As reported by The Fabricator in their article “Laser Cutting Thick Plate? Check the Surface,” the industry’s race for greater laser cutting power has led to machines surpassing 30 kW, transforming the way thick plate fabrication is performed. While the power race is impressive, experts like Steve Pugh, corporate director of laser engineering at Steel Warehouse, emphasize that it’s not just about the wattage—it’s about the surface condition of the material being cut.
The quality of hot-rolled steel, commonly used in heavy fabrication, plays a crucial role in achieving precise cuts. Although cost-effective, its scaly surface poses challenges for high-powered lasers. However, hot-rolled pickled and oiled (HRP&O) material, treated with a hydrochloric acid bath, significantly improves the cutting process. Pugh explains that this process creates a tight, clean “scale jacket” that optimizes the laser beam’s interaction with the material, improving molten flow and maintaining steady focus during cuts.
Since the 2016 FABTECH event where Steel Warehouse first highlighted HRP&O’s benefits, advancements in laser technology have only heightened the importance of material surface quality. Pugh notes that today’s 30-kW systems can cut faster and more efficiently than traditional thermal cutting technologies—provided the surface is ideal for laser cutting. Without this precision, even the most advanced systems can underperform, especially when dealing with intricate bevels or thick plates.
With ongoing innovations in laser assist gases, beam profiles, and surface treatments, the future of laser cutting is set to deliver even more efficient “done-in-one” processes that reduce the need for secondary operations like deburring.
For businesses looking to enhance their cutting capabilities, maintaining consistent material surface quality could be the key to unlocking greater productivity.
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Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of thefabricator.com.
