Gas consumption of fiber laser cutting machine
When cutting Carbon steel, auxiliary gas is only O2.
When cutting Stainless steel, auxiliary gas can be N2 or O2 .
If using O2, cutting edge will be oxydized and not smooth and show black color.
If using N2, cutting effect is very good, very smooth.
Gas consumption depend on your using frequency, and also depend on what kind of metal you cut , what it thickness of metal
NOTE: For example. In China, one bottle of Liquid Oxygen is 50$/bottle, if you continuously cut 1mm carbon steel for 10 hours every day , then you can use 3--5 days.
Why should we need auxiliary gas when we using fiber laser cutting machine cutting metal materials ? There are 4 reasons:
1. First, the auxiliary gas will start chemical reaction with the metal material, which increases the working capacity.
2. Second, blowing off the slag by air and clean the cutting seam.
3. Third, the gas will cool the area around cutting seam, which can avoid shape change of the material.
4. Last but most important, to protect the Focus Lens from combustion products caused by high temperature of laser beam.
Normally, O2 ( Oxygen) , N (Nitrogen) and Air will be used as auxiliary gas for fiber laser cutting.
Their functions are as following respectively.
N: Nitrogen is used for cutting nonferrrous metal such as Stainless Steel and Aluminum sheet, which can cool and protect the material. As such materials are easy to be blackened with Oxygen, using Nitrogen can avoid this phenomenon of going black.
Applicable Materials: Aluminum, Aluminum Alloy, Stainless Steel, Galvanized Steel Sheet, Brass
O2: Oxygen is used in cutting Carbon Steel. As there is many Carbonaceous impurities in carbon steel, using O2 can greatly increase the combusting speed, which as well, accelerating cutting speed. However, there is a disadvantage, the cutting surface will be black.
The cutting surface appears black or buff.
Applicable Materials: Stainless steel, Carbon Steel.
Air: Air can be provided by Air Compressor, the price is very low. Although there is about 20% Oxygen in air, the cutting efficiency is far less than Oxygen, nearly same as Nitrogen’s efficiency.
The cutting surface appears yellow.
Applicable Materials: Aluminum, Aluminum Alloy, Stainless Steel, Galvanized Steel Sheet, nonmetal etc.
Argon: Very expensive, protecting from oxidation and nitridation. Cutting surface appears yellow.
Mainly used in Titanium and Titanium Alloy.
