Aluminum Cutting?
Aluminum Cutting?
(OP)
hi, now my LC2415 A# NT laser is fully operational thanks to the help of @laserninja and @foostrap, I already start cutting mild steel and stainless.
quick question, why I cannot cut in aluminum 1mm thick, and I even can't pierce it! I use different method already, ( changing the focal lens, change the nozzle I even use double nozzle, then the different cutting condition, I even reach full power, and wont even etch?)
did I missing something? or problem with parameter? I been working on this for the past 3 days and it really hard to understand why?.
thanks, any input might help, and appreciated.
quick question, why I cannot cut in aluminum 1mm thick, and I even can't pierce it! I use different method already, ( changing the focal lens, change the nozzle I even use double nozzle, then the different cutting condition, I even reach full power, and wont even etch?)
did I missing something? or problem with parameter? I been working on this for the past 3 days and it really hard to understand why?.
thanks, any input might help, and appreciated.





RE: Aluminum Cutting?
Use the shortest focus lens you have.
the beam will bounce straight off the sheet if the focus is out too far.
Pierce the sheet at pressure 0.2mpa & cut at 0.8mpa, 2mm Nozzle
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
thanks, can I ask what do you mean buy the shortest focus lens, if I understand right? you mean the 5" and 7.5" focus lens right? right now here's my cutting condition. and I'm using 5" focal Lens 2mm nozzle.
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
Try pierce Pwr 3600, Freq 50, Duty 80, pressure 0.2,
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
thanks I will try it now,
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
It didn't work, it did not pierce the aluminum, no matter how i played the condition,
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
Is the problem new, has the machine just been put in, are you a new operator?
can you cut MS & SS ok?
What can you tell me.
Ta
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
If your focus program only did 10 cuts and you start at B5.0 & ended at B15.0 that's incrementing
1mm per slit. It really needs to be 0.2mm per slit.(you might be a couple of mm out)
not sure if it makes a difference on your machine, did you check that the aluminium setting is on in the cutting data page?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
Normally 1mm alu will pierce with no problem with nitrogen. But since you have trouble, maybe try to pierce with oxygen. Oxygen will give you added energy to pierce through.
Also, what is the unit of the gas pressure in your parameters?
If the speed is 500 inches/min, that is probably too fast at 2000W. Try full power.
If the speed is 500mm/min, that is way too slow. It should at least cut through, even if you didn't have a good piercing.
Using a stainless cut conditions as suggested by jjl1210 is a good idea. That'll narrow it down a bit.
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
hi ausman,
my focus did 21 cuts that start at B5.0 then B5.5, B6.0 and so on, end at B21.0, and yes i did check the cutting data in amada.
hi SGAFFNEY,
yes i did make it zero and i also try 2500, 2000, 1500, 1000, 500, 200, 100 and down to zero, i already played it but seem its not working at all, my resonator is C3000D and my feed rate is mm/m. and i absolutely agree that if i can cut at MS and SS it should be easy to a thin alum, right?
hi, jjl1210
i did try cutting the alum in Stainless cut condition, it did nothing, its the same it did not pierce at all, i try in 1mm, 1.5mm and 2mm cut condition for stainless.
hi, Foostrap
i already try the 4 for nitrogen, 1,2,3, for oxygen and 5 for air, the unit of gas pressure at piercing is 0.2Mpa and 0.80 Mpa for cutting, and i did intentionally reduce the speed to 500 mm/m so that i can see if it will penetrate i also try making the Pwr at 3000, but seem I'm out of luck
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
Did you see any evidence that the beam is actually coming our of the head and bouncing off the surface?
Silly question, is your lens upside down?
Are you using a single point nozzle?
Can you please test again with a nozzle gap of 2.0mm
Are you getting a burr free edge on SS?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
and heres new progress, i able to pierce it and cut a little, maybe around 10mm, then the beam bounce back again, and i try it 5 times it has the same result.
heres the condition:
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
with the sot burr adjust your focus up 0.3mm then test cut, if it improves adjust it another 0.3mm & keep doing so until either it gets works or the cut is acceptable.
If you still have the reflection problem then try & watch your power meter & see if the power is dropping off when cutting.
Are you able to cut SS all day without issues?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
In other words could you have the 7.5" in the head instead of the 5".
Check it please.
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
do you think I have the right focal lens? I mean this is a standard for this kind of parts right? I bought this one in II-VI infrared.
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
i believe that I'm using aluminum P1020, do you think this change everything? and I'm only trying it on 1mm
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
YES! This does change everything. P1020 is basicly pure aluminum and will always give you problems. It looks to be the american equivalent of 1100. It is not like an alloyed 5052 or 6061. I had problems with this around 20 years ago but do not remember the results. I will look back in my files and see if I can find anything to help and reply again, but this might prompt someone else as well. You may have to coat the surface of the material with something to help prevent reflection.
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
if there's any or alternative way you can help me to cut this P1020 its very appreciated, due to our client required this kind of material.
again thank you very much to all of you, for your inputs and expertise, thumbs up!
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
If you can get you hands on a 3.75" lens you should try that, we have cut 1050 aluminium with pretty much the same settings as 5005 & did not have any of the issues you are seeing.
Order the lens holder from Amada, about $300 or machine up a threaded spacer to lengthen the 5" lens holder.
Because the focus point is so much smaller & beam intensity is more you might find the same results as we had.
RE: Aluminum Cutting?
that's great! maybe I will order 3.5" because its also very hard to find 5052 and 6061 here in SAudi arabia, the only available I think is 6063 and still looking at the market. thanks ausman I will try that too.