2025-01-10
In laser cutting processing, the selection of auxiliary gas is often overlooked, but it is actually one of the key factors affecting cutting quality, efficiency and cost. Laser cutting machines of different powers have different requirements for auxiliary gas when processing various plates. How to choose the right auxiliary gas according to the laser power and plate characteristics, not only to improve processing efficiency, but also to create greater competitive advantages for enterprises?
Low-power laser cutting machine (≤ 2000W)
Low-power cutting machine is suitable for processing thin plates and medium-thick materials. Gas selection needs to take into account efficiency and economy:
Carbon steel
Recommended gas: oxygen
Reason: Low-power laser needs oxygen oxidation reaction to provide additional heat when cutting carbon steel, which improves cutting speed and penetration ability.
Applicable thickness: ≤ 6mm thin plates are most suitable. For slightly thicker carbon steel (such as 8mm), it can be cut with oxygen by reducing the cutting speed, but the edge oxide layer needs subsequent treatment.
Stainless steel
Recommended gas: nitrogen or compressed air
Reason: Nitrogen can avoid oxidation, ensure smooth edges, and is suitable for high-precision processing. In cost-sensitive scenarios, compressed air is an economical choice, but the cutting quality is slightly inferior.
Applicable thickness: Stainless steel plates ≤ 4mm are the best.
Aluminum alloy
Recommended gas: Nitrogen
Reason: Aluminum alloy is easy to oxidize, and the inert properties of nitrogen can ensure edge quality and avoid burning.
Applicable thickness: Thin plates ≤ 3mm perform well.
Medium-power laser cutting machine (2000W - 6000W)
Medium-power laser cutting machines have strong cutting capabilities and can handle more types of materials and medium and thick plates:
Carbon steel
Recommended gas: Oxygen
Reason: Oxygen can significantly increase cutting speed and penetration, and is suitable for medium and thick plates of 6mm-20mm.
Note: There may be an oxide layer on the cutting edge, which is suitable for scenarios with low surface quality requirements.
Stainless steel
Recommended gas: Nitrogen
Reason: When medium-power laser cutting stainless steel, nitrogen can ensure that there is no oxide layer on the cutting edge, which is suitable for high-end manufacturing fields.
Applicable thickness: Stainless steel plates of 6mm-12mm have significant effects.
Aluminum alloy
Recommended gas: Nitrogen or compressed air
Reason: Nitrogen ensures high-quality edges and is suitable for high-end processing; compressed air can be a cost-saving option, but may have limited effect on thicker materials.
Applicable thickness: ≤ 8mm aluminum alloy plate cutting.
High-power laser cutting machine (≥ 6000W)
High-power laser cutting machines can easily handle thick plates and even ultra-thick plates. The choice of auxiliary gas needs to match the high-power processing capabilities:
Carbon steel
Recommended gas: Oxygen
Reason: High-power laser combined with oxygen can efficiently cut thick plates ≥ 20mm, and is widely used in steel structure processing.
Note: The oxide layer is thick and requires subsequent treatment to improve the surface quality.
Stainless steel
Recommended gas: High-pressure nitrogen
Reason: In thick plate cutting, high-pressure nitrogen can avoid edge oxidation and burning, ensuring smoothness and cutting quality.
Applicable thickness: 10mm-25mm thick plate cutting effect is best.
Aluminum alloy
Recommended gas: High-pressure nitrogen
Reason: The high reflectivity and easy oxidation characteristics of aluminum alloy make nitrogen the only choice for cutting thick plates, which ensures quality and prevents thermal deformation.
Applicable thickness: aluminum alloy plates ≤ 20mm.
Comprehensive selection strategy
Power and gas matching
Low-power equipment prefers oxygen and compressed air, which is suitable for thin plate processing.
Medium and high-power equipment needs to consider nitrogen more to meet the processing needs of thick plates and high quality requirements.
Cost and effect trade-off
Compressed air is suitable for low-end markets or cost-first processing scenarios.
Although nitrogen is more expensive, it has irreplaceable advantages in the field of high-precision processing.
Dynamic adjustment
Flexibly adjust gas selection according to plate material, thickness and power level to optimize cutting efficiency and cost.