shirt heat transfers
is a time-saving process

Case study:

leather processing
Natural and synthetic leather materials

Laser technology means that theshoes, bags, belts, and clothing.

speeds, and intricate designs can be

are used in the fashion industry to makeLasers are involved from the very

beginning of the leather production

process, being used to mark traceability

codes on the animal hides prior to tanning.

processed leather can be cut at highcreated with ease. The laser produces agood finish, minimises waste and offers

tremendous flexibility. Lasers can be used
for texturing as well as cutting, removing
the surface of the leather to create apattern or design. This may be purely

decorative, or it may be functional – forexample texturing leather for non-slip
shoe soles.

Processing leather by laser is fast and flexible

Case study:

automotive textile cutting
The automotive industry uses textiles in

The fabric coverings on the interior pillars

upholstery to seatbelts and airbags. Laser

finished by laser. Fabric is bonded to thesea variety of ways, from interior trim andcutting is now commonplace within theindustry, and offers numerous advantages
over traditional mechanical methods; it isflexible, fast and precise.

Synthetic fabrics are cut cleanly, and thelaser melts and seals the edge of thematerial so that the material does not

fray during the subsequent stitching andassembly. Leather, both real and synthetic,
can be cut for car upholstery in the sameway.

Automotive textiles are cut cleanly with CO2 lasersof many consumer vehicles are frequently
plastic parts during the moulding process,requiring the excess to be removed fromthe edges prior to fitting in the vehicle.

This is a 5-axis robotic process, with thecutting head following the contours of thepart and trimming the fabric with precision.
CO2 lasers with moderate power, such as

Luxinar’s SR and OEM series, are ideal forthese applications.

SR laser mounted on robot arm (courtesy ofRobot Technology GmbH)Case study:

airbag processing
Fabrics are not only for decoration andof the fabric is minimised and the silicone

vehicle’s safety systems, namely seat belts

any damage which may compromise thecomfort; technical textiles are utilised in aand airbags.

Modern vehicles are typically fitted withcoating is therefore less likely to incur
integrity of the airbag.

CO2 lasers can also be used to score

multiple airbags as standard, to protectlines in the material of the car dashboard

materials are usually made from densely

the structure so that a flap breaks open

both driver and passengers. Airbag

woven nylon or polyester fibres andare often silicone coated to obtain thedesired air permeability. Airbags may beflat woven, where the bag is made up of

and door skins, selectively weakening
to release the airbag in the event of acollision. This laser scoring is performed toextremely tight tolerances.

several fabric pieces stitched together
or one piece woven (OPW), where thestructure of the airbag is fully formed on
the loom. Both types require trimming,
for which a CO2 laser is the ideal tool.

The laser process is efficient and reliable,
minimising waste by cutting withconsistently high quality. The non-contact

nature of the process means that handling

Trimming of airbag materials by laser isefficient and reliableCase study:

cutting carpets,curtains
and sails
Lasers can be used to cut a wide variety of

Cutting profiles can be complex and highlyand synthetic materials – leather, cotton,cases the laser seals the edges of the

textiles and fabrics, including both naturalpolyester, silk, lace, neoprene, felt, nylon,

fleece… the list is endless! Complex shapes
can be cut out with ease and precision,and the process is both repeatable andadaptable. Design changes are easy andquick to implement.

detailed, and quality is consistent. In manyfabric to prevent fraying, allowing easier

handling of the cut pieces and eliminating
the need for further finishing. Technicaltextiles such as carpets, curtains and sails
are cut in this way using CO2 lasers.

Lasers can cut a variety of textiles with easeand precisionBenefits of

CO2 lasers vs conventional
mechanical processing:•A fast and consistent process that reduces time to market.

•Suitable for a wide variety of materials and easily automated.

•The non-contact nature of the process means that handling•

Design changes are easy and quick to implement, reducing•

Complex shapes can be cut out with ease and precision,•Adaptable and reliable, processing with consistently high•The laser seals the edges of the fabric to prevent fraying,•

A sustainable solution, reducing water usage and eliminating•

All of the waste is removed by the laser, decreasing totalof the fabric is minimised.
downtime.

minimising fabric waste.
quality.

avoiding further finishing (fabric cutting).

the need for harsh chemicals (denim marking).

process time significantly (engraving T-shirt transfers).

A watertight laser technology
Our SR series CO2 laser sources, SR 08s, SR 10i, SR 15i, SR15s and SR 25i, are all IP66

rated to ensure a high level of protection against water and dust ingress. This, together
with the reliability that our customers have come to expect from Luxinar, guarantees awatertight laser technology.
• IP66 rating• Wavelengths 10.6µm, 10.25µm, 9.3µm• Integrated and field replaceable RF power supplies• Compact, lightweight laser sources• Simple diagnostics• Minimum shipment power 20% higher than rated power
The simple control interface and compact mechanical design of the units allow easy

integration into laser-based processing machines used for cutting, marking, perforating
and drilling, among others. Throughput, economy, flexibility and reliability are the mainfeatures associated with the SR series of CO2 laser sources.

SR series – 80-250W
sealed CO2 laser sourcesPower range of 20-350W• IP56 rating• Wavelength 10.6µm• Separate RF power supplies for flexible integration• Minimum shipment power 20% higher than rated power
The SCX 35 laser source, with an output power of up to 350W, is designed for integration
into industrial processing systems and is often used for cutting applications such asplastics and wood. It includes a separate RF power supply which enables the laser

to produce short optical pulses with high peak power or quasi-CW output. Due to its
lightweight and robust design, this CO2 laser is ideal for robotic applications and canbe integrated exceptionally well into systems with scanners or other beam guidancecomponents.

SCX 35 – 350W

sealed CO2 laser sources

OEM series – 450-1000W
sealed CO2 laser sources
Power outputs up to 1000W• Most lasers are available in wavelengths 10.6µm, 10.25µm, 9.3µm• A high quality, round, symmetrical beam for high-speed processing applications• Short optical pulse for improved edge quality and minimal HAZ• Minimum shipment power 20% higher than rated power

The OEM series of CO2 lasers represents a compact solution that can be easily integrated

into industrial processing production lines. The RF power supply enables the laser toproduce short optical pulses with high peak power or quasi-CW output. There is also theoption for an absorbing thin film reflector (ATFR) to prevent back reflection issues.
The OEM series lasers use a single resonator design, producing laser light with alinear polarisation. With a beam quality of K > 0.8, power and precision are defining

characteristics of these lasers. Since many equipment manufacturers purchase thisrange to integrate into their equipment, these OEM laser sources are available without
the laser housing, if desired.

MULTISCAN HE/VS – 125W
CO2 laser marking systems

The MULTISCAN range of CO2 laser marking systems offers an inklessmethod of applying alphanumeric text, QR codes, 2D and traditional

barcodes, as well as complex graphics to a wide variety of materials;
marks can be made on substrates including glass, plastics, wood,paper, card, painted metals, and more. The flexible software allows

intelligent data to be placed anywhere within the specified scan area,

and the system can mark stationary objects or moving products which
need to be coded on the fly.

• Clean, ink-free production lines• Static or on the fly marking, scribing and drilling• Large scan area, up to 300x300mm• High quality vector generation for precise rendering of graphics• Low maintenance – fit and forget• Available in three wavelengths – 10.6μm, 10.25μm and 9.3μm

Applications laboratories
Could a CO2 laser be used to enhance your textile production process? We can help you tofind out by testing samples of your product.

Our applications lab facilities are open to both new and existing customers and OEMs.

Our laboratories are well equipped to carry out a range of processes, including marking
and cutting.

We offer rapid sample turnaround times, detailed application reports, and complimentary
advice from our experienced applications engineers.

We carry out application tests using your actual product samples. Guided by yourobjectives, we will try to replicate the conditions of your application as closely as possible
in the lab.

Upon completion, you will receive a detailed report outlining our findings, along withsome laser-processed samples for your evaluation. Most application tests can becompleted within 10 working days.

Whatever your process, we can help you to find the best laser for your application.

Contact us on https://www.luxinar.com/contact/ or info@luxinar.comFollow us on social media:© 2021 Luxinar Ltd 903-0274-00 Rev 1