PURCHASING DECISIONS

1st consideration is generally the the specification, model, double exchange tables or a smaller machine with a fixed cutting table ??.

What Kw power Laser do I require, do I have enough electrical supply in the factory ?

For tube cutting lasers, the general thinking evolves around length of tube stock, consideration to the cutting head, fixed or 5 axis ?,manual loading, or fully automated loading with a loading rack.

2nd consideration, then moves onto who will back up the new Fire Laser ? can I rely on the company quoting me ?

3rd consideration, as always the companies budget for this Fibre Laser Cutting Machine.

FIBRE LASER HOW IT WORKS

A Photonic Coherent Laser light beam is generated using banks of diodes
The Photon individual light beams, Diode generated, are initially refracted and scattered,
therefore to form a single beam they are passed through a COLLMINATING lens to
create a single Photon light beam, that is then focused on the material
The Photon light beam vaporises the material.

TECHNICAL TERMS EXPLAINED

Laser
Defined as a device that generates a coherent beam of high intensity monochromatic light,
with a low light beam divergence

Pumped Diode
A Diode pumped directly with electrical current creates a photonic monochromatic light beam.

Photons
Are simply light particles

Collimating Lens
Before the fibre monochromatic light beam reaches the the Laser head,  the photonic light beam
will be refracted and scattered, it is therefore necessary to pass the photonic light beam through the Collimating lens to turn the scattered photon light beams into a parallel beam

Refracted
Deflection from a straight path undergone by a beam of light

What is coherent light ?
Coherence is defined as consistency

Exothermically Reaction
A chemical reaction of Oxygen burning Iron

Matter
The three most familiar forms of matter are solid, liquid, gas, the Laser beam is not made of  matter, but photons,
which have no mass, therefore the Laser beam itself has no temperature

Photons
Are simply light particles

Irradiates
to effect by radiant energy, power density (irradiance) in the cutting zone and the width of the produced kerf.

Ytterbium a soft metallic element of the rare earth group –  Ytterbium with symbol Yb and atomic number 70
Ytterbium is added, Doped medium, to the glass Fibre for it’s high brightness properties.

Doped Medium
A Laser gain medium is a medium which can amplify the power of light, a photonic light beam

Attenuation
The loss of signal strength

Diodes

A Gain Medium
Is a material that posses quantum properties that allow it to amplify a photon monochromatic light beam by means of a stimulated emission

Attenuation
The Loss of signal strength

Fly Cutting
Refers to a mode of cutting, the Laser power remains on, but power decreases & the Laser head lifts up as the Laser head moves.

Kerf
Is simply the width of the cut, its derived from a Middle English woodworking term where the width of a saw blade was known as the Kerf

REFLECTIVE MATERIALS  EXPLAINED

noble metal is any of several metallic chemical elements that have outstanding resistance to oxidation, even at high temperatures.
Resist oxidation: Resistance to oxidation is the defining characteristic of a noble metal. These elements can form oxides. For example, silver tarnishes and copper oxidizes to form verdigris. However, noble metal oxides readily decompose when exposed to heat. Similarly, noble metals resist oxidation in moist air and hot water.

ASSIST GASES EXPLAINED
Assist gases have different functions see below

Nitrogen (25/26 bar pressure)
Nitrogen gas is an inert gas, its used to diminish or minimize the undesirable Oxidation whilst cutting metals.
It is generally used when cutting Stainless Steel & Aluminium t0 produce an excellent cut quality.
Unlike Oxygen, Nitrogen is an inert gas, therefore it does not add heat at the cutting site,
Nitrogen is a shielding gas that stops the ‘burning effect of Oxygen’, allowing the power of the
Laser photonic beam to simply vaporise the material.

Unlike Oxygen, Kw Laser power is the principle factor in cutting speed, so more Laser Kw power more speed.
In some thin (3mm) steel cutting applications if Nitrogen is used, not Oxygen, then cutting speeds of 3-4 times faster are possible.
‘The Black ‘Kerf’ face phenomenon can be avoided when cutting with Nitrogen

Oxygen (10/12 bar pressure)
Oxygen is generally used when cutting Carbon Steels

Oxygen performs a very different roll in cutting steel, whereas Nitrogen ensures no reaction takes place the cutting site,,
Oxygen combined with a Photon Laser light beam creates a burning process known as an exothermic reaction of Oxygen burning Iron,
this means that more heat is produced at the cutting site, offering high cutting speeds

The Oxygen does 60% of the cutting work, this fact limits the cutting speed, apply to much Kw power
to the Oxygen and too much Iron burning occurs
‘the ‘Kerf’ face will be Black or Light Yellow

Compressed Air (20 bar pressure)
Compressed Air ( dried), advantage is low cost, however compressed air is only 20% Oxygen,
so the exothermic reaction of Oxygen burning Iron cutting effect is much lower than pure Oxygen cutting,
Cutting rates are therefore similar to Nitrogen
‘The ‘Kerf’ face will be Light Yellow

Compressed air quality according to ISO 8573-1:2010
Max. solid particles Class 1
Max. pressure ‘dew’ point vapor Class 4
Max. total amount of oil Class 1

Cool the area around the cut the ‘HAZ’ zone, which reduces heat deformation

Two-stage regulators achieve accurate pressure control through two stages of pressure reduction. They are therefore ideal in situations where there will be significant inlet pressure variation during the period of use, and where very stable outlet pressures are required.

A FIBRE LASER CAN CUT ?

CARBON STEEL
WEATHERING STEEL –  COR-TEN ( Corten Steel )
Being Atmospheric Corrosion Resistant Steel
STAINLESS STEEL
ALUMINIUM
BRASS
COPPER

Plus the NOBLE materials GOLD | SILVER | TITANIUM