Laser Cutting Assist Gas Helps Improve Edge Quality

It may not be common knowledge, but all laser cutting machines require assist gas when cutting material.  The assist gas helps to push the melted material out of the cut zone so the laser can cut the material without it get welded back together.

 

The traditional kinds of assist gas

Generally, the material type and thickness will dictate the type of assist gas required for cutting.

Mild steel is generally cut using oxygen and aluminum and stainless steel are generally cut using nitrogen.  There are advantages and disadvantages for each type of material type and thickness and its widely accepted assist gas type; including cutting speed, edge quality, costs, and other factors.

 

High-pressure air as assist gas

It wasn’t uncommon for some laser cutters to use shop air for their laser cutting, but that was limited to a traditional air compressor’s 150-200 psi.  So it was used for cutting 1/8″ thick and under materials.

But now, a new technology has recently emerged in the laser cutting assist gas world and it is cutting with high-pressure air.  There are high pressure air systems that can produce 400-500 psi, which is what would be required to cut thicker material with oxygen or nitrogen.  The system works by drawing air in and compresses it to build pressure.

This allows laser cutters to cut a wider range of material thicknesses without the extra expense of cutting with either oxygen or nitrogen.

 

Lowering Costs

Assist gases can be one of the most expensive components of operating a laser cutting machine.  For example, nitrogen can costs upwards of $16.00 per hour which is a cost that has to be passed on to the customer.

However, since the high-pressure air system uses oxygen and nitrogen that are already in the atmosphere, the hourly operating costs is significantly lower, which translates to more economical pricing for clients.

 

Increasing Output

Another benefit to cutting with high-pressure air is that the feed rates can be up to 20% faster than compared to cutting with either oxygen or nitrogen.  This translates into more parts per hour, which allows a laser cutter to fulfill larger run orders in a more timely manner.

 

Enhancing Part Quality

Cutting with high-pressure air is especially great for aluminum.  The edge quality of an part cut with high-pressure air vs. a part cut with nitrogen is quite noticeable, especially on thicker aluminum up to 1/2″ thick.

 

Amtex Precision Fabrication

At Amtex, our laser cutting machines operate with high-pressure assist gas, which in turn helps reduce costs, increase output, and enhance edge quality.  If you need precision metal fabrication services, contact Amtex online or call our team at (281) 489-7042 today!