Introduction
Laser cutting of stainless steel is one of the most modern and precise metalworking methods. Due to its high speed, minimal deformation and the ability to create complex contours, this technology is widely used in industry, medicine, construction and other industries.
In this article, we will look at the principles of laser cutting, its advantages over alternative methods, as well as key aspects of stainless steel processing.
1. The principle of laser cutting
Laser cutting is based on the effect of a concentrated beam of light on metal, which melts and vaporizes the material in the cutting area. For stainless steel, the most commonly used:
- Fiber lasers are effective for thin and medium–sized sheets (up to 15 mm).
- Co₂ lasers are suitable for thicker workpieces (up to 30 mm).
The process is controlled by CNC, which ensures high accuracy (±0.1 mm) and repeatability.
2. Advantages of stainless steel laser cutting
✅ High precision – the ability to manufacture parts of complex geometry. ✅ Edge cleanliness – minimal need for additional processing. ✅ No mechanical deformations – no contact impact. ✅ Automation – reduction of production time. ✅ Material saving – optimizing the cutting of the sheet.
3. Features of stainless steel cutting
Stainless steel has high reflectivity and thermal conductivity, which requires proper selection of parameters.:
- The laser power depends on the thickness of the metal.
- The gas medium is nitrogen (N₂) for clean cutting, oxygen (o₂) for speeding up the process.
- Cutting speed is a balance between quality and productivity.
More information about the technology can be found on the Stainless Steel Laser Cutting page.
4. Comparison with other cutting methods
Laser cutting-
Accuracy: ★★★★★ (up to ±0.1mm)
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Speed: ★★★★★ (high for thin/medium sheets)
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Deformation: Minimal
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Max. thickness: 15-30mm
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Edge: Clean, free of scale (with nitrogen)
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Accuracy: ★★★☆☆ (±0,5–1 mm)
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Speed: ★★★★★ (faster than laser on thick sheets)
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Deformation: Moderate (thermal effect)
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Max. thickness: Up to 50 mm
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Edge: Scale, requires improvement
