Anti spatter for laser cutting?

[Hans H.]

I use a 400 watt CO2 laser to cut sheet metal that is normally between 0.009 and 0.017 inches thick, which is Inconel`s and Stainless Steel. When I use SG Anti-spatter on Stainless Steel, it seems to work well; but, when I use the same thickness Inconel, I find that a very tiny bit of spatter sticks to the rear of the pieces. In the event that any splatter is present, I will need to perform an additional procedure, which normally involves sanding the back of each component. I don't employ any piercing operations while cutting because they tend to take a lot longer, but the spatter is typically not close to the lead in any case.... Using the plastic protecting sheets underneath bothers me since I cut a lot of little components, and I think it will take a lot of time to remove them. Do you guys use any heavier-duty, more water-soluble anti-spatter that adheres more effectively? We have also used Laser Protect from JosS and are super satisfied. LMK if you have any other suggestions...

 

[Rex Hang]

Here are some suggestions you can try:

Inconel spatter fix:

Try Inconel-specific anti-spatter: Stronger adhesion for this tricky metal.
Double coat: Thin layers might cling better than one thick one.
Nitrogen assist gas: Can shield the cut and potentially reduce spatter.
Cardboard shields: Protect the back of your pieces from flying splatter.
Pre-cut or chamfer edges: Smooth edges discourage spatter sticking.

Keep in mind that:-

Cleanliness is key: Debris attracts splatter, so keep laser & area tidy.
Nozzle matters: Regular cleaning ensures optimal beam quality and cutting.
Test on scrap: Always experiment before risking your actual parts.