Laser Cutting Techniques for Different Metal Materials

After decades of development, the use of laser has become more and more mature, which has brought huge changes to the global manufacturing industry, especially the sheet metal processing industry. Fiber laser cutting machines have entered our lives from the industrial field, and more and more materials are suitable for cutting. However, when using a fiber laser cutting machine to cut different materials, the cutting method used should also be adjusted appropriately to achieve the desired cutting quality.

1. Stainless Steel Cutting

Nitrogen is generally used for cutting stainless steel metal sheets to prevent oxidation, without burr edges, and can be welded directly without post-processing. According to the characteristics of stainless steel materials, the fluidity of the liquid can be accelerated, and the cutting efficiency can be higher and faster. However, the effect of cutting with oxygen may be worse than that of nitrogen, causing the end surface to be black and not smooth.

2. Carbon Steel Cutting

Generally, oxygen will get better results when laser cutting carbon steel. While the oxygen reaction heat is used to increase the cutting efficiency in a large format, the generated oxide film will also increase the beam spectrum absorption factor of the reflective material. When using oxygen processing, there is a problem that the edges may be slightly oxidized. If users with strict requirements can use nitrogen for high-pressure cutting, of course, they can also paint the surface of the workpiece to achieve better cutting results.

3. Aluminum Cutting

Aluminum is a highly reflective material among metal materials, and it has high reflectivity and thermal conductivity. In recent years, laser cutting machines from many manufacturers have installed "anti-reflection devices" to adapt to aluminum cutting. The use of laser cutting opportunities without "anti-reflection devices" has caused damage to their optical components. At the same time, depending on the power of the equipment, the thickness of the cut aluminum material is also different. Generally speaking, the thickness of stainless steel and carbon steel cut by the same equipment is thicker than that of high-reflection materials such as aluminum. Aluminum is also more suitable for cutting with nitrogen, and the cutting effect is good and the end surface is smoother.

4. Copper and Brass Cutting

Like aluminum, copper and brass are highly reflective materials and need to be cut with a laser cutting machine with an "anti-reflection device". Brass with a thickness of 1mm or less can be cut with nitrogen; copper with a thickness of 2mm or less can be cut.