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Laser cutting machines have different wattages, different cutting capabilities and different cutting thicknesses. So how much power should you choose when choosing a fiber laser cutting machine? Should you choose a high-power CNC laser cutting machine or a medium-to-low-power one?
The power selection of a laser cutting machine mainly depends on the type of material being cut, the thickness, and the requirements for cutting speed. Laser cutting machines of different powers are suitable for different application scenarios.
The following are some common wattage ranges and their applicable situations:
Suitable for cutting thin materials, generally suitable for:
- Thin plate materials: such as thin stainless steel, aluminum alloy, copper plate, etc. (thickness is usually between 0.5-3mm).
- Non-metallic materials: such as plastic, wood, leather, paper, etc.
- Fine cutting: suitable for applications requiring fine cutting, marking, engraving, etc.
Suitable for medium-thick materials, common applications include:
- Medium-thickness metal cutting: such as stainless steel, carbon steel (usually in the thickness range of 3mm to 12mm).
- Higher cutting speed: Relatively high power can improve production efficiency and is suitable for industrial production.
- Suitable for cutting complex shapes: suitable for high-precision cutting and more complex patterns or small hole cutting.
Suitable for cutting thick materials, widely used in heavy industry, aerospace, automobile manufacturing and other fields:
- Thick metal cutting: such as stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum plate above 16mm.
- Large-format cutting: suitable for cutting large workpieces, such as steel structure, shipbuilding, etc.
- High cutting efficiency: high-power laser can complete the cutting of thick metal in a short time.
In general, the laser cutting machine wattage should be determined according to the actual production needs, material properties and budget.
If your work is mainly concentrated on thinner metal sheets or non-metallic materials, a 1kW to 3kW laser cutting machine is a more suitable choice. For large-scale industrial production, or when thicker metal materials need to be cut, higher-power equipment can be considered.
High-power Fiber Laser Cutting Machine Buyer Guide
The relationship between laser power and material thickness mainly depends on the interaction process between laser and material.
Here are some influencing factors:
The energy density of the laser on the surface of the material needs to be large enough to heat, melt or evaporate the material. The greater the laser power, the greater the depth of energy transfer to the material. If the material is thicker, the required laser power will also increase accordingly to ensure that the laser can penetrate to a deep enough level to achieve the desired processing effect.
The material has different absorption coefficients for lasers of specific wavelengths, which determines the propagation and absorption effect of the laser in the material. Different materials, surface conditions and laser wavelengths will affect the absorption coefficient. The thicker the material, the more power the laser needs to provide to ensure effective absorption in the deep layer.
When the laser irradiates the surface of the material, the energy will be absorbed by the material and converted into heat energy, causing the surface temperature of the material to rise, which in turn causes local melting or evaporation. When the material is thicker, the laser must have enough power to increase the surface temperature and be able to transfer heat to a deeper level, otherwise it may only heat the surface and fail to affect the deeper area.
When laser cutting, higher power is required to cut thicker materials. During the cutting process, the laser not only needs to heat the surface of the material, but also needs to provide enough energy to overcome the cutting force of the material and maintain a high temperature throughout the cutting depth.
When welding, thicker materials also require greater laser power to ensure the formation of the molten pool and the quality of deep penetration welding.
When surface treating thinner materials, the required laser power is lower.
As the thickness of the material increases, the diffusion and dissipation of heat become more significant. Thicker materials will more easily dissipate heat from the laser heating area to the surrounding area, resulting in reduced heating efficiency. Therefore, when using lasers on thicker materials, the power must be increased to compensate for the heat dissipation effect.
For different materials, the specific relationship between laser power and material thickness can usually be determined through experiments or theoretical models.
Generally speaking, when the material thickness is small (such as less than a few millimeters), the laser power requirements will not be much different. However, when the material thickness is large, the laser power may need to be increased significantly, and the specific value is affected by factors such as laser wavelength, material properties (such as thermal conductivity, melting point, absorption coefficient, etc.) and processing methods.
The focal position and focusing method of the laser also affect the distribution of laser energy on the material. A shallow focal position may result in more surface processing of the material and insufficient processing capacity of deep materials. Therefore, when processing thicker materials, it may be necessary to adjust the focal depth or use higher power.
Thickness:
Thin materials (such as 1 mm to 6 mm) can use lower power laser cutting machines.
Medium thickness materials (6 mm to 12 mm) usually require medium power laser cutting machines.
Thick materials (over 12 mm) require higher power laser cutting machines.
Laser type:
CO2 laser cutting machine: suitable for most metal and non-metal materials, the power range is usually from 500W to 12kW.
Fiber laser cutting machine: Due to its high efficiency and low energy consumption, it has gradually become the mainstream of the market. The power generally ranges from 1kW to 20kW, especially suitable for cutting thin to medium thickness metal materials.
Choosing the right power and type of laser cutting machine according to the actual application requirements can effectively improve production efficiency and reduce processing costs. The relationship between laser cutting machine wattage and material thickness is not a simple linear relationship.
Generally, as the thickness of the material increases, the required laser power increases. But the extent of the increase depends on the type of material, the processing method, and the depth of the required processing.
Choosing fiber laser cutting machine wattage is one of the key factors that determine the cutting performance. The choice of wattage needs to be reasonably matched according to the type of cutting material, thickness and cutting accuracy requirements.
The following are some considerations when choosing the power of the fiber laser cutting machine:
Different materials have different requirements for laser cutting. Common cutting materials include carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, etc. The power required for cutting capabilities of different materials varies greatly.
Usually, the laser power for cutting carbon steel can be between 1kW and 12kW. Thinner carbon steel (such as 1mm-3mm) can use a low-power (1kW-3kW) laser cutting machine, while thick plate cutting (such as 8mm-20mm) requires a higher power (6kW-12kW).
The laser power requirements for stainless steel cutting are similar to those for carbon steel. Laser cutting machines with 1kW to 8kW are suitable for most stainless steel cutting tasks. Thinner stainless steel plates (such as 1mm-3mm) can use low power, while thicker stainless steel plates (5mm-10mm) require higher power.
Aluminum alloys have strong thermal conductivity and require higher power when cutting. Generally, the recommended cutting power for aluminum is between 3kW and 6kW, or even higher.
These materials have stronger thermal conductivity and require higher power for laser cutting. It is generally recommended to use a laser cutting machine above 3kW.
The maximum thickness of laser cutting depends on the power of the laser. When cutting thinner materials, a low-power laser machine can meet the needs. When cutting thick plates, a high-power laser machine is required.
- For cutting 1mm-6mm materials, a 1kW-3kW laser cutting machine is suitable.
- For cutting 6mm-10mm materials, a 3kW-6kW laser cutting machine is recommended.
- For cutting 10mm-20mm materials, a 6kW-12kW laser cutting machine is recommended.
High-power laser cutting machines can usually cut materials faster and can also cut thicker materials better. But if you only need to cut thin materials and have high requirements for cutting speed and accuracy, you can choose a lower-power laser cutting machine. Higher-power lasers may cause a larger heat-affected zone of the material, which will affect the accuracy and quality of the cutting.
If your production needs are short-term and mainly cut thin plates, you can choose a medium- and low-power laser cutting machine (such as 1kW-3kW). If your production needs are long-term and you consider that thicker materials may be cut in the future, choosing a laser cutting machine with a higher power (such as 6kW or 12kW) will be more adaptable in the long run.
The higher the wattage of the fiber laser cutting machine, the more expensive the equipment price. Therefore, you should also consider your budget when choosing the power. High-power equipment is not only more expensive in the initial purchase, but also has relatively high maintenance and operating costs (such as power consumption) in the later stage.
- Thin plate materials (1mm-6mm): Choose a laser cutting machine with 1kW-3kW.
- Medium and thick plate materials (6mm-12mm): Choose a laser cutting machine with 3kW-6kW.
- Thick plate materials (above 12mm): Choose a laser cutting machine with more than 6kW.
Choosing a fiber laser cutting machine with the right wattage can help improve production efficiency while ensuring a balance between cutting quality and cost. Determining the power size according to your specific application needs is the key to choosing a laser cutting machine.