When processing stainless steel plates with fiber laser cutting machine, perforation is a common and core process. Traditionally, we might use full air pressure to complete the piercing, but now, we have a more optimized method: low-pressure piercing. This article will introduce this process method in detail.

Advantages of low-pressure piercing by fiber laser cutting machine

Low pressure piercing refers to reducing the piercing air pressure to 6 to 8 bar. There are several significant advantages to doing this:

Protect equipment: low air pressure piercing will not harm our equipment;

Reduce the scope of influence: Low air pressure perforation can reduce the scope of influence of the perforation;

Enhance the stability of perforation: Low air pressure perforation can improve the stability of perforation;

Realize the air connection function: low air pressure perforation can achieve the effect of air connection.

Practice of low-pressure perforation with fiber laser cutting machine

Using a 3000W laser to cut 14mm stainless steel sheets, we use air cutting and air perforation. The piercing air pressure is set at about 8bar, and it takes about 2.5 to 3 seconds to successfully complete the piercing.

Comparison of low-pressure piercing and high-pressure piercing in fiber laser cutting machines

Performing the same perforation process at 30bar and 8bar air pressures, we found that when low air pressure perforation was used, the impact range of the perforation was significantly reduced, and the distribution of slag was much less. When cutting 14mm stainless steel plates, the cutting effect is basically the same whether using 8bar or 30bar air pressure. This means that we do not need to use high air pressure when cutting.

How to achieve low air pressure

If your fiber laser cutting machine tool does not have a high-pressure proportional valve, that is, the nitrogen pressure is not adjustable, you can manually reduce the pressure of the decompression valve at the gas source and adjust it to about 1MPa. As long as the machine tool does not report a low-pressure alarm, it can effectively ensure that the cutting air pressure is reduced, thereby ensuring the optimization of perforation and cutting effects.

Process parameters, the following are the process parameters we use in practice:

Speed: 0.6

Focus duplex hydrodynamic height: 0.3

Nozzle: 5.0 single layer nozzle

Cutting air pressure: 8bar

Piercing air pressure: 8bar

Cutting method: air cutting

Low-pressure perforation is a recommended process for cutting stainless steel plates with metal fiber laser cutting machines. It can not only protect the equipment, reduce the scope of influence, enhance the stability of the perforation, but also realize the air connection function. I hope this article can help you better apply this process method in practice