Laser Power Required To Cut Metal

Laser power in kw some new laser cutters have laser power of 4 kw.

Laser power required to cut metal.

As aluminum contains high thermal conductivity and is reflective a higher concentration of laser power is needed to initiate cuts compared to steel s less. Generally speaking lower power co2 laser tubes will be able to process the same materials with the same detail and quality as higher power laser tubes but higher power laser tubes will allow you to 1 cut deeper in a single pass and 2 engrave faster in some materials. Sheet metal cutting requires a power density of 10 6 watts in 2 source. As a reference a 40 w laser can cut through paper cardboard foam and thin plastic while a 300 w laser can cut through thin steel and.

Laser cutting metal is becoming more and more accessible. 1in 2 645mm 2 a 100 watt laser can achieve a power density of 1550 watts mm 2 in a spot size that is 0 6452mm 2 a spot size that is 0 6452mm 2 has a diameter of of 28mm or 280 micron using area pi d 2 2 280 micron. Steel sheet thickness in mm. Given its dominance in the sheet metal cutting industry this article focuses on laser fusion cutting.

The thicker the material to be cut the more crucial a high laser power is in order to achieve a good quality. The two most common types of laser cutting machines are fiber laser and co 2. Cutting speed in meters per minute. Mike klos laser mechanisms converting to millimeters that s 1550 watts mm 2.

Fiber lasers vs co 2. Check out this simple guide to design your first laser cut metal part. Steel and stainless have a relatively high absorption of the wavelength associated with a co2 laser which is why you will see them listed as being able to be cut on a lower wattage gas assisted co2. This process is capable of holding quite close tolerances often to within 0 001 inch 0 025 mm part geometry and the mechanical soundness of the machine have much to do with tolerance capabilities.

If you d like to learn more about ablative laser cutting check out this article on micron scale manufacturing. Always check the laser s power or at least what materials it can cut. We have compiled this guide for the laser system that we sell which gives you a good idea of all kinds of materials that a laser can mark engrave drill and cut from the commercially available options that we provide. As a rule of thumb the following applies for acrylic for example.

A comparison of the cutting time for different sheet thicknesses of acrylic between 200 and 400 watts is shown in the graphic. A 20w fiber laser will have little trouble marking most metals where as a 20w co2 laser has pretty much zero chance. 10 watts per millimeter.