Help with cutting parameters 4

[kltex]

I bought a used Amada LC-2415 alfa III NT. (2kW)
I have no prior experience with laser cutting machines but i'm a fast learner.
2 weeks ago I finally finished the installation and the Amada technician here in Israel came and did all the necessary procedures to turn the machine ON.
For the last two weeks i've been cutting material 8 hours a day.
I have cut:
Plain steel 1mm-10mm
SS316 1mm-6mm
Alu 1050 1mm-2mm
Many of the materials were not on the machines cutting list and I had to find the right parameters to make the cut work.
I know it can cut much better than my "make it work" adjustments.
I did get a user manual but I did not get a cutting list manual.

I found it very difficult to understand the user manual because it doesn't really say much about how each parameter effects the cutting quality.
I did an intensive search and found a great book that was published here in this forum "Cutting know-how for amada lasers"
This was a good starting point but still I'm lacking the understanding of how the Edge, Fine Edge and such features work and effect the cut.
Everything about lenses is still a mystery to me, and i have no idea when to use the 5" and when to switch to 7.5" other than what it says on the already defined materials.

Here is my question -
Where can I get the cutting list parameters book for my laser?
Where can I find good literature on all the cutting functions and the effect they have?

 

[lasermate]

search for threads from laserdog. He runs Amadas and may have what you need or be able to answer your questions.
Good luck

 

[laserdog]

This was a tall order but I think I found something that should help plus I found some of my old notes from our 2415 Altair C2000.

 

[kltex]

Thanks for the lead lasermate.

Laserdog, actually I have a user manual but what i'm lacking is the cut tables with all the different materials and parameters that goes with them.
If you have this table/book ( i have no idea in what format it came) I will be more then happy to make me a copy.

 

[laserdog]

The cut tables are in the back in the Appendixes

 

[laserdog]

Sorry it took so long to send these.

 

[laserdog]

If you need a good ramp pierce for mild steel .187 and up let me know or any other cutting issues because I saved all my conditions for the last 20 years.

 

[kltex]

Don't be sorry, It's GREAT ! ! !
THANKS
I'm looking for the "Jumping for joy" smiley, and can't seem to find it

Any other notes will be equality appreciated

 

[kltex]

I managed to clean cut 6mm (0.236") Stainless steel 316L
If it interests you I can send you the cutting conditions tomorrow

 

[kltex]

laserdog, I'm hoping to hear from you soon

 

[laserdog]

So what were your final settings?

 

[kltex]

 

[laserdog]

With stainless I would use full frequency on the E4 and adjust the power if needed.

 

[kltex]

I found all those parameters the hard way.
It took me several hours and more then 30 pcs of trial cuts to achieve a really clean cut.
All those testing were done when the machine was only a few days old, and I had no idea how and what should I change to make it work.
Tomorrow I am starting a new job with many sheets of 6mm stainless, My guess it will take me several days to complete.
Before I start, I will try to rework on my settings with your recommendation about the power/freq.

When changing cutting type between "clean" and "thickness" what changes?

 

[laserdog]

When you cut stainless with Nitrogen, gas kind 4, always use cutting type clean, thick is for 10 ga (.134) mild steel and up. Make sure the pierce gas kind is 4 also because if you use oxygen and don't purge the line the start will have a tarnished look on the edge and have a hard time cutting.

 

[kltex]

Not a very good day today.
I started the morning with 4 hours of trials to set up new parameters.
Ended up with something not as good as I had but a bit faster 700cm/min instead of 500cm/min.
Tried my old settings again, and it did not cut as clean as it did on the first time

Nitrogen pressure is 0.85Mpa, in just 4 hours I drained 12 cylinders.
And still got a black cut and burr.

How can I make it cut better?

 

[laserdog]

That sure looks like you have oxygen in your cut. When you pierce is it a bright white loud flash? or is it quiet with sparks going in all directions? Do you have a M103 pierce or is it M103B.05?

 

[laserdog]

Send a picture of your pierce conditions.

M103B0.05 pierce

This is 3/8 stainless (.375)

 

[kltex]

I never paid special attention to the pierce.
Always thought: if it goes all the way thru - its good enough.

I will take some pictures of my pierce (only tomorrow) but from what i remember its quiet with sparks going in all directions for about 3-4 sec.

Even if the pierce is good (or bad) why will it effect the whole part?
Parts i'm currently working on are very large, I only have 4-5 pierces in a sheet.

I do not know what M103 or M103B.05, where do I set this parameter?

 

[laserdog]

I would like to see the pierce condition page and see if the settings are good. If it takes 3 to 4 seconds to pierce you might be using gas kind 1 and that could be where the oxygen is getting into the line. When you pierce stainless it should be full power and full duty with gas kind 4 and should be thru it in a second. As far as the pierce type I will post a picture soon and explain it.