Information

 

The use of CO2 lasers (150 – 1000 W) for cutting (literature data). 

I. Dielectric materials. 

Material	Thickness, (mm)	Beam power, (W)	Cutting speed (m/min.)
Asbestos	2,5 3,0 4,6	150 150 350	1,0 1,0 9,0
Wood:  Beech  Fir  Oak	5,0 10,0 10,0 12,0 16,0	150 400 150 500 300	2,0 3,0 1,0 2,5 2,8
Plywood	3,8 9,0 12,0 18,0 18,0 17,0	350 500 500 150 400 1000	5,3 2,8 1,4 0,2 0,5 1,4
Leather	1,5 5,0	350 150	1,7 0,8
Fabric	0,45 0,7	400 500	50 50
Felt	6,0	400	19,0
Carpet	6,0	400	18,0
Nylon	0,5	150	20,0
Rubber	3,0 4,5	150 350	2,4 1,5
Plexiglass	3,0 6,0 10,0 10,0	150 150 150 400	3,0 1,5 0,6 1,25
Ceramic (Al2O3)	0,8	150	0,8
Quartz	2,0	250	0,09
Glass	2,0	350	0,8

II. Ferro-alloys.

Material	Thickness, (mm)	Beam power, (W)	Cutting speed (m/min.)
Stainless steel	0,5 (О2) 0,3 (О2) 3,25 (О2) 2,0 (О2) 5,0 (О2)	150 350 350 1000 1000	1,0 4,0 0,2 3,0 0,9
Carbon steel	2.5 (О2) 5,0 (О2)	750 750	3,0 1,5

III. Non-ferrous metals.

Material	Thickness, (mm)	Beam power, (W)	Cutting speed (m/min.)
Copper alloys	1,6 (Ar) 3,2 (Ar) 3,2 (О2) 6,4	500 500 500 1000	1,5 0,3 2,0 2,0
Aluminum	2,0	1000	0,2
Bronze	1,0 (О2)	1000	2,0
Titanium	0,9 (О2) 2,0 (О2)	225 1000	4,8 2,2

Note: The speed and quality of cut are depend on: quality of material surface (and coating), sort of assisting gas and pressure, regime of processing (CW or PP mode of operation).