EN
In the dynamic landscape of modern manufacturing, thick metal cutting has long been a bottleneck restricting production efficiency and product quality. Traditional cutting technologies such as plasma and flame cutting often struggle with issues like low precision, rough cutting surfaces, and prolonged processing cycles when dealing with thick metal plates. However, the rapid advancement of laser cutting technology has brought a revolutionary solution to this long-standing challenge. As a pioneering high-tech enterprise founded in 1995, Tianchen Laser has been at the forefront of this technological revolution, dedicated to 研发 (R&D), production, and sales of intelligent metal forming equipment. Over the past 29 years, the company has not only built a robust intelligent manufacturing base with an annual production capacity of over 10,000 units for its main products but also expanded its business to more than 100 countries and regions worldwide, adhering to a quality - and service - oriented, customer - centered approach. This article will delve into the advanced laser cutting technologies that effectively address thick metal cutting problems, with a focus on Tianchen Laser's innovative solutions.
The Core Challenges of Thick Metal Cutting
Before exploring advanced solutions, it is crucial to first understand the inherent challenges of thick metal cutting. When dealing with metal plates with a thickness of 10mm or more, three key issues often arise. Firstly, energy penetration becomes a major hurdle. As the thickness of the metal plate increases, the laser beam needs to penetrate a greater distance, resulting in significant energy loss due to scattering and absorption by the material. This makes it difficult to achieve complete and efficient cutting. Secondly, the discharge of molten material poses a problem. During the cutting process, a large amount of molten metal is generated. For thick metal plates, the molten material is more likely to accumulate in the cutting kerf, as it is harder to be completely blown away by the assist gas. This not only affects the cutting speed but also leads to poor cutting quality, such as dross and uneven edges. Finally, maintaining cutting stability is challenging. The longer cutting path for thick metal plates increases the likelihood of fluctuations in the laser beam and changes in the processing environment, which can cause deviations in the cutting trajectory and reduce the overall cutting precision.
Tianchen Laser's Advanced Laser Cutting Technologies for Thick Metal
To overcome the above challenges, Tianchen Laser has developed a series of advanced laser cutting technologies, providing effective solutions for thick metal cutting.
Focus Position Adjustment Strategy
The focus position of the laser beam is a critical factor affecting the quality and efficiency of thick metal cutting. Tianchen Laser has formulated targeted adjustment strategies based on different material thicknesses. For thick metal plates (10mm and above), the company recommends adopting a multi - cut or layered cutting approach, and adjusting the focus position according to the thickness of each layer during each cut. In the initial cutting stage, the focus position is set slightly below the surface of the metal plate to ensure that the laser beam has sufficient energy to penetrate the upper layer of the material. As the cutting progresses to the middle and lower layers, the focus position is gradually adjusted downward to compensate for the energy loss caused by the increased material thickness. This layered adjustment of the focus position ensures that each layer of the thick metal plate receives optimal laser energy, thereby improving the cutting precision and reducing the occurrence of defects such as incomplete cutting and rough edges.
High - Precision Beam Control Technology
Tianchen Laser has invested heavily in the research and development of high - precision beam control technology. By optimizing the design of the laser resonant cavity and adopting advanced beam shaping technology, the company has significantly improved the stability and collimation of the laser beam. For thick metal cutting, the beam shaping technology can adjust the beam profile according to the characteristics of the material and the cutting requirements. For example, a modified beam profile is used for oxygen - assisted cutting of thick steel plates, which broadens the beam profile to create a more suitable energy distribution. This not only enhances the energy density in the cutting area but also ensures that the molten material is effectively discharged, improving the cutting speed and quality. Additionally, the high - precision beam control system can dynamically adjust the beam parameters in real - time during the cutting process, such as the beam intensity and spot size, to adapt to the changes in the cutting conditions. This real - time adjustment capability further enhances the stability of the cutting process and ensures consistent cutting quality for thick metal plates.
Efficient Assist Gas Configuration
The selection and configuration of the assist gas play a vital role in thick metal cutting. Tianchen Laser has conducted in - depth research on the application of assist gases in thick metal cutting and has developed an efficient assist gas configuration scheme. For different types of thick metal materials, the company recommends using different assist gases and adjusting the gas pressure and flow rate accordingly. For example, when cutting thick stainless steel plates, nitrogen is used as the assist gas. The high - pressure nitrogen (with a pressure range of 12 - 30 bar) can effectively blow away the molten stainless steel, preventing oxidation and ensuring a bright and clean cutting surface. In contrast, when cutting thick mild steel plates, oxygen is used as the assist gas. The oxygen reacts with the mild steel during the cutting process, generating additional heat that helps to improve the cutting efficiency. At the same time, Tianchen Laser has optimized the design of the gas nozzle to ensure that the assist gas is evenly distributed and reaches the cutting area with sufficient pressure and flow rate. This optimized gas nozzle design, combined with the appropriate assist gas selection and parameter adjustment, effectively solves the problem of molten material discharge in thick metal cutting and improves the overall cutting performance.
Application Cases of Tianchen Laser's Thick Metal Cutting Technology
The advanced thick metal cutting technologies developed by Tianchen Laser have been widely applied in various industries, achieving remarkable results. In the heavy machinery industry, many enterprises have adopted Tianchen Laser's laser cutting equipment to process thick metal components such as machine frames and gears. Compared with traditional cutting technologies, Tianchen Laser's equipment has significantly improved the cutting precision of these components, reducing the subsequent machining workload by more than 30%. At the same time, the cutting speed has been increased by 2 - 3 times, greatly shortening the production cycle. In the construction industry, Tianchen Laser's laser cutting technology is used to process thick steel plates for large - scale building structures. The high - precision cutting ensures the accurate assembly of the steel structures, improving the safety and stability of the buildings. Additionally, the clean cutting surface eliminates the need for post - processing such as grinding, saving a lot of time and labor costs. In the automotive manufacturing industry, the technology is applied to the cutting of thick metal parts for automotive chassis and bodies. The excellent cutting quality and high efficiency of Tianchen Laser's equipment meet the strict production requirements of the automotive industry, helping enterprises improve their production capacity and product quality.
Conclusion
Thick metal cutting is a key link in the manufacturing industry, and the continuous advancement of laser cutting technology is driving the innovation and development of this field. Tianchen Laser, with its 29 years of experience in the R&D and production of intelligent metal forming equipment, has developed a series of advanced laser cutting technologies for thick metal cutting. These technologies, including the focus position adjustment strategy, high - precision beam control technology, and efficient assist gas configuration, effectively solve the core challenges of thick metal cutting, providing global customers with high - quality, efficient, and stable cutting solutions. As the company continues to adhere to a quality - and service - oriented, customer - centered approach, it will further expand its business scope and make greater contributions to the development of the global manufacturing industry. In the future, Tianchen Laser will continue to invest in technological innovation, exploring more advanced laser cutting technologies to meet the increasingly diverse and complex needs of thick metal cutting, and leading the development trend of the laser cutting industry.