Overview of Laser Iron Cutting

The production of parts using laser cutting at DM Laser Industrial Group is widely accepted in the industry. Laser cutting offers numerous benefits, including high flexibility regarding process parameters and material types. It is suitable for complex geometries and various dimensions. During metal sheet laser cutting, thermal stress spreads across the cutting section, and material properties and cutting conditions influence the thermal stress.

Laser cutting machines for iron are one of the factors contributing to increased speed and reduced costs in industrial centers, which is highly regarded by most industrialists. Laser iron cutting involves a high-powered beam directed at the desired location, where the iron is cut through melting or vaporization. The molten material is removed using nitrogen or oxygen gas. Using oxygen allows for faster and more precise cuts but results in lower quality compared to nitrogen. However, nitrogen increases accuracy but is unsuitable for cutting thick iron sheets.

Since lasers perform iron cutting uniformly and continuously, the resulting cut is much cleaner and more precise than traditional or mechanical methods. Due to minimal iron exposure to heat during cutting, the likelihood of warping is significantly reduced.

Laser iron cutting consumes less energy and provides higher precision compared to plasma cutting. However, the maximum thickness that a laser cutting machine can handle is less than that of plasma cutting machines. Specialists are developing laser cutting machines capable of handling thicker materials, but these machines will be more expensive than plasma cutting machines.

Advantages of Laser Iron Cutting

Laser iron cutting offers several advantages, including creative design possibilities, flexibility in creating complex patterns, high precision, fast speed, low cost, consistent accuracy in repetitive cuts, high edge quality, minimal waste, no changes in metal structure, batch cutting, simultaneous production of parts with the same thickness, and elimination of multi-step production processes.

- Taper Angle: Refers to the change in hole diameter through the sheet thickness.
- Burr Formation: The fewer burrs produced after cutting, the better the final quality, reducing the need for secondary machining.
- Kerf: Kerf defines the smallest cutting radius, dependent on sheet thickness, and should be considered in design. Sharp corners must have a minimum radius equivalent to the kerf. A smaller kerf enhances the machine's capability for cutting complex contours and fine teeth.
- Cutting Speed: Highly dependent on the machine's capabilities and laser beam power. Higher power allows faster cutting.
- Surface Finish: Smooth surface finish and oxidation prevention are achieved by combining advanced technologies and adjusting parameters like gas type, pressure, cutting speed, and laser beam power.

How Are Iron Sheets Cut with Laser Beams?

Lasers consist of light beams with extremely high intensity of a single wavelength or color. The wavelength of a typical CO2 laser lies in the infrared spectrum, invisible to humans. The laser beam diameter is approximately 0.75 inches through the machine's beam path. The beam is reflected by mirrors or fiber optics and passes through a nozzle focused on the sheet, where compressed gases like oxygen or nitrogen aid in cutting.

Parameters Affecting Laser Iron Cutting

Laser beam focus is achieved using a special lens or curved mirror in the laser cutting head. The beam must be precisely focused to generate high energy density at a concentric, focused point. This is akin to focusing sunlight through a magnifying glass to burn paper. A focused laser beam with 6 kW of energy generates extreme heat at the focal point.

What Is Density in Laser Cutting?

High power density quickly heats, melts, and evaporates materials. For cutting steel, laser beam heat suffices, similar to conventional oxy-fuel. Pure oxygen is used for laser cutting steel, while high-pressure nitrogen is used for stainless steel or aluminum to prevent oxidation.

CNC laser cutting involves positioning the laser cutting head on the desired shape on the metal sheet to separate sections. A capacitive height control system maintains precise distance between the nozzle and cutting surface, critical for focusing the beam relative to the sheet. Adjusting the focal point affects laser cutting quality, along with other parameters that, when controlled, ensure high-quality, precise laser cutting.

Advantages of Laser Iron Cutting Compared to Plasma and CNC Cutting

Laser iron cutting offers significantly higher precision and speed than other cutting methods.
CNC cutting relies on gas combustion and oxygen, making it time-consuming and producing lower-quality results with burrs and debris.
Plasma cutting also shares drawbacks like low cutting speed and inferior quality compared to laser cutting.

Laser iron cutting technology ensures the highest quality cutting for iron sheets.
Laser cutting requires high precision during operation, ensuring no melting or burr formation during the process.
Products like laser-cut gates, decorative panels, elevator components, and household items can be manufactured using laser iron cutting.
Costs are calculated based on cutting length, sheet thickness, and design measurements determined by software.
High-quality and clean cuts may result in higher costs, while lower quality reduces expenses.