Can Fiber Laser Cutting Machines Use Air As Auxiliary Gas?

Why does the fiber laser cutting machine need to add auxiliary gas when cutting metal materials?

There are four reasons. The first is to cause a chemical reaction between the auxiliary gas and the metal material to increase the strength of the ability.

The second is to help the equipment blow away the slag in the cutting area and clean the gaps.

The third is to reduce the size of the heat affected zone by cooling the adjacent area of the slit.

The fourth is to protect the focusing lens and prevent combustion products from contaminating the optical lens.

What are the commonly used auxiliary gases for fiber laser cutting machines? Can air be used as assist gas?

Laser cutting experts tell everyone that when cutting metal plates, fiber laser cutting machines can choose three gases: nitrogen, oxygen, and air as auxiliary gases. Their roles are as follows:

Nitrogen: When cutting stainless steel, aluminum and other color plates, nitrogen is selected as the auxiliary gas to cool and protect the material. When cutting metal, the cross section is brighter and the effect is good. Oxygen: When cutting carbon steel, oxygen can be used because oxygen has the effect of cooling and accelerating combustion to speed up the cutting. Cutting speed is the fastest of all gases.

Air: To save costs, stainless steel is cut using air, but with a slight burr on the back. Just sand it down a bit. This means that the fiber laser cutting machine can choose air as the auxiliary gas when cutting certain materials. An air compressor must be selected when using air.

However, laser cutting experts recommend, for example, the 100-watt fiber laser cutting machine. 1mm carbon steel and stainless steel are best cut with nitrogen or air, and the effect will be better. Using oxygen will burn the edges and the effect is not ideal.