Laser cutting is widely used in the processing of medium and thin plates, but in the process of thick plate cutting (usually carbon steel over 10mm, stainless steel over 6mm), due to the increase in material thickness and heat input, a series of technical difficulties are often encountered, affecting cutting efficiency and quality. The following are common problems and causes in thick plate laser cutting:
1. Rough cutting section or severe slag
If the thick plate is not cooled in time during the cutting process, slag is easily attached to the lower edge of the cut. Common reasons include insufficient gas pressure, low gas purity, slow cutting speed or inappropriate focus position. Especially in carbon steel oxygen cutting, oxygen purity and nozzle selection have a great influence on the cut finish.
2. Difficult to perforate or perforation time is too long
Thick plates require higher energy for initial perforation. If the laser power is insufficient or the perforation parameters are set improperly, perforation is likely to be difficult or metal splashes block the nozzle, affecting subsequent cutting. Segmented perforation or pre-punching processes can be used to improve efficiency and stability.
3. Cutting deformation or reduced precision
High heat input can easily cause local deformation of the plate, affecting dimensional accuracy. Unstable machine tool structure, poor cooling system, and unreasonable cutting sequence setting may also lead to precision deviation. It is recommended to adopt reasonable path optimization and clamping methods, and try to adopt a cutting strategy that can be completed in a short time.
4. Incomplete cutting or severe cross-section ablation
Incomplete cutting may be caused by focus offset, laser power fluctuation, or protection lens contamination. If excessive ablation is found, the lens cleanliness, optical path alignment, and nozzle status should be checked in time.
5. High reflectivity of materials affects cutting
Highly reflective materials such as aluminum and stainless steel are prone to reflection during thick plate cutting, resulting in energy loss and even laser damage. High-power laser sources (such as disk lasers), anti-reflective optical devices, or black film treatment are required to improve the absorption rate.
In summary, thick plate laser cutting has problems such as complex process parameters and significant thermal effects. Reasonable matching of laser power, gas, focus, speed and other parameters, as well as a stable mechanical system and experienced operators, are the key to ensuring the quality and efficiency of thick plate cutting.
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