Lasers and Metal Fabrication: Setting Laser Power for Stainless Steel and Aluminum Alloys

The power settings used for laser processing of stainless steel or aluminum have a direct impact on the cutting effect and efficiency.It helps users avoid common problems, and improves the quality of their products.

Why can't power settings be standardized?

Many people think that "you can't go wrong by turning up the power," but the result is that stainless steel gets blackened at the edges and aluminum alloys deform.In fact, stainless steel and aluminum alloy have different thermal conductivity and melting points, so the parameters must be "set according to the dish.

Material properties determine the direction of the parameters.

Stainless steel: High melting point, slow heat conduction.

The melting point of stainless steel is around 1400 ° C, and it has only one-fifth the thermal conductivity of aluminum alloy.The process requires a lot of heat, but the speed cannot be too slow, otherwise the heat will build up and cause the edges to oxidize and turn black.For example, for a 2 mm thick stainless steel plate, 1200 W power and 2.5 meters per minute are recommended.

Aluminum: Low melting point + fast heat dissipation.

The melting point of aluminum alloy is about 660 ° C, but it cools very quickly.Too much power can burn through the metal, while too little power will not cut through.The key is "high speed + moderate power," and nitrogen is used to aid in slag removal.For example, when cutting 3mm aluminum alloy plate, a power of 1000 watts and a speed of 4 m / min is more stable.

Practical adjustments.

First try it out, then mass produce it.

The composition of different brands of material is different, so it is suggested that you first cut out a small sample.The surface of the cut is observed to see if it is smooth and if there is any residue.If stainless steel is covered with a layer of slag, the pressure can be increased. If aluminum alloy has burrs, the power can be lowered or the speed can be increased.

Don't neglect the condition of the equipment.

A dirty lens in the laser head or insufficient purity of the gas can result in a significant drop in actual power.Check the purity of the light path before processing, especially when cutting aluminum alloys. It is suggested that the nitrogen purity be at least 99.9 %.

Common causes of car accidents and first aid guidelines.

The stainless steel edge of the knife has turned yellow.

The most likely causes are that the rate is too slow or the oxygen purity is not high enough.Try using high-purity oxygen (99.5 % or higher) and see if the speed goes up by 0.3m / min.

The aluminum alloy bottom has nodules.

This may be caused by too much power or insufficient gas pressure.Firstly, reduce the power by 5 % and check that the air pressure is stable at 1.5 Bar or above.

How much easier it would be to mix the two materials together.

If the production line needs to process stainless steel and aluminum alloy alternately, two sets of parameter templates are suggested to be saved in advance.When switching, don't forget to adjust the gas type at the same time--use oxygen for stainless steel, and nitrogen for aluminum. If you get this wrong, you'll have an accident!

Finally, we should remind everyone that the figures in the parameter table are only for reference, and that actual settings should be adjusted flexibly according to the condition of the equipment and the batch of materials.When faced with a problem, it is often helpful to communicate with the supplier about the composition of the materials.