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Recommendations Fiber Laser Cutting Machines?

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tharding247365

Mechanical
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
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US
Looking to invest in a fairly small laser cutting machine. We want to cut through 3mm thick aluminum. Any brand recommendations? Fiber Laser cutters seem to be the way to go, just not sure what machine to be looking at. Cheaper the better, as these don't look cheap.
 
What's your budget? I ask because your wording leads me to think you're considering hobby-sized machines, which are not going to get you 3mm thick cutting fibers. If you're truly asking about industrial-level cutting capabilities, it won't be cheap regardless.

Dan - Owner
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Hobby sized would be ideal, but I'm aware I'm looking at 50k minimum? Looking for a small quality production machine
 
You're aware that a high powered laser that emits invisible laser radiation is a "class 4" laser in which exposure to direct and reflected laser radiation represents substantial risk, and which therefore requires considerable attention paid to its safety measures, including potentially a complete light-tight enclosure (no gaps, no direct escape paths for light) and stringent interlocking ... right?

The safety standard that applies to your installation depends on where you are in the world, but regardless, something is going to have to be done about it.

Those safety measures plus the inherent expensiveness of high powered laser equipment in general mean that "cheap" is not going to happen safely.

Trumpf is well regarded. They are NOT cheap.
 
You should check out plasma cutting. Modern systems do very well with aluminum. They cost a fraction of the cost of fiber laser systems to purchase and their operating costs with aluminum are FAR lower than lasers.

Don't rule out plasma for cutting aluminum (link)

Keith Cress
kcress -
 
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