Tips for cutting Carbon Steel with Fiber Laser Cutting Machines

When cutting carbon steel with a fiber laser, precision in perforation is essential for ensuring smooth and efficient cutting. Below are some expert suggestions for optimizing perforation and overall cutting performance.

Perforation Optimization Tips:

1. Increase Peak Power: Use 70%-100% of peak power to improve perforation efficiency. This helps in rapidly breaking through the surface of carbon steel.

2. Ensure Laser Centering: Proper laser alignment is crucial. Adjust the perforation focus to about -6 to achieve better results.

3. Air Pressure Settings: Keep oxygen pressure consistent between perforation and cutting, typically around 1 bar for carbon steel.

4. Multi-Level Perforation: Between perforation stages, stop the light and use a burst of air. This technique helps prevent hole bursting.

5. Adjust Perforation Frequency: At the third stage of perforation (high position), match frequency and dwell time for smooth slag removal and improved cutting stability. Use frequencies around 500-800Hz, with a dwell time of about 100ms. The focus should be between 0 and +2.

6. Duty Cycle Management: Gradually increase the duty cycle from 35% to 75%, stepping up from level 3 to level 1 to ensure a smooth transition through the perforation stages.

7. Cutting Height Adjustments: Adjust the cutting height for each perforation level: 20mm for level 3, 15mm for level 2, and 10mm for level 1.

8. Frequency Settings: Use frequencies of 100-300Hz for levels 1 and 2 perforation to maintain consistent cutting performance.

9. Focus Settings by Level: Set the focus between -6 and -2 for levels 1 and 2, and between 0 and +2 for level 3. Positive focus at level 3, combined with high power and frequency, creates a small groove, easing the subsequent cutting process by thinning the plate and helping slag removal.

10. Pulse Perforation Technique: Most perforation methods for carbon steel involve pulse lasers. High peak power in each pulse melts a small amount of material, aided by oxygen, allowing for stable cutting with minimal slag formation.

Specific commissioning results will be determined based on on-site conditions; the content of this article is for reference only.