Nine Key Standards for Assessing the Quality of Laser-Cut Stainless Steel!
Author:
Source:
Release date:
2021-03-14
1. Material Accumulation
Before the laser cutting machine begins the initial melting and piercing process, it first makes contact with a special oil-containing liquid on the workpiece surface. During cutting, as materials vaporize—since no specific materials are used—the customer uses compressed air to clear away the cut debris. However, whether the air is directed upward or downward, it can still cause buildup on the surface.
2. Dents and Corrosion
Indentations and corrosion affect the surface of the cut edges, impacting their appearance. These issues arise from cutting errors that should typically be avoided.
3. Heat-Affected Zone
In laser cutting, the surrounding area is heated along the cut path. At the same time, the metal's internal structure undergoes changes—some metals, for instance, may harden. The heat-affected zone refers to the depth of the area where the internal structure has been altered.
4. Transformation
If the cutting process causes the component to heat up rapidly, it may deform. This is especially critical in precision machining, where the tabs and connectors are typically just a few millimeters wide. By carefully controlling the laser power and using short laser pulses, you can minimize heating of the component—and prevent unwanted deformation altogether.
5. Roughness
In Fujian, laser cutting produces vertical patterns on the cross-section, and the depth of these patterns directly determines the roughness of the cut surface—shallower patterns result in a smoother finish. Roughness not only affects the appearance of the edges but also influences the material's performance. In most cases, it’s essential to minimize roughness as much as possible; therefore, the shallower the patterns, the higher the overall quality of the cut.
6. Perpendicularity
To achieve a sheet metal thickness exceeding 10 mm, maintaining precise verticality along the cut edges is crucial. As the laser beam diverges when moving away from the focal point, the width of the cut—whether at the top or bottom—can vary depending on the beam's orientation relative to the focus. Even minor deviations of just a few millimeters from a perfectly vertical edge can significantly impact cutting quality; thus, the more perpendicular the edge remains, the higher the overall precision and quality of the cut.
7. Cutting Width
Generally, the cutting width does not affect cutting quality—its impact becomes significant only when extremely fine contours are required within the part. This is because the cutting width directly determines the contour accuracy. Moreover, as the material thickness increases, the cutting width naturally expands as well. Therefore, to ensure consistently high precision, the workpiece must remain stable within the laser cutting machine's processing area—regardless of the cutting width used.
8. Texture
When cutting thick plates at high speed, molten metal doesn’t accumulate in the cut directly beneath the vertical laser beam—it actually tends to spray out slightly behind the laser beam instead. As a result, curved patterns form along the cutting edge, closely following the movement of the laser beam. To address this issue, reducing the feed rate toward the end of the cutting process can significantly minimize or eliminate these unwanted patterns.
9. Burr
The formation of burrs is a critically important factor influencing laser cutting quality, as removing burrs requires additional effort. Therefore, the severity and extent of burr formation directly reflect the overall quality of the cutting process.
Keywords: Fujian New Point Laser Technology Co., Ltd. 、 Fujian Laser Welding 、 Fujian Laser Cutting 、 Fujian Laser Cladding 、 Laser Surface Enhancement
Chinese website address: New position. Website
English website: www.newpointlaser.com
Related News
2025/10/23
2024/09/04
2024/08/28
2024/08/21
We provide you with a professional, one-stop solution!
We have extensive engineering experience in welding and laser applications, backed by a comprehensive team dedicated to design, manufacturing, development, and after-sales support.
We are committed to building the company into a leading high-tech enterprise, contributing our part to elevating China's advanced equipment capabilities.
Contact Information
Email: service@newpointlaser.com
Address: 1st Floor, Building 5, No. 96 Jiangbin East Avenue, Mawei District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province
