Table of Contents
Why gas is used in laser cutting?
It is also referred to as the cutting gas. When cutting with oxygen, the material is burned and vapourised after being heated up to ignition temperature by the laser beam. The reaction between the oxygen and the metal actually creates additional energy in the form of heat, which supports the cutting process.
Is argon used for cutting?
Argon-Hydrogen Mixtures are generally used for cutting stainless steel and aluminum. They produce a clean, high quality cut face. Argon-Hydrogen is required for mechanized cutting of any material more than 3 inches thick. This mixture also provides an excellent gas for plasma gouging on all materials.
Why is CO2 used in laser cutting?
Modern CO2 machines usually produce the laser beam in a sealed glass tube which is filled with gas, usually carbon dioxide. A high voltage flows through the tube and reacts with the gas particles, increasing their energy, in turn producing light.
How is the laser used for cutting able to cut a sample?
Laser cutting is a technology that uses a laser to vaporize materials, resulting in a cut edge. The focused laser beam is directed at the material, which then either melts, burns, vaporizes away, or is blown away by a jet of gas, leaving an edge with a high-quality surface finish.
Which gas is used for cutting?
Natural Gas
| Fuel Gas | Maximum Flame Temperature °C | Heat distribution kJ/m3 |
|---|---|---|
| Acetylene | 3,160 | 18,890 |
| Propane | 2,828 | 10,433 |
| MAPP | 2,976 | 15,445 |
| Propylene | 2,896 | 16,000 |
What gas does a laser cutter use?
Two types of assist gas commonly used for laser cutting are… Oxygen and Nitrogen. This has been historically determined by the type of material to be cut. Oxygen is used to cut mild steel and nitrogen is used to cut aluminium and stainless steel.
Which gas is used for cutting metal?
Acetylene
Ethyne is a colourless gas which is used for the cutting of metals. Acetylene is a colourless gas which is used as a fuel. It is unstable and therefore it is handled in a solution.
What type of gas is used for plasma cutting?
Argon gas is used when plasma marking (a whole other subject). A mixture of Argon and Hydrogen is often used when cutting thicker Stainless Steel or Aluminum.
How does a fiber laser work?
Fiber lasers use pump light from what is called laser diodes. These diodes emit light that is sent into the fiber-optic cable. Optical components located in the cable are then used to generate a specific wavelength and amplify it. Finally, the resulting laser beam is shaped and released.
Why is it called CO2 laser?
A CO2 laser is a type of gas laser. In this device, electricity is run through a gas-filled tube, producing light. The gas mixture is generally comprised of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen and helium. Light produced by CO2 lasers is invisible, falling in the far infrared range of the light spectrum.
Why are lasers used for cutting material?
Laser cutting presents certain advantages over plasma cutting as this process is more precise and uses less energy when cutting steel and aluminium sheets. Laser cutting technology also enables us to cut complex shapes without the need for tooling and at a similar or faster speed than other cutting methods.
What gas is used for cutting metals?
Ethyne is a colourless gas which is used for the cutting of metals. Acetylene is a colourless gas which is used as a fuel.
Why is argon used in laser cutting machines?
The main reason to use the more expensive argon is for metals that are still chemically reactive being cut in pure nitrogen. Most commonly, argon is used in processing titanium. At the temperatures a laser cutter raises the metal to, titanium is chemically reactive even in a pure nitrogen atmosphere.
What are assist gases used for laser cutting?
Assist gases used in laser cutting can be classified, in general, as inert or reactive gases from this point of view [3]. When a reactive gas is used, it delivers additional exothermic energy through the chemical reaction between the gas and the molten material. This reaction supplies additional energy that enhances the cutting process.
How does laser fusion cutting work?
In this process, the material melted by the laser beam is removed from the kerf with the aid of a pressurized assist gas. The assist gas plays a crucial role in laser fusion cutting mainly due to the aerodynamic interactions between the molten material and the assist gas, interaction that has an enormous effect on the final cut quality [1-2].
How does nitrogen cutting work?
Cutting with nitrogen produces no oxide edge, but with its high pressure and flow, clean cutting with nitrogen requires a lot of assist gas. Conventionally, oxygen assist gas is used on mild steel, though its use on nonferrous material isn’t unheard of, especially if the operator has limited laser power and uses oxygen to stimulate the cut.