Laser cutting refers to the use of high-power density laser beams to irradiate the material to be cut so that the material is quickly heated to the vaporization temperature and evaporates to form holes. As the beam moves on the material, the holes continuously form narrow slits to complete the cutting of the material.

Wire cutting refers to using moving metal wires (molybdenum wires, copper wires, or alloy wires) as electrode wires to cut out parts.

The difference is as follows：

1) The principles are different：

Laser cutting: The laser cutting machine uses a focused high-power density laser beam to irradiate the workpiece, causing the irradiated material to melt, vaporize, ablate, or reach the ignition point faster. At the same time, the molten material is blown away by the airflow coaxial with the beam, thereby cutting the workpiece.

Wire cutting: relies on pulse spark discharge between the electrode wire and the workpiece to generate high temperature to melt or vaporize the metal.

2) Different characteristics

Laser cutting: After the material is cut by a laser cutting machine, the width of the heat-affected zone is very small, and the performance of the material near the cutting seam is basically not affected. Moreover, the deformation of the workpiece is small, the cutting precision is high, the geometry of the slit is good, and the cross-sectional shape of the slit is relatively regular.

Wire cutting: Wire cutting can only cut conductive materials, which limits its application, and requires cooling cutting fluid during the cutting process. Therefore, some non-metallic materials such as leather cannot achieve straight-line cutting because they are less than 10% and are afraid of water and cutting fluid contamination. The advantage is that regardless of the hardness of the workpiece material, as long as it is a conductor or semiconductor material, it can be processed, the electrode wire loss is small and the precision is high. It is suitable for processing small batches, parts with complex shapes, single pieces, and trial products, and the cycle is short.

3) The application is different

Laser cutting: controlled by a CNC program or made into a laser cutting machine. As a precision machining method, laser cutting can basically cut materials, including two-dimensional or three-dimensional cutting of thin metal plates.

Wire cutting: processing parts with fine structures or complex shapes.Processing of hard conductive materials; trial production of new products and blanking of precious metals.