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How to adjust parameters in sheet metal laser cutting
Category：answer Publishing time：2025-11-28 09:23:08 Browse： Times
1. Basic parameters of laser cutting
In sheet metal laser cutting, the main parameters include laser power, cutting speed, gas pressure, focus position, nozzle height, etc. These parameters interact with each other and together determine the quality of the cutting.
1. Laser power
Laser power is one of the key factors affecting cutting capability. The higher the power, the faster the cutting speed, which is suitable for thick plate materials. However, for thin plates, an excessively high power may cause burning edges or slag accumulation. Therefore, power should be selected reasonably according to the thickness and type of the material.
2. Cutting speed
The cutting speed should match the laser power. Too fast a speed can lead to incomplete cutting and the appearance of uncut through phenomena; too slow a speed may cause overburning of the material or thermal deformation. Adjustments should be made according to the type and thickness of the material to find the best balance point.
3. Auxiliary gas pressure
Gases (such as oxygen, nitrogen, or air) play a role in auxiliary combustion, slag removal, and cooling during cutting. Different materials require different gases and pressures. For example, oxygen is commonly used for cutting carbon steel, while nitrogen is often used for cutting stainless steel to obtain better section quality.
4. Focus position
The focus position determines the degree of concentration of laser energy. Generally, for thin plate cutting, positive defocusing (focus above the material) is used, and for thick plate cutting, negative defocusing (focus below the material) is used to achieve the best cutting effect.
5. Distance between the nozzle and the material
An excessively high nozzle height will affect the blowing effect of the gas, leading to a rough cutting section; too low a height may cause the nozzle to collide with the material or reflect light to damage the equipment. It is usually recommended to maintain a distance of 1~3mm between the nozzle and the material.
2. Adjustment skills in actual operation
In specific operations, it is recommended to use the 'test cutting method' for parameter optimization. This means testing the cutting of the edge material before formal cutting, and observing the quality of the cutting section, whether there is slag, and whether there is burning edge, etc., to judge whether the parameters are reasonable.
In addition, the physical properties of different materials (such as reflectivity, thermal conductivity) will also affect the cutting effect, so parameters need to be adjusted according to the characteristics of the material. For example:
- Stainless steel: it is recommended to use high-purity nitrogen gas, with the focus slightly above, to obtain a smooth section.
- Carbon steel: oxygen can be used as an auxiliary gas, and the power can be appropriately increased.
- Aluminum alloy: due to its strong reflectivity, it is advisable to use lower power and higher gas pressure to prevent reflective damage to the equipment.
3. Summary
Parameter adjustment for sheet metal laser cutting is both a technical and an experiential task. Only by fully understanding the performance of the equipment and the characteristics of the materials, and combining them with the actual processing conditions for flexible adjustment, can high-efficiency and high-quality cutting operations be achieved. With the development of intelligent technology, an increasing number of laser cutting equipment are equipped with automatic parameter adjustment functions, but this still cannot completely replace the experience and optimization of human judgment.
Therefore, for operators, it is not only necessary to master the basic operation of the equipment, but also to continuously accumulate experience and improve the ability to adjust parameters in practice, thereby improving the overall processing efficiency and product quality.
1. Basic parameters of laser cutting
In sheet metal laser cutting, the main parameters include laser power, cutting speed, gas pressure, focus position, nozzle height, etc. These parameters interact with each other and together determine the quality of the cutting.
1. Laser power
Laser power is one of the key factors affecting cutting capability. The higher the power, the faster the cutting speed, which is suitable for thick plate materials. However, for thin plates, an excessively high power may cause burning edges or slag accumulation. Therefore, power should be selected reasonably according to the thickness and type of the material.
2. Cutting speed
The cutting speed should match the laser power. Too fast a speed can lead to incomplete cutting and the appearance of uncut through phenomena; too slow a speed may cause overburning of the material or thermal deformation. Adjustments should be made according to the type and thickness of the material to find the best balance point.
3. Auxiliary gas pressure
Gases (such as oxygen, nitrogen, or air) play a role in auxiliary combustion, slag removal, and cooling during cutting. Different materials require different gases and pressures. For example, oxygen is commonly used for cutting carbon steel, while nitrogen is often used for cutting stainless steel to obtain better section quality.
4. Focus position
The focus position determines the degree of concentration of laser energy. Generally, for thin plate cutting, positive defocusing (focus above the material) is used, and for thick plate cutting, negative defocusing (focus below the material) is used to achieve the best cutting effect.
5. Distance between the nozzle and the material
An excessively high nozzle height will affect the blowing effect of the gas, leading to a rough cutting section; too low a height may cause the nozzle to collide with the material or reflect light to damage the equipment. It is usually recommended to maintain a distance of 1~3mm between the nozzle and the material.
2. Adjustment skills in actual operation
In specific operations, it is recommended to use the 'test cutting method' for parameter optimization. This means testing the cutting of the edge material before formal cutting, and observing the quality of the cutting section, whether there is slag, and whether there is burning edge, etc., to judge whether the parameters are reasonable.
In addition, the physical properties of different materials (such as reflectivity, thermal conductivity) will also affect the cutting effect, so parameters need to be adjusted according to the characteristics of the material. For example:
- Stainless steel: it is recommended to use high-purity nitrogen gas, with the focus slightly above, to obtain a smooth section.
- Carbon steel: oxygen can be used as an auxiliary gas, and the power can be appropriately increased.
- Aluminum alloy: due to its strong reflectivity, it is advisable to use lower power and higher gas pressure to prevent reflective damage to the equipment.
3. Summary
Parameter adjustment for sheet metal laser cutting is both a technical and an experiential task. Only by fully understanding the performance of the equipment and the characteristics of the materials, and combining them with the actual processing conditions for flexible adjustment, can high-efficiency and high-quality cutting operations be achieved. With the development of intelligent technology, an increasing number of laser cutting equipment are equipped with automatic parameter adjustment functions, but this still cannot completely replace the experience and optimization of human judgment.
Therefore, for operators, it is not only necessary to master the basic operation of the equipment, but also to continuously accumulate experience and improve the ability to adjust parameters in practice, thereby improving the overall processing efficiency and product quality.
