Laser Profile Cutting Services for Steel
Laser profile cutting is particularly suited to high end precision engineering. This technology has the following advantages over other cutting technologies:
- Ultra accurate - tolerances +/-0.5mm can be achieved
- Ideal for intricate or complex designs
- Edge quality is better than other cutting processes
- Minimal heat affected zone
- Reduced chance of workpiece warping
- Ability to cut difficult and stubborn materials
The Laser Cutting Process
A laser machine works by focusing the energy of a high-powered laser onto one fixed point, usually through an optic. The laser beam is manipulated by CNC (computer numerical control) and either melts or burns the material being cut.
Excess material is blown away from the cut using a strong jet of gas; this leaves behind edging with a high quality surface finish. This gas is usually oxygen, but nitrogen can also be used for stainless steel cutting as it also protects the hot metal from being oxidised.
The laser will usually measure between 0.15 and 0.2 centimetres in diameter and is intensified by a lens/mirror to focus onto a spot measuring approximately 0.002 centimetres. Laser cutting also has many advantages over plasma cutting as the process is more precise and uses significantly less energy; although plasma cutting is still more effective when cutting through thicker materials.
At Brown McFarlane we produce laser cut steel parts in-house with the latest laser cutting technologies. Our state-of-the-art Durma 10kw Fibre Laser is the newest addition to our processing centre and, cutting up to 12m by 3m plates, has one of the shortest cutting times that can be offered. With this machine, we can deliver first-class quality across a range of steel sheet thicknesses with the newest cutting and piercing technology. The Durma 10kw Fibre Laser can comfortably cut carbon steel up to and including 12.5mm and stainless steel up to and including 25mm.