How does one cut stainless steel or steel without getting slag on the ...

Not my intent to say he posted in the wrong place.

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Cutting steel is specialised. The machine, and specifically its head and lens, needs to be much more robust than in a common-or-garden laser engraver. The ablation temperature is thousands of degrees C, compared to ~500C for wood.

If his machine was rated to cut steel, I would expect that Boss would have a lot of information on how best to do that.

My experience of steel cutting by laser is that it is cleaner than plasma, so a lot of slag on the back side could be any number of reasons, from power to lens to alignment to focus. But not software.

You have the right kind of machine to do this. My only thought is for and given power setting you are using, try to dial in the O2 pressure and cutting speed.

I would start with something that sort of works and then do a series of cuts at speeds above and below that to see what yields the best results. Then repeat at the best speed and do the same with O2 pressure

Can you post a picture of a sample cut?

Being a retired pipe welder who has welded and cut stainless steel thin wall schedule 5 pipe, with a plasma cutter, there is no way a laser with air assist won’t produce slag. If you use argon instead of air in the air assist, you may have a cut that won’t have the oxidized slag which is produced from an oxygen rich reaction to molten stainless steel. But then you have a suffocation hazard from all that argon lol. Simply put, we use an argon purge inside the pipe when we weld it with TIG, so it doesn’t sugar the root pass and make a poor quality weld. When I cut stainless, I use a Metabo with a wafer wheel, and I don’t get any sugar or slag. I have seen water jets that can cut any design you want, but they are expensive. A plasma cutter works well, but it produces slag from the oxygen reacting with the stainless steel. Then I have to grind it to remove the slag.
There is no way to use a laser that I know of, with an air assist, and not get slag or ‘sugar’.

Thats simply not true. Laser cutting done correctly produces a clean edge. Fibre lasers and CO2, dialled-in, are used over plasma and water jet for precisely that reason - in the case of water jet, they are cheaper to buy with lower running costs, in the case of plasma, give a superior result.

Your experience of using a hand gas welder, water jet or plasma is nothing like using a laser to cut steel.

The key being ‘that I know of’ - it’s a specialised industry with a lot of operator skill to get a good result.

There’s a few different techniques - using argon or nitrogen at high volume to prevent oxidation and clear the cut physically, using oxygen to raise the ablation temperature and clear the cut with less volume, but better metal flow.

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This is steel, not stainless steel. I know about the different characteristics between the two. Anytime you use air with stainless steel, you will get a sugaring of the cut, or weld. The argon or CO2 will give superior results. But with a150 watt CO2 laser, I can’t see that cutting stainless steel, at least not anything except thin sheets. I read up just now on your machine, it will cut thin steel and stainless steel.

Here is some of the 16 gauge stainless steel I was cutting. You are right about the sugaring going on because I am using oxygen to cut. I was just wondering. I know I can cut the stuff just wondering if it was doable. here is a picture of a piece I cut out with a 1/4" hole.

Thanks

I will agree on needing to change up gasses to drop that oxidation down. You can get some really nice cuts out of most stainless. We do 7 gauge 316 with one of our suppliers, running a 8kW Optiplex, and their nitrogen tank is 2 stories tall. I also know that there is still some slag with the guts, and the parts go through an auto-sander before shipping to us to take care of it (then we put them in our vibratory finisher).

Whats that coating? if thats on both sides, and you are pushing it through the cut, from my limited welding experience, that is not going to get you any great quality.

Laser Cutting Limitations: Can it Cut Through Thick Steel?

Laser cutting is an excellent piece of equipment for fabricating and manufacturing steel parts, but it has its limitations. Although laser-cut steel can be used for various projects, some thicknesses cannot be cut through with this technology, and when attempted, it can create a diminished finish. 

In this article, KNS Metals takes a look at the laser cutting thickness limit based on a variety of factors, including wattage and the type of metal.

What is a Metal Laser Cutter?

A laser cutter is a powerful tool used to cut various metals and alloys, particularly steel. It uses high-powered lasers to precisely cut through the material faster than traditional cutting methods. The laser beam is focused and moved via mirrors or other devices to achieve the desired shape, allowing for intricate designs that would otherwise be difficult or impossible with other types of tools.

What are the Benefits of Introducing a Metal Laser Cutter to Your Project?

Metal laser cutters are increasingly gaining popularity in the manufacturing industry due to their ability to produce high-precision parts with minimal waste. Laser cutting technology is a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of applications, including automotive, aerospace and electronics. 

Benefits include:

• Precision: Metal laser cutters provide precision cuts with extremely accurate tolerances, allowing manufacturers to quickly create high-quality components without wasting materials or time. 
• Versatility: The versatility of this technology allows it to be applied to almost any material, from thin sheet metals up to thick plates and even hardwoods like oak. It can also be used for creating complex shapes and delicate features. 
• Speed: Laser cutting is much faster than traditional methods of cutting, allowing manufacturers and fabricators to quickly create and manipulate parts in a fraction of the time, without sacrificing quality or accuracy. 
• Cost-Effectiveness: Metal laser cutters are also highly cost-effective due to their low operating costs and minimal material waste. The speed at which they can produce parts also helps reduce overall manufacturing times, resulting in lower costs and higher profits. 
• Safety: The lasers used in metal laser cutters are powerful but do not produce any excess heat, smoke or sparks during operation, making them safe to use in many work environments where other tools may be hazardous due to their emissions. 

What is the Laser Cutting Thickness Limit?

While metal laser cutters may be highly precise tools and can cut through thick steel, their capabilities have some limitations. Users will find that the thickness of the steel that a laser cutter can cut through will depend on the power of the laser itself, as well as the type of steel being used.

The reason for this is that thicker steel requires more laser power, which can result in slower cutting speeds and increased heat generation, affecting the quality of the cut and requiring the use of specialised cutting techniques or cooling systems to prevent the steel from warping or melting. Some types of steel, such as stainless steel, are more reflective than others, which can cause the laser beam to bounce off the steel surface, making stainless steel sheets with greater thickness more challenging to cut through.

General Laser Cutting Thickness Limit Guides Based on Wattage

When fabricating different types of steel, the laser’s power must be strong enough to create an intense heat that melts or vaporises the cut material. The higher the wattage of the laser, the more powerful the beam it produces, which translates into thicker materials that can be cut by lasers. Depending on the type of material being cut, the laser’s wattage will vary. 

For example, a low-wattage laser may not be able to cut stainless steel sheet thickness. A standard reference for wattage and the maximum thickness of stainless steel sheets and other metals includes:

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Learn More on the Applications of Metal Laser Cutters with KNS Metals