The process of laser cutting stainless steel plate
Laser cutting of stainless steel plates is a high-precision and high-efficiency machining process that has been widely used in modern manufacturing. The following is a detailed introduction to the laser cutting process for stainless steel plates:
1、 Laser cutting principle
Laser cutting is a processing method that uses a high-energy density laser beam to irradiate the material being cut, causing the material to instantly melt, vaporize, or reach the ignition point. At the same time, high-speed airflow coaxial with the beam is used to blow away the molten material, thereby achieving the cutting of the material.
For stainless steel plates, the energy of the laser beam can quickly heat the surface of the stainless steel, causing its temperature to rapidly rise above the melting point and form a molten pool. As the laser beam moves, the molten metal in the molten pool is blown away by high-speed airflow, forming a cut on the stainless steel plate.
2、 Laser cutting equipment
Laser
Laser is the core component of laser cutting equipment, commonly used include carbon dioxide laser, fiber laser, and solid-state laser.
Fiber lasers have the advantages of high efficiency, stability, and low maintenance costs, and are widely used in laser cutting of stainless steel plates.
Cutting head
The cutting head is mainly composed of focusing lens, nozzle, etc. The focusing lens focuses the laser beam onto a small spot, increasing the energy density of the laser. The nozzle sprays auxiliary gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, etc. to blow away molten material and cool the cutting area.
Control system
The control system is responsible for controlling various parts of the laser cutting equipment, including the output power of the laser, the movement speed of the cutting head, the flow rate of auxiliary gas, and other parameters. Through precise control, high-quality cutting effects can be achieved.
workbench
The workbench is used to carry stainless steel plates and can usually be moved in two or three dimensions to meet cutting requirements of different shapes.
3、 Cutting process parameters
laser power
Laser power is an important parameter that affects cutting speed and cutting quality. The higher the power, the faster the cutting speed, but it may also cause problems such as overheating and roughness of the cutting edge. For stainless steel plates of different thicknesses, it is necessary to choose the appropriate laser power.
Cutting speed
The cutting speed is related to factors such as laser power and material thickness. Properly increasing the cutting speed can improve production efficiency, but if the speed is too fast, it may lead to incomplete cutting, poor edge quality, and other problems.
Auxiliary gas
The main function of auxiliary gas is to blow away molten material, cool the cutting area, and prevent oxidation. For cutting stainless steel plates, commonly used auxiliary gases are oxygen and nitrogen.
Oxygen cutting has the advantages of fast speed and low cost, but it can form an oxide layer at the cutting edge, which affects the surface quality. Nitrogen cutting can achieve better surface quality, but the cutting speed is relatively slow and the cost is high.
Focus position
The focal position also has a significant impact on cutting quality. When the focus is above the surface of the material, it is called positive defocus; When the focus is below the surface of the material, it is called negative defocus; When the focus is on the surface of the material, it is called zero defocus. Generally speaking, for cutting stainless steel plates, using zero defocusing or slight positive defocusing can achieve better cutting results.
4、 Cutting process
preparation
Place the stainless steel plate on the workbench, adjust the position and clamping device to ensure that the plate does not move during the cutting process.
According to the thickness and cutting requirements of the stainless steel plate, set the parameters of the laser cutting equipment, such as laser power, cutting speed, auxiliary gas, etc.
Cutting operation
Activate the laser to generate a high-energy density laser beam. The laser beam is focused by the cutting head and irradiated onto the stainless steel plate to start cutting.
The cutting head moves along the preset path on the stainless steel plate, while auxiliary gas is sprayed from the nozzle to blow away the molten material.
During the cutting process, it is necessary to closely observe the cutting situation, such as the quality of the cutting edge, whether there are sparks splashing, etc., and adjust the parameters in a timely manner to ensure the cutting quality.
Post processing
After cutting, remove the stainless steel plate from the workbench and perform necessary post-processing, such as removing burrs, cleaning the surface, etc.
5、 Technological advantages
high-precision
Laser cutting can achieve very high precision, with narrow incision width, smooth edges, and small dimensional errors, which can meet the high precision requirements of applications.
high efficiency
Laser cutting speed is fast, greatly improving production efficiency. Especially for cutting complex shapes, laser cutting has significant advantages.
Good flexibility
Laser cutting can cut stainless steel plates of various shapes, including straight, curved, circular, irregular, etc., with strong flexibility.
Save materials
Due to the high precision of laser cutting, it can minimize material waste and improve material utilization to the greatest extent possible.
6、 Application Fields
Laser cutting of stainless steel plates is widely used in the following fields:
Mechanical manufacturing
Used for manufacturing various mechanical components such as gears, shafts, boxes, etc.
Architectural Decoration
Produce stainless steel decorative panels, railings, handrails, etc.
Kitchenware manufacturing
Produce stainless steel kitchenware, such as stoves, sinks, range hoods, etc.
Electronic devices
Manufacturing casings, brackets, etc. for electronic devices.
In summary, laser cutting of stainless steel plates is an advanced processing technology that has advantages such as high precision, high efficiency, and good flexibility, and plays an important role in modern manufacturing. With the continuous advancement of technology, laser cutting technology will continue to improve, providing higher quality solutions for the processing of stainless steel plates.