Imagine effortlessly slicing through thick metal sheets with the precision of a scalpel. This blog post unravels the essentials of sheet metal laser cutting, a revolutionary method that combines high precision, speed, and flexibility. Discover the inner workings of laser cutters, their key components, and various cutting techniques. By the end, you’ll understand how this technology can optimize manufacturing processes and achieve superior quality in metalwork. Dive in to see how laser cutting could transform your approach to metal fabrication.
(1) A sheet metal laser cutting machine is a precision manufacturing equipment primarily designed to transform flat metal sheets into intricately shaped components with high accuracy and efficiency.
(2) This advanced system harnesses the concentrated thermal energy of a laser beam to perform cutting operations. The process involves focusing a high-power laser onto the metal surface, causing rapid localized heating. This intense heat melts, vaporizes, or sublimes the material, creating a clean, narrow kerf through which pressurized assist gas expels the molten metal, resulting in a precise cut.
Laser cutting technology offers numerous advantages over conventional cutting methods:
These compelling benefits have positioned laser cutting as a transformative technology in sheet metal fabrication, increasingly supplanting or complementing traditional cutting methods such as punching, plasma cutting, and waterjet cutting in modern manufacturing environments.
(1) Laser
Lasers can be divided into:
The fiber laser produces a laser that is not only easy to control but also has good directivity, monochromaticity, and coherence. As a result, it is widely used in mechanical manufacturing and sheet metal processing.
(2) Main machine
There are two types of relative movement between the cutting head and the workbench:
(1) Only the cutting head moves during the cutting process, while the workbench remains stationary.
(2) Only the workbench moves during the cutting process, while the cutting head remains fixed.
Other components of a cutting system include:
(3) Cooling system, which uses water for cooling.
(4) Air supply system, which can use bottled gas (oxygen, ammonia) or compressed air (air compressor, filter, dryer).
(5) Power supply, which requires a three-phase voltage stability of ±5% and a power imbalance of no more than 2.5% (calculated as the highest voltage in three phases minus the lowest voltage in three phases, divided by the average voltage of the three phases).
1: Air Cutting Requirements
Air exhaust volume of the compressor: 2.0 m³/min.
2: Dryer:
3: Filter:
(6) Control System:
Light Guide Focusing System:
According to the performance requirements of the workpiece to be processed, the beam is amplified, shaped, and focused to act on the processing part. The device from the laser output window to the workpiece to be processed is called the light guide focusing system.
Laser Processing System (Cypcut Laser Cutting System):
The laser processing system mainly includes the machine bed, workbench that can move within the three-dimensional coordinate range, and the electromechanical control system. With the advancement of electronic technology, many laser processing systems use computers to control the movement of the worktable and achieve continuous laser processing.
Main Technical Parameters of CF3015 Sheet Metal Cutting Machine:
Machine tool accuracy VDL/DGQ3441 measuring length 1 meter.
Note: Cutting accuracy is dependent on sheet thickness, sheet tension, and tensile force.
Laser cutting, a precision thermal process, can be classified into three primary types: fusion cutting (also known as melt and blow), laser-assisted oxygen cutting (often referred to as laser flame cutting), and laser vaporization cutting. Each method offers distinct advantages for specific materials and applications:
The choice of cutting method depends on factors such as material type, thickness, desired edge quality, production speed requirements, and post-processing needs. Modern laser cutting systems often incorporate adaptive control algorithms to optimize parameters in real-time, ensuring consistent cut quality across varying material properties and thicknesses.
Laser melting cutting is an advanced thermal process where a focused high-power laser beam locally melts the workpiece material, which is then expelled by a high-velocity gas stream. This method is distinguished by material removal occurring exclusively in the liquid state. The synergy between the laser beam and high-purity inert cutting gas facilitates the ejection of molten material from the kerf, while the gas remains chemically inert, serving only as a mechanical aid.
The process efficiency, quantified by maximum cutting speed, exhibits a direct correlation with laser power and an inverse relationship with both plate thickness and material melting point. For a given laser power, the limiting factors are the gas pressure at the cutting zone and the thermal conductivity of the workpiece material. Optimizing these parameters is crucial for achieving high-quality cuts and maximizing productivity.
A key advantage of laser melting cutting is its ability to produce oxidation-free cuts in ferrous alloys and titanium-based metals. This is particularly valuable in industries requiring high-purity cuts, such as aerospace and medical device manufacturing. The absence of oxidation is attributed to the inert gas shielding, typically argon or nitrogen, which prevents atmospheric oxygen from reacting with the hot metal surface.
The process parameters, including laser power density, cutting speed, focal position, and assist gas pressure, must be precisely controlled to achieve optimal cut quality. Advanced CNC systems and real-time monitoring technologies are often employed to maintain consistent cutting performance across varying material thicknesses and compositions.
The difference between laser flame cutting and laser melting cutting is that oxygen is used as the cutting gas in laser flame cutting. A chemical reaction is generated between the oxygen and the heated metal, which further heats the material. This results in a higher cutting rate for structural steel of the same thickness compared to laser melting cutting.
However, laser flame cutting may have a worse notch quality than laser melting cutting. It can produce wider cuts, roughness, an increased heat-affected zone, and poor edge quality. Laser flame cutting is not suitable for machining precision models and sharp corners as there is a risk of burning.
A pulse mode laser can be used to reduce the thermal effect. The cutting speed is determined by the laser power used.
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When the laser power is constant, the limiting factor in laser flame cutting is the supply of oxygen and the thermal conductivity of the material.
In the process of laser gasification cutting, a high-powered laser is used to cause the material to gasify at the point of cutting. This method of cutting is only appropriate for applications where the presence of molten material must be avoided, and is therefore limited to a small range of iron-based alloys.
The maximum cutting speed is determined by the gasification temperature of the material, and is inversely proportional to the plate thickness. In order to prevent the material vapor from condensing on the slit walls, the thickness of the material must not exceed the diameter of the laser beam.
The laser power density required for this process is significant, exceeding 108W/cm2, and depends on the material being cut, the cutting depth, and the position of the laser beam focus.
When the plate thickness is constant, and there is sufficient laser power, the maximum cutting speed is limited by the speed of the gas jet.
Laser cutting technology
Several key technologies in laser cutting are a combination of light, machinery, and electricity.
The parameters of the laser beam, the machine’s performance and accuracy, and the numerical control system directly impact the cutting efficiency and quality.
Focus Position Control Technology: One of the advantages of laser cutting is its high energy density of the beam. Currently, a focal length ranging from 120 to 200mm is widely used in industrial fiber laser cutting applications.
Laser Perforation Technology: With any thermal cutting technology, except in rare cases where it can start from the edge of the plate, a small hole is generally required on the plate. There are two primary methods for laser cutting machines: blasting and progressive drilling.
Nozzle Design and Air Flow Control Technology: Currently, the nozzle used for laser cutting has a simple structure, consisting of a conical hole with a small circular hole at the end. The design is usually determined through trial and error.
Process analysis of laser cutting
Laser cutting is a process that involves both melting and vaporization.
There are many factors that can impact the quality of the cutting.
See also:
9 Factors Affecting Laser Cutting Quality
In addition to hardware factors, such as the machine tool and processing materials, software factors also play a significant role in affecting the quality of the laser cutting process.
Computer-aided process design is the fundamental approach to study the impact of these software factors on the quality of the cutting process. This includes:
① Punching Point Selection: The position of the punching point is determined based on the specific situation.
② Auxiliary Cutting Path Setting:
③ Laser Beam Radius Compensation and Empty Stroke Processing:
④ Plate Layout Optimization: The utilization rate of the plate is improved by saving materials.
⑤ Parts Set Path Selection:
⑥ Processing Factor Influence Consideration: The path is selected taking into account the effects of factors such as thermal deformation.
Laser cutting process “refers to the interaction between laser beam, cutting gas and workpiece.
The process of laser cutting occurs before the actual cutting takes place. The laser heats the workpiece to the necessary temperature to melt and vaporize the material. The cutting plane is made up of a nearly vertical plane that is heated and melted by the absorbed laser radiation.
In laser flame cutting, the melting zone is further heated by the flow of oxygen entering the slit, reaching a temperature close to the boiling point. The resulting gasification removes the material, and the liquefied material is expelled from the bottom of the workpiece through the use of processing gas. In laser melting cutting, the liquefied material is expelled with the gas, which also protects the slit from oxidation.
The continuous melting zone moves along the cutting direction, producing a continuous slit. Many critical aspects of the laser cutting process take place in this area, and analysis of these activities can provide valuable information about laser cutting. This information can be used to calculate the cutting speed and explain the formation of traction line characteristics.
The outcome of cutting operations on a workpiece can result in either a clean cut or, on the other hand, a rough or burnt edge.
The key factors that impact cutting quality include:
The alloy composition can affect the material’s strength, specific gravity, weldability, oxidation resistance, and acidity to a certain extent. Some crucial elements in ferroalloy materials include carbon, chromium, nickel, magnesium, and zinc. The higher the carbon content, the more challenging it becomes to cut the material (with 0.8% being considered the critical value). Some types of carbon steel that are well-suited for laser cutting include Q235 and SW22 (low silicon low carbon aluminum killed steel).
In general, the finer the particle size of the constituent material, the better the cutting edge quality will be.
If the surface has rusty areas or oxide layers, the cut profile will be irregular and will exhibit many damaged points. To cut corrugated plate, select the maximum thickness cutting parameter.
Common surface treatments include galvanizing, focusing galvanizing, painting, anodizing, or covering with a plastic film layer. Sheet metal treated with zinc is prone to slag buildup on the edge. For painted plates, the cutting quality will depend on the composition of the coating.
How to process paint materials:
The first pass involves selecting a set of low-power parameters (for engraving) to pre-burn and mark the treated surface. The second pass involves selecting a set of parameters for cutting the material.
Plates with layered material coatings are highly suitable for laser cutting. In order to ensure the capacitive detection works correctly and for the best adhesion of the layered coating (to avoid bubble formation), the layered edge must always be positioned on the upper part of the cutting workpiece.
The way the light beam is reflected on the surface of the workpiece depends on the underlying material, surface roughness, and treatment.
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Some aluminum alloys, copper, and brass have high reflectivity characteristics and are not suitable for cutting using a fiber laser cutting machine.
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Materials with low thermal conductivity require less power to weld than materials with high thermal conductivity. For example, chromium nickel alloy steel requires less power than structural steel, and generates less heat that is absorbed during processing. On the other hand, materials such as copper, aluminum, and brass absorb most of the heat generated by the laser light. Since the heat is conducted away from the target point of the beam, it becomes more challenging to melt the material in the heat-affected zone.
Laser flame cutting and laser melting cutting can result in variations in the material near the edge of the cut material. Quenching in the heat-affected zone is reduced when processing low carbon steel or oxygen-free steel. However, for high carbon steel (60#), the edge area becomes harder.
Structural steel
When cutting the material with oxygen, better results will be obtained using a continuous mode laser. The small curve control system adjusts the laser power according to the feed rate of the shaft. When oxygen is used as the processing gas, the cutting edge will be slightly oxidized.
For plates with a thickness of less than 3mm, ammonia gas can be used for high-pressure cutting, resulting in a non-oxidized cutting edge.
Complex contours and small holes with a diameter less than the material thickness should be cut in pulse mode to avoid cutting off sharp corners. The higher the carbon content, the easier it is to quench the cutting edge and the more likely the corner is to be burnt. Plates with high alloy content are more challenging to cut than those with low alloy content.
An oxidized or sandblasted surface will result in poor cutting quality, and residual heat on the plate surface can have a negative impact on the cutting results. To eliminate tension, only secondary-treated steel plates should be cut. Impurities in molten steel under boiling conditions significantly affect the cutting results.
For clean surface cuts in structural steel, the following tips must be followed:
Stainless steel
Cutting stainless steel requires the following:
For stainless steel, the following should be considered:
Laser Cutting Method:
The choice of cutting mode is usually made when creating a program or by changing the machine parameters on the machine.
Gas parameters include:
The air pressure and nozzle geometry play a role in determining the edge roughness and the generation of burrs. The consumption of processing gas depends on the nozzle diameter and air pressure. Cutting air pressure below 1.0mp is considered low pressure, while 1.5mp is considered high pressure.
The most commonly used cutting nozzle has a cone-shaped circular opening. It is important to keep the distance between the nozzle and the workpiece surface as small as possible to maximize the quality of the gas that impacts the slit wall. A spacing between 0.5 and 1.5 is often used.
The parameter value of perforation is different from that of cutting.
Continuous mode perforation
Pulse mode perforation
Note: the plate thickness (mm) approximately corresponds to the perforation time (s).
CW mode is commonly used for perforation, which is faster but produces a larger hole than perforation using a pulse. For this reason, the position of the cut-out hole is usually placed outside the contour. The distance between the perforation and the actual contour is known as the lead portion.
Unevenness in the notch edge on the workpiece can indicate a change in the focus of the low light beam from the end of the starting cutting part to the contour. The user should set the lead part on the ideal extension line on one side of the geometric unit as much as possible.
When cutting small inner contours on the surface, it’s important to let the heat generated during the piercing process dissipate before starting the cutting. Avoid setting the perforations in a narrow area and position them at a large angle with respect to the contour, which promotes heat dissipation.
The lead length depends on the thickness of the plate and the diameter of the hole.
Machining of obtuse angle with radius
Where possible, avoid throwing angle without radius.
The corner with radius has the following advantages compared with the corner without radius:
Optimal rounding radius:
R optimal = plate thickness (mm) divided by 10, but not less than 1mm;
When no radius corner is required on the inner plate, the maximum radius is:
R edge = half the width of the incision.
With this beam, a radius free corner can still be generated, and now the axis moves dynamically:
For high-speed cutting on thin plates, using the hole technology is recommended. This solution has the following advantages:
Assess laser cutting incisions
| Structural steel: cut with O2 | ||
| Defect | Possible causes: | Terms of settlement |
No burr, consistent traction line | Proper powerProper feed rate | |
The traction line at the bottom has a large offset, and the notch at the bottom is wider. | Feed rate too highLaser power too lowThe air pressure is too lowFocus too high | Reduce feed rateIncrease laser powerIncrease air pressureLower focus |
The burr on the bottom surface is similar to the slag, in the form of droplets and easy to remove. | Feed rate too high·The air pressure is too lowFocus too high | Reduce feed rateIncrease air pressureLower focus |
The metal burrs connected together can be removed as a whole. | The focus is too high. | Lower the focus. |
Metal burrs on the bottom surface are difficult to remove | Feed rate too highThe air pressure is too lowImpure gasThe focus is too high. | Reduce feed rateIncrease air pressureUse purer gasLower focus |
There are burrs on one side only | Incorrect mouth alignment.Defective nozzle mouth | Centering nozzleChange nozzle |
| Structural steel: cut with O2 | ||
| Defect | Possible causes: | Exclude |
Material discharged from above | Power too low, feed rate too high | In this case, press the pause button immediately to prevent the slag from splashing onto the focusing lens.And then increase the power;Reduce the feed rate. |
Inclined surface cutting, good on both sides, bad on both sides. | Improper, incorrect or defective polarization mirror; the polarization mirror is installed at the position of deflection mirror | Check polarizing mirror;Check deflection mirror. |
Blue plasma, workpiece not cut through | Process gas error (N2);The feed rate is too high; Power too low | In this case, press the pause button immediately to prevent the slag from splashing onto the focusing lens;Using oxygen as a processing gas; Reduce the feed rate; Increase power |
Inaccurate cutting surface | The air pressure is too high; The nozzle is damaged; The nozzle diameter is too large; The material is not good. | Reduce the air pressure;Replace the nozzle;Install appropriate nozzles;Use a material with a smooth and uniform surface. |
There is no burr and the traction line is inclined;The incision becomes narrower at the bottom. | Feed rate too high | Reduce the feed rate. |
Crater generation | The air pressure is too high; The feed rate is too low; The focus is too high; There is rust on the plate surface; The processed workpiece is overheated; The material is not pure. | Reduce the air pressure;Increase the feed rate;Lowering the focus;Use better quality materials. |
Very rough cut surface | The focus is too high;The air pressure is too high;The feed rate is too low; The material is too hot. | Lowering the focus;Reduce the air pressure;Increase the feed rate;Cooling material. |
| Stainless steel: cut with N2 high pressure | ||
| Defect | Possible causes: | Terms of settlement |
Producing fine regular burrs in the form of drops; | The focus is too low; The feed rate is too high. | Raise the focus; Reduce the feed rate. |
Irregular filamentous burrs grow on both sides, and the surface of large plates changes color. | The feed rate is too low; The focus is too high; The air pressure is too low; The material is too hot. | Increase the feed rate; Lowering the focus; Increase the air pressure; Cooling material. |
Irregular burr growing only on one side of the cutting edge | The nozzle is not centered; The focus is too high; The air pressure is too low and the speed is too low. | Centering nozzle; Lowering the focus; Increase the air pressure; Increase speed. |
| Cutting edge yellowing | The atmosphere contains oxygen impurities. | Use nitrogen with good quality. |
Plasma is generated on a straight section. | The feed rate is too high. | If this happens, press temporarily. |
| Generating plasma on the straight-line surface | The feed rate is too high;The power is too low;The focus is too low. | In this case, press the pause button immediately to prevent the slag from splashing onto the focusing lens;Reduce the pick-up speed;Increase power;Raise the focus. |
| Beam dispersion | The feed rate is too high; The power is too low;The focus is too low. | Reduce the feed rate; Increase power;Raise the focus. |
| Generate plasma at the corner | The angle tolerance is too high;Modulation is too high; The acceleration is too high. | Reduce the angle tolerance;Reduce modulation or acceleration. |
| The beam diverges at the beginning | The acceleration is too high;The focus is too low; Molten material failed to be discharged | Reduce acceleration;Raise the focus and pierce the circular hole. |
| Rough incision | The nozzle is damaged; The lens is dirty. | Replace the nozzle;Clean the lens if necessary. |
Material discharged from above | Power too lowExcessive feed rateThe air pressure is too high | In this case, press the pause button immediately to prevent molten tears from splashing onto the focusing lensIncrease power and decrease feed rateReduce air pressure |
In order to achieve the best processing quality, please follow the following instructions:
When a reduction in machining quality is noted, check the following factors:
Do not modify the standard parameters set when purchasing the laser cutting machine;
See also:
To optimize the parameters, create a new directory for them. If the processing quality deteriorates, compare the standard parameters on the machine to the optimized parameters to determine if any significant changes have been made.
The surface quality of materials greatly affects the quality of laser cutting. Raw materials must be protected from rust and dirt. If the surface is rusty, dirty, or uneven, the material should be treated before being cut on the laser cutting machine.
To achieve the best cutting quality, the operator should follow these principles:
The low light level mode of operation includes continuous mode and pulse mode. Continuous mode is used for normal cutting, while pulse mode is used for processing small holes and perforations that are smaller than the thickness of the material.
For cutting workpieces that will be reused, pulse perforation can be performed on the graphic contour. Continuous mode perforation is usually used for faster cutting, but it results in a larger hole compared to pulse perforation.
Heat dissipation before and after piercing is crucial when cutting small materials. Avoid connecting the cutting line with narrow parts of the workpiece and make sure there is a sufficient included angle with the figure to allow for heat dissipation.
The maximum cutting size of the laser cutting machine is 3000 x 1500mm. The maximum cutting capacity of a 500W fiber laser cutting machine is 6mm for carbon steel and 4mm for stainless steel.
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The smallest hole that can be cut must have a diameter greater than the thickness of the plate.
Safety Regulations for Operating the Laser Cutting Machine:
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Through the above training content, I think you have a deeper understanding of sheet metal laser cutting, which will certainly be helpful to you.
If you still have other questions about sheet metal laser cutting, please leave a message in the comment area.
As the founder of MachineMFG, I have dedicated over a decade of my career to the metalworking industry. My extensive experience has allowed me to become an expert in the fields of sheet metal fabrication, machining, mechanical engineering, and machine tools for metals. I am constantly thinking, reading, and writing about these subjects, constantly striving to stay at the forefront of my field. Let my knowledge and expertise be an asset to your business.
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