Laser Cutting Thick Plates? Here’s Why Surface Quality Matters
As reported by The Fabricator in their article, “Laser Cutting Thick Plate? Check the Surface”, the laser cutting industry continues its power arms race, with fiber lasers now reaching cutting powers of 30 kW and above. These advancements, combined with innovations in assist gases and beam technology, have transformed thick plate cutting, eliminating secondary operations and boosting efficiency.
However, the quality of the raw material remains a critical factor. Hot-rolled pickled and oiled (HRP&O) steel, descaled in hydrochloric acid, offers a smoother surface that optimizes laser cutting. Unlike traditional hot-rolled steel with its rough, cratered surface, HRP&O material ensures stable cutting head height sensing and focus position, enabling maximum productivity with ultrahigh-powered lasers.
Steve Pugh, corporate director of laser engineering at Steel Warehouse, emphasized that surface quality is increasingly vital as fiber laser speeds improve. He highlighted how HRP&O material allows for faster, more consistent cutting compared to conventional hot-rolled or blasted steel. Cutting thick plate with straight nitrogen or an oxygen-nitrogen mix on HRP&O surfaces achieves significantly higher speeds than legacy thermal cutting technologies.
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Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of The Fabricator.