As reported by The Fabricator in their article “Assist Gas Mixing Drives Fiber Laser Technology Forward,” fiber laser cutting technology has seen significant advancements in recent years, particularly in the area of assist gas mixing. Once seen as specialists for thin sheet cutting, fiber lasers can now handle thicker plates with improved quality and efficiency, thanks in part to innovative gas mixing strategies.
Assist gas plays a crucial role in laser cutting, where the right combination of gases ensures clean, precise cuts. For thicker materials, manufacturers now use a nitrogen-oxygen mix instead of pure oxygen. This combination helps eliminate dross and ensures smoother edges on thick plates, which previously had to undergo additional finishing processes. The introduction of high-powered lasers, capable of delivering 20 to 50 kW of power, has also made fiber lasers more competitive in precision plate cutting, replacing older methods like plasma cutting.
The evolution of gas mixing strategies began with aluminum, where a nitrogen-oxygen mix was first used to achieve clean cuts without the unwanted buildup of dross. Over time, this technology evolved, and today, gas mixes are tailored to various materials, allowing fabricators to achieve cleaner, more cost-effective results.
Click here to learn more about Architectural & Industrial Metal Finishing capabilities and services.
Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of thefabricator.com.
