Small Details Of Laser Cutting Of 7 Types Of Common Metal Materials

The initial absorption of a 10.6μm laser beam by metals is only 0.5%~10%, but when a focused laser beam with a power density of more than 106w/cm² is irradiated onto a metal surface, it can quickly cause the surface to begin melting in microseconds. The absorption rate of most metals in the molten state rises sharply, typically by 60% to 80%.

1. Titanium and titanium alloys

Pure titanium can be well coupled to focus the laser beam into thermal energy, auxiliary gas using oxygen when the chemical reaction is intense, faster cutting speed, but easy to generate an oxide layer at the cutting edge, careless will also cause overcooking. To be on the safe side, the use of air as an auxiliary gas is better to ensure the cutting quality. Aircraft manufacturing industry commonly used titanium alloy laser cutting quality is better, although the bottom of the slit will have a little slag, but it is easy to clean up.

2. Nickel-based alloys

Nickel-based alloys, also known as superalloys, have many varieties. Most of them can be implemented oxidation melting cutting.

3. Carbon Steel

Modern laser cutting machine can cut carbon steel plate with a maximum thickness of up to 20MM, the use of oxidative melting cutting mechanism to cut carbon steel slit can be controlled in a satisfactory width range, the slit can be as narrow as 0.1MM or so for thin plate.

4. Stainless steel

Laser cutting on the use of stainless steel sheet as the main component of the manufacturing industry is an effective processing tool. Under strict control of the laser cutting process of heat input measures, can limit the cut edge heat-affected zone becomes very small, and thus very effective in maintaining the good corrosion resistance of such materials.

5. Alloy Steels

Most alloy structural steels and alloy tool steels can be laser cut to obtain good edge quality. Even some high-strength materials, as long as the process parameters are properly controlled, can be obtained straight, non-stick slag edge. However, for tungsten-containing high-speed tool steel and hot-molded steel, laser cutting machine processing will have melting and slag phenomenon occurs.

6. Aluminum and alloys

Aluminum cutting belongs to the melting laser cutting mechanism, the auxiliary gas used is mainly used to blow away the molten products from the cutting zone, usually obtaining a good quality of the cut surface. For some aluminum alloys, attention should be paid to preventing intergranular microcracks on the surface of the cut.

7. Copper and alloys

Pure copper (copper) due to too high a reflectivity, basically can not use CO2 laser beam cutting. Brass (copper alloys) using higher laser power, the auxiliary gas using air or oxygen, can be thinner plate cutting.