Can Laser Cutting Machines Handle Galvanized Sheet, Copper, and Aluminum Materials?

  Due to their high reflectivity and thermal conductivity, traditional laser cutting of highly reflective materials such as galvanized sheets, copper, and aluminum presents certain challenges, such as laser reflection damaging equipment and unstable cutting. However, with the continuous advancement of laser technology, modern laser cutting machines can process these materials efficiently and stably.

Solutions for modern laser cutting technology

1. Equipment parameter adjustment

• Power selection: For galvanized sheets, medium and low power are generally used to prevent the zinc layer from violently vaporizing at high temperatures and producing a large amount of splashing, which affects the cutting quality and equipment life. When cutting copper and aluminum, because they have low absorption rates for lasers, high-power laser sources are required to provide sufficient energy to melt and vaporize the materials, so that the cutting can proceed smoothly.

• Pulse frequency: When cutting galvanized sheets, a higher pulse frequency can be used to allow the laser energy to act more evenly on the material and reduce the heat-affected zone. For highly reflective materials such as copper and aluminum, lower pulse frequencies are usually used to increase the energy of a single pulse and improve the ability to penetrate the material.

• Cutting speed: The cutting speed of galvanized sheet should be moderate. If it is too fast, it may not be cut through. If it is too slow, the zinc layer will be over-melted and vaporized. The cutting speed of copper and aluminum should be faster than that of ordinary steel to reduce the heat accumulation on the surface of the material and prevent excessive melting and deformation.

2. Use of auxiliary gas

• Gas type: Compressed air or nitrogen is often used to cut galvanized sheet. Compressed air can effectively blow away the slag, and nitrogen can prevent oxidation of the cut surface. When cutting copper and aluminum, high-purity nitrogen or argon is generally used, which can better inhibit the oxidation reaction of high-reflective materials during the cutting process and improve the quality of the cut surface.

• Gas pressure: When cutting galvanized sheet, the gas pressure is generally 0.5-1.0MPa. For copper and aluminum materials, due to their good fluidity after melting, higher gas pressure is required, usually 1.0-2.0MPa, to ensure that the molten material can be quickly blown away from the cutting area.

3. Optical path system maintenance

• Lens cleaning: Regularly clean the lens with special cleaning tools and reagents to prevent splashes and dust generated during the cutting of high-reflective materials from adhering to the lens and affecting laser transmission and focusing effects.

• Optical path calibration: Regularly check and calibrate the optical path system to ensure that the laser beam can accurately focus on the material surface, improve energy utilization, and reduce cutting quality problems caused by optical path deviation.

4. Material pretreatment

• Surface cleaning: Before cutting, it is necessary to thoroughly remove impurities such as oil, dust, and scale on the surface of galvanized sheet, copper, and aluminum to improve the laser absorption rate and ensure cutting quality.

• Absorbent coating: Coating a layer of coating with high laser absorption rate on the surface of the material can improve the absorption efficiency of laser energy and improve the cutting effect.

  By optimizing equipment parameters, selecting appropriate auxiliary gases, maintaining the optical path system, and pre-treating materials, modern laser cutting machines can efficiently and stably process highly reflective materials such as galvanized sheet, copper, and aluminum. Enterprises can choose anti-reflection and high-power laser equipment according to their needs, and optimize process parameters to improve cutting quality and production efficiency.