What Materials Can CO2 Laser Metal Cutting Heads be Used for?

CO2 laser cutting technology is widely used in the metal processing industry due to its high efficiency, precision and flexibility. Although CO2 laser cutting heads are mainly used for non-metallic materials, in some cases, it can also be used to cut specific types of metal materials. This article will explore the types of materials that CO2 laser metal cutting heads can be used for, their advantages and disadvantages, and application areas.

1. The Basic Principle of CO2 Laser Cutting

CO2 laser cutting uses a laser beam generated by a carbon dioxide gas laser to focus the laser beam on the surface of the material through a focusing lens to form a high-temperature spot. The high energy of the laser beam causes the material to melt or vaporize rapidly, while the molten metal is blown away by an auxiliary gas (such as oxygen or nitrogen) to achieve cutting. The advantages of CO2 laser cutting include fast cutting speed, smooth cutting edges, and small heat-affected zone.

2. Metal Materials Suitable for CO2 Laser Metal Cutting Head

Although the application of CO2 laser metal cutting heads in metal cutting is relatively limited, they can still be used for the following metal materials:

2.1 Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is one of the most common metal materials used in CO2 laser cutting. CO2 lasers are able to effectively cut stainless steel, especially in a thinner thickness range (usually between 1-6 mm). When oxygen is used as an auxiliary gas, the cutting speed and cutting quality can be improved. For thicker stainless steel, higher laser power and appropriate cutting parameters may be required.

2.2 Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is also a common material for CO2 laser cutting. Similar to stainless steel, CO2 laser can cut thin to medium thickness carbon steel (usually between 1-20 mm). When oxygen is used as an auxiliary gas, the cutting effect is better, and faster cutting speed and better cutting edge quality can be achieved.

2.3 Galvanized Steel

Galvanized steel refers to steel with a zinc layer on the surface. CO2 laser metal cutting head can effectively cut galvanized steel. When cutting, it should be noted that the evaporation of zinc may affect the cutting quality, so the laser power and auxiliary gas flow rate should be reasonably adjusted during the cutting process.

2.4 Aluminum

Although the reflectivity of aluminum is higher, CO2 laser cutting aluminum is not as effective as fiber laser, but in some cases, CO2 laser can still be used to cut thin aluminum plates (usually between 1-3 mm). Nitrogen needs to be used as an auxiliary gas during cutting to reduce oxidation and improve cutting quality.

2.5 Copper and Brass

CO2 lasers are less effective in cutting copper and brass because the reflectivity of these two metals is high and the laser energy is difficult to absorb effectively. However, under certain conditions, using high-power CO2 lasers and appropriate cutting parameters, thin copper and brass can still be cut.

3. Advantages and Disadvantages of CO2 Laser Cutting

3.1 Advantages

• High precision: CO2 laser metal cutting head can achieve high-precision cutting and is suitable for processing complex shapes and details.
• Fast cutting speed: Under appropriate materials and parameters, CO2 laser metal cutting head is very fast and can improve production efficiency.
• Small heat-affected zone: The heat-affected zone generated by laser cutting is small, which reduces the deformation and stress of the material.

3.2 Disadvantages

• Limited applicability to metals: Compared with fiber lasers, CO2 lasers are less applicable in metal cutting, especially for thick metal materials.
• Reflectivity problem: The high reflectivity of some metals (such as aluminum and copper) will cause the loss of laser energy and affect the cutting effect.
• Cutting thickness limit: CO2 laser cutting is suitable for thinner metal materials, and the cutting effect of thicker metals is not good.

4. Application Fields

CO2 laser metal cutting heads are widely used in multiple industries, including:

• Manufacturing: Used for cutting and processing various metal parts, suitable for automotive, aerospace and machinery manufacturing.
• Advertising industry: Used for making metal logos, signs and display stands.
• Arts and crafts: Used for cutting and engraving metal artworks and decorations.
• Construction industry: Used for cutting and processing metal components.

Summary

CO2 laser metal cutting heads have certain application potential in the cutting of certain metal materials, especially in the cutting of materials such as stainless steel, carbon steel and galvanized steel. However, due to its limited applicability to metals, fiber laser cutting may be a better choice in many cases. When choosing laser cutting technology, it is crucial to understand the material properties and cutting requirements to ensure the best cutting results and production efficiency. With the continuous development of laser technology, there may be more innovations and improvements in the future, making CO2 lasers more widely used in the field of metal cutting.

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