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What is the Maximum Cutting Thickness of the Laser Cutting Machine and How to Choose?
2022-08-31370

In recent years, the rapid development of China's high-speed railway, nuclear power, shipbuilding, petrochemical industry, aerospace and other fields has put forward higher demands on laser cutting processing equipment and process technology. The general trend is to develop in the direction of higher power, faster speed, larger size, thicker cutting, brighter section and straighter.

metal laser cutting machine

 

Therefore, from 6000W to 8000w, and then to the 10,000 watt laser cutting machine that once seemed unreachable, the power of the laser cutting machine has broken through our imagination step by step. In the past, the thickness of optical fiber laser cutting plate was limited to carbon steel within 20mm and stainless steel within 12mm, while the 10000 watt dada laser cutting machine can cut aluminum alloy plate up to 40mm and stainless steel plate up to 50mm. When cutting stainless steel plate with thickness of 3 ~ 10mm, the cutting speed of 10kW laser cutting machine is more than twice that of 6kW; At the same time, in the cutting application of carbon steel, the 10000 watt laser cutting machine can achieve the fast bright surface cutting of 18 ~ 20mm / s, which is twice the normal standard cutting speed; Compressed air or nitrogen can also be used to cut carbon steel within 12mm, and the cutting efficiency is six to seven times that of oxygen cutting carbon steel.

 

Some data show that in terms of 8mm stainless steel, the speed of 6kW laser cutting machine is increased by nearly 400% compared with 3KW laser cutting machine. For 20mm thick stainless steel, the speed of 12KW is 114% higher than that of 10kW.

 

From the perspective of economic benefits, the price of a 10,000 watt laser cutting machine is less than 40% higher than the price of a 6kW machine tool, but the output efficiency per unit time is more than twice that of a 6kW machine tool. Moreover, it saves labor and site and is favored by the bosses of laser processing enterprises.

 

Metal laser cutting machine mainly cuts various metal materials, including stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, aluminum plate, silver, copper, titanium and other metal materials. The key advantages of the metal laser cutting machine are reflected in the actual application process. The cutting ability of the fiber laser cutting machine is also related to the quality of the cutting machine, the type of laser, the cutting environment, the cutting speed and other factors. The use of auxiliary gas can also improve the cutting ability. Therefore, there is no absolute standard to judge the cutting thickness. Generally speaking, the thicker the metal steel plate, the more difficult it is to cut. Users need to pay special attention when purchasing laser cutters, and choose the appropriate laser configuration according to their actual needs. So, how thick can the fiber laser cutting machine with various powers cut the metal plate?

 

1. The maximum cutting thickness of different materials of 500W metal laser cutting machine: the maximum thickness of carbon steel is 6mm; The maximum thickness of stainless steel is 3mm; The maximum thickness of aluminum plate is 2mm; The maximum thickness of copper plate is 2mm;

 

2. The maximum thickness of different materials cut by 1000W metal laser cutting machine: the maximum thickness of carbon steel is 10mm; The maximum thickness of stainless steel is 5mm; The maximum thickness of aluminum plate is 3mm; The maximum thickness of copper plate is 3mm;

 

3. The maximum thickness of different materials cut by 2000W metal laser cutting machine: the maximum thickness of carbon steel is 16mm; The maximum thickness of stainless steel is 8mm; The maximum thickness of aluminum plate is 5mm; The maximum thickness of copper plate is 5mm;

 

4. The maximum thickness of different materials cut by 3000W metal laser cutting machine: the maximum thickness of carbon steel is 20mm; The maximum thickness of stainless steel is 10mm; The maximum thickness of aluminum plate is 8mm; The maximum thickness of copper plate is 8mm;

 

5. 4000W laser cutting stainless steel is 16mm at most, but the quality of the cutting surface above 12mm is not guaranteed, and the cutting surface below 12mm is definitely bright. The cutting capacity of 6000W will be better, but the price is also higher.

 

Generally, 1000W fiber laser cutting machine can cut about 10mm carbon steel plate, and stainless steel plate is slightly difficult to cut. If the cutting thickness is to be increased, it is necessary to sacrifice the edge effect and speed. For different metal materials, the cutting thickness of different power metal laser cutting machines has a great relationship with the cutting materials. Due to many external factors, the actual cutting ability is also related to the quality of laser cutting machine, cutting environment, auxiliary gas, cutting speed and other factors.

 

When choosing a metal laser cutting machine, customers should consider not only the thickness of the plates cut in normal work, but also the proportion of the maximum thickness of the plates cut, and whether there is more than 10%. Because the power requirements of the laser cutting machine are different for different thickness plates. Assuming that the thickness of the plate to be cut is 12mm to 16mm, a 6000 watt laser cutting machine needs to be selected to meet the cutting requirements. Assuming that the thickness of the plate to be cut is 4mm to 8mm, it is generally recommended to select a laser cutting machine of 2000 W or 3000 W. However, we generally reserve a margin for laser power to prevent attenuation, so it is more recommended to choose a 3000 Watt laser cutter. The price of 3000 W and 6000 w laser cutting machines is very different. If you do not consider your own cutting needs, it is likely that you will invest too much in high thickness products with a small proportion, and the cost recovery speed will be greatly reduced.

 

In addition, we need to consider one point: is the quality cut equal to the maximum cut?

 

If there is a need to cut the bright surface, then all the data presented above will be reduced by 60%. It is assumed that the bright surface needs to be cut on a laser cutting machine with a power of 500 W. when cutting a plate with a thickness of 3mm, the material can be ensured to be smooth, but when cutting a plate with a thickness of 4mm, it will not be very smooth. For another example, the 3000 Watt laser cutting machine can achieve the said quality cutting for plates with a thickness of less than 12mm, that is, to ensure continuous and stable cutting. Therefore, the quality cutting thickness is not the maximum cutting thickness. If the power of the laser cutting machine is small and the required cutting thickness cannot be met, it is very easy to burst holes or cut immobile. Therefore, customers must choose laser cutting machines according to their own needs.

 

About HGTECH: HGTECH is the pioneer and leader of laser industrial application in China, and the authoritative provider of global laser processing solutions. We have comprehensively arranged laser intelligent equipment, measurement and automation production lines, and smart factory construction to provide overall solutions for intelligent manufacturing.