Page 177 - Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials

164 Industrial Cutting of Textile Materials

Fig. 10.9 Laser decoration on denim shoes.

10.6.1 Through cutting
During laser through cutting, the laser beam fully melts or burns one or more mate-
rial plies. The through cutting is used to cut out separate material components and
create different decorations (wholes) in the material, manufacturing garments, finish-
ing textile materials, and creating embroideries (see Section 10.8.2). During the last
years, fabric decorating with through cut designs becomes more important. As the
laser works almost radius-free, it is possible to create the very fine and complicated
patterns.

10.6.2 Kiss cutting

Laser kiss cutting is used to cut the top layer of a textile material without cutting
another attached material/s. When cutting the fabric on the fabric and stitching them
together, different kinds of multiple-layer embroideries, appliqués, and labels are cre-
ated (see Section 10.8.1). Laser kiss cutting ensures very detailed and high-precision
cutting, fused unfrying edges (if synthetic materials are cut), and much higher cutting
speed, productivity, and quality than any other traditional methods used.

10.6.3 Engraving and marking
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, there are differences between laser
engraving and laser marking.