Cutting mild steel with a laser is a balance of how much material is heated up with the laser beam and how much assist gas flows through the cut. Heating up too small of an area or not having enough assist gas flow through the cut will result in the kerf (width of the cut) being too narrow.. Heating up too large of an area or having too much assist gas flow will result in the kerf being too wide.
The following show 12, 6 and 3.2 mm (1/2″, 1/4″ and 10ga) mild steel cut with oxygen on a 2kw fiber laser and examples of the same part cut with 1 variable changed to show how it affected the cut quality. The examples of the adjustments made will be similar for any CO2 or fiber laser cutting mild steel with O2.
Kerf too narrow common characteristics visually result in a smooth cut edge on the top with a lack of oxidation on the bottom and/or heavy dross.
Kerf too wide common characteristics visually result in a rougher cut edge, more corner burning of the part, increased angularity on the cut edge and occasionally dross.
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