.125 Aluminum cutting. Need to reduce dross. Amada FLCAJ Fiber

[Merrill101]

I'm running a 4kw fiber laser and we just got an order for 11 ga aluminum. Our customer is making tanks and these parts are all exposed. Our initial test run of the material left dross that the owner wasn't happy with. Can anybody help me with some tricks for cutting a burr free aluminum?

Thanks.

 

[Foostrap]

That is one of the negatives about fiber lasers. Aluminum is not completely burr free like you can get on CO2. But even with CO2, 1/8" is about the max thickness to get burr free.

 

[gotpho]

Hi Merrill 101,

What are your cutting conditions?

I have had success cutting Aluminum before with a Precitec head with an IPG laser on 4mm AL. Like footstrap said, it won't be completely burr free but it was pretty good and there will be striations. I can possibly show you pictures later.

I recommend a 200 microns focus spot and going relatively slow about 30-50mm. I also used a 2mm double nozzle and high pressure nitrogen gas.

 

[Merrill101]

4000W
250 IPM
1.5 bar N2
-0.02 Focus

Edge quality is less of a concern than the burr.

 

[JeanFreli]

try speed up and more gas like 14 bar.