How to choose a suitable fiber laser cutting machine?

How to choose a suitable fiber laser cutting machine?

As we all know, the optical fiber cutting machine has fast cutting speed, high processing accuracy, and good working stability. It has wide application in many manufacturing industries, such as sheet metal processing industry, metal mole industry, advertising industry, medical equipment industry, high-tech manufacturing industry, and so on. So in the face of so many types of fiber laser cutters on the market, how do we choose a suitable fiber laser cutting machine?

1. Processing materials

Contact us to discuss your requirements of High Power Fiber Laser Cutting Machine 1500W. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

First, what material do you want to process? Aluminum, copper, carbon steel, alloys, stainless steel, or other metal? Different materials will decide different equipment, so you can choose the most fitful machine according to your actual situation. Secondly, choose according to the size and thickness of the material to be processed because different sizes require different cutting tables. For example, what are the maximum thicknesses, minimum thicknesses, and common thicknesses you cut? Cutting sheet metal or metal tube? The length and width of the metal plate need to be considered. Besides, the metal tube has different diameters and shapes, such as round tubes, square tubes, T-shaped tubes, L-shaped tubes, U-shaped tubes, and other special-shaped tubes. In this way, the model of the equipment to be purchased and the size of the processing format can be determined, so as to make a simple preparation for the later purchase work.

2. Machine type

There are various types of fiber laser cutting machines, including metal sheet fiber laser cutting machines, metal tube fiber laser cutting machines, fiber laser machines for cutting metal sheet and tube, fiber laser cutter with automatic loading and unloading, automatic coiling fiber laser cutter, fiber laser cutting machine with exchange platform, etc. Therefore, please firstly determine your product needs and then make purchases.

3. Machine quality

Nowadays, the product updates are getting faster and faster. In addition, the product diversity, sample trial production, and mass production are also becoming more. Thus, how to complete customer orders with high quality and quantity, maintain corporate reputation, and enhance corporate competitiveness are also arduous tasks for every operator. So purchasing an excellent fiber laser cutting machine with stable performance is the premise and foundation. Try to choose a CNC provider with a high market share, a sound after-sales service system, a large number of after-sales service outlets, and a long-term market test. Buying low-quality products at low prices and without after-sales service will have a huge negative impact on the production and enterprises.

4. Power

The following table is some of the more common fiber laser machine power of Dxtech, for reference only.

In fact, most of the factories cut metal sheets of 10mm or even less than 6mm, so the 1000W-2000W laser cutting machine can meet the production needs. If the production volume is large and you are worried that the efficiency of 1000W is not as good as that of high-power laser cutting machines, the best choice is to buy two or more small and medium-power laser cutting machines, which will help manufacturers in controlling costs and improving efficiency. (Dxtech Laser company can introduce the most suitable model to you according to your specific processing needs. For more details, please consult online customer service.)

5. Budget

Finally, purchasing budget also plays a very important role in choosing fitful laser machines. If your budget is sufficient, then of course you can choose the fiber laser cutting machine with the highest configuration, the most complete functions, and the fastest cutting speed, such as the Dxtech metal sheet and tube fiber metal laser cutting machine with an exchangeable platform. If your budget is limited, you can choose a cost-effective laser machine to meet your main processing needs. After all, the fiber laser cutting machine price ranges from $10,000 to $100,000. Therefore, it is necessary to compare carefully and choose the best performance ratio.

6. After-sales service

Dxtech laser company promises to take good care of customers' fiber laser cutting machines. We can ensure you timely online after-sales service 24 hours a day that most small and medium-sized enterprises cannot provide. Moreover, we have a very professional service team consisted of excellent engineers and salesmen, so you needn’t have worries about solving troublesome after-sales problems.

Summary

If you want to learn more, please visit our website bevel cutting laser.

From what I’m saying above, I believe you have already attracted by us. Please don’t be hesitate, Dxtech will give you the best purchasing experience to choose a suitable fiber laser cutter. By the way, any questions and inquiries are welcome.

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As we all know, the optical fiber cutting machine has fast cutting speed, high processing accuracy, and good working stability. It has wide application in many manufacturing industries, such as sheet metal processing industry, metal mole industry, advertising industry, medical equipment industry, high-tech manufacturing industry, and so on. So in the face of so many types of fiber laser cutters on the market, how do we choose a suitable fiber laser cutting machine?First, what material do you want to process? Aluminum, copper, carbon steel, alloys, stainless steel, or other metal? Different materials will decide different equipment, so you can choose the most fitful machine according to your actual situation. Secondly, choose according to the size and thickness of the material to be processed because different sizes require different cutting tables. For example, what are the maximum thicknesses, minimum thicknesses, and common thicknesses you cut? Cutting sheet metal or metal tube? The length and width of the metal plate need to be considered. Besides, the metal tube has different diameters and shapes, such as round tubes, square tubes, T-shaped tubes, L-shaped tubes, U-shaped tubes, and other special-shaped tubes. In this way, the model of the equipment to be purchased and the size of the processing format can be determined, so as to make a simple preparation for the later purchase work.There are various types of fiber laser cutting machines, including metal sheet fiber laser cutting machines, metal tube fiber laser cutting machines, fiber laser machines for cutting metal sheet and tube, fiber laser cutter with automatic loading and unloading, automatic coiling fiber laser cutter, fiber laser cutting machine with exchange platform, etc. Therefore, please firstly determine your product needs and then make purchases.Nowadays, the product updates are getting faster and faster. In addition, the product diversity, sample trial production, and mass production are also becoming more. Thus, how to complete customer orders with high quality and quantity, maintain corporate reputation, and enhance corporate competitiveness are also arduous tasks for every operator. So purchasing an excellent fiber laser cutting machine with stable performance is the premise and foundation. Try to choose a CNC provider with a high market share, a sound after-sales service system, a large number of after-sales service outlets, and a long-term market test. Buying low-quality products at low prices and without after-sales service will have a huge negative impact on the production and enterprises.The following table is some of the more common fiber laser machine power of Dxtech, for reference only.In fact, most of the factories cut metal sheets of 10mm or even less than 6mm, so the 1000W-2000W laser cutting machine can meet the production needs. If the production volume is large and you are worried that the efficiency of 1000W is not as good as that of high-power laser cutting machines, the best choice is to buy two or more small and medium-power laser cutting machines, which will help manufacturers in controlling costs and improving efficiency. (Dxtech Laser company can introduce the most suitable model to you according to your specific processing needs. For more details, please consult online customer service.)Finally, purchasing budget also plays a very important role in choosing fitful laser machines. If your budget is sufficient, then of course you can choose the fiber laser cutting machine with the highest configuration, the most complete functions, and the fastest cutting speed, such as the Dxtech metal sheet and tube fiber metal laser cutting machine with an exchangeable platform. If your budget is limited, you can choose a cost-effective laser machine to meet your main processing needs. After all, the fiber laser cutting machine price ranges from $10,000 to $100,000. Therefore, it is necessary to compare carefully and choose the best performance ratio.Dxtech laser company promises to take good care of customers' fiber laser cutting machines. We can ensure you timely online after-sales service 24 hours a day that most small and medium-sized enterprises cannot provide. Moreover, we have a very professional service team consisted of excellent engineers and salesmen, so you needn’t have worries about solving troublesome after-sales problems.From what I’m saying above, I believe you have already attracted by us. Please don’t be hesitate, Dxtech will give you the best purchasing experience to choose a suitable fiber laser cutter. By the way, any questions and inquiries are welcome.

If you intend to buy a metal laser cutter but still have some doubts about laser metal cutting, you are lucky to see this article. This complete guide lists all the things you want to know about a metal laser cutting machine, including the information of the machine itself and how to use it. It also recommends three best-selling fiber laser cutting machines for you to choose from.

Introduction

Just as the name suggests, the metal laser cutting machine is a type of CNC metal cutting machine adopting laser technology. There are currently two kinds of mainstream CNC metal cutting machines using laser technology in the market, i.e. CO2 laser cutting machine and fiber laser cutting machine.

CO2 laser cutter is a type of CNC laser machine using CO2 laser to cut materials. It is widely used for industrial cutting of many materials, including titanium, stainless steel, mild steel, aluminium, plastic, wood, engineered wood, wax, fabrics, and paper. However, the CO2 laser machine has low efficiency in cutting metal materials. So it is generally  used to cut non-metal materials. 

However, the fiber laser cutting machine is widely used for cutting metal materials because of its high cutting efficiency, good processing quality and low maintenance cost. Therefore, the metal laser cutting machine referred to in this article mainly refers to the fiber laser cutting machine.

Fiber metal laser cutting machine vs. CO2 laser cutting machine

Since I have mentioned these common two types of laser cutting machine, I will make a simple comparison of them. It may help when you choose a laser cutting machine.
With the help of oxygen assisted gas, the CO2 laser cutter of 150W and above can cut 1mm sheet steel. Generally speaking, although CO2 laser cutting machine can cut metal, but its processing efficiency is low. And it will assume plenty of energy. It is much good at cutting non-metal materials, such as wood, acrylic, leather, fabric, stone etc.
By comparison, the fiber laser cutting machine is 200 percent more efficient than the CO2 laser cutter on thinner metal cutting. With different laser power, the fiber metal cutting machine can cut a wide range of metal materials in different thickness. However, when cutting medium and above thick (over 30mm) metal sheets, the cutting efficiency of the metal laser cutting machine may decrease.
In addition, the CO2 laser cutting machine has many easily-worn parts, which require more care, frequent replacement and more operation cost. While the fiber metal laser cutting machine does not have such issues and much maintenance.

Working principle of metal laser cutting machine

The metal laser cutting machine uses a highly focused laser beam to cut metals. The laser generator fires a laser beam, which is focused into a high power density laser beam through the optical path system. The laser beam hits the surface of the work piece so that the metal surface reaches the melting point or boiling point.
And the high-pressure gas that is aligned with the beam will blow away the melt or vaporized metal. With the movement of the laser beam on the metal surface, the metal is finally cut into desired shapes. The temperature of laser cutting can reach 11,000℃, so the metal laser cutting machine can basically cut any metal materials.
When cutting, the metal laser cutting machine will spray the inert gas flow, blow out the incision to melt the metal and make the incision smooth and straight. Therefore, the laser metal cutting method has narrow slit, precise dimension, smooth surface and higher cutting quality than other CNC metal cutting methods.

Advantages of metal laser cutting machine

Nowadays, an increasing number of metal working manufacturers choose fiber metal laser cutting machine to increase their production efficiency and output. That’s because the fiber laser cutting machine has many advantages and benefits that other CNC metal cutting methods don’t. The following lists 10 outstanding advantages of the fiber metal laser cutting machine.

Higher efficiency, less energy consumption and less operation cost

1. Electrical to optical conversion efficiency of the fiber metal laser cutting machine is high and over 30%. This greatly reduces the power consumption, saves operation cost, and achieves the higher efficiency.
2. Equipped with a reliable and high quality laser generator, a laser cutting head and a sturdy machine structure, the fiber metal laser cutting machine can achieve a fast and steady cutting process. In addition, the fiber cutter machine reaches its highest efficiency when cutting thinner metal sheets. Its cutting speed can be twice the CO2 laser cutting machine with the same power.
3. Fiber metal cutting machines do not need complex optical mirrors, and the focusing lens is not exposed. Therefore, it does not require frequent replacement of consumables, greatly saving operating costs and maintenance costs.

Non-contact process, high precision and small cutting slit

1. Due to the replacement of traditional cutting tools by a laser beam, the fiber laser cutting is a non-contract cutting process. So it will not scratch the material surface.
2. The machining accuracy is high; the repeatability is good, causing no damage to the material surface.
3. The cutting heat affected area and the plate deformation is small, and the cutting slit is narrow (0.1mm-0.3mm).

Good quality, wide application and high automation

1. The output wave length of the fiber laser is 1.064μm, 1/10 of the wave length of the CO2 laser cutter. The laser beam has good quality and high power and density, and can be absorbed easily by metal materials. So the metal laser cutting machine has excellent cutting ability and the finished products are in good quality.
2. With the assistance of matching CAD and other CNC programs, the metal cutting machine can cut any regular and irregular patterns. Except for sheet metal, it can also cut square or round metal tubes.
3. The metal laser cutting machine is capable for cutting a wide range of metal materials, even though highly reflective metals.
4. With high level of automation, the operator only needs to make the desired design on the computer and fix the material on the worktable. The cutter will automatically complete the cutting work without human intervention.

Advantages of laser cutting over traditional mechanical cutting

1. Faster speed and higher cutting quality;
2. Reduced workpiece contamination and damages, due to non-contact cutting process of the laser cutting;
3. Higher cutting precision, because the laser beam will not cause any wear during the cutting process;
4. Smaller heat affected area and part deformation.

Advantages of laser cutting over plasma cutting

1. Higher precision, smaller cutting slit, and smaller heat affected area;
2. More energy-saving and environmental protection;
3. Suitable for cutting the same or smaller thickness metal sheets as the plasma cutting machine;
4. Stricter tolerance specifications, suitable for precise cutouts and complex notching.

For details, please also visit: https://www.elephant-cnc.com/blog/722-plasma-cutting-machine-vs-laser-cutting-machine-ultimate-comparison/

Cutting materials of metal laser cutting machine

The metal laser cutting machine is capable for cutting sheets and square and round tubes made of a variety of metal materials, for example:

Stainless steel

Laser cutting machine a very effective machining tool for the manufacturers who take thin stainless steel sheets as the main raw materials. Under strict control of heat input measures during the laser cutting process, the heat affected ares is small. It is helpful for maintaining the good corrosion resistance of such materials.

Carbon steel

The maximum cutting thickness of the carbon steel sheet could reach 25mm with high laser power.

Alloy steel

Most alloy steel materials can be cut with the metal laser cutting machine with good cutting edge quality. However, for high-speed tool steel and hot die steel containing tungsten, there may be erosion and slag sticking during laser cutting.

Aluminum and aluminum alloy

The laser cutting aluminum belongs to the cutting type by melting. And auxiliary gas is used to blow away the molten aluminum from the cutting area.

Copper, brass and copper alloy

The high power metal laser cutting machine can cut the materials with highly reflective properties, such as copper, brass.
In addition to the following materials, the metal laser cutting machine can also process many other types of metals, such as titanium and titanium alloy, nickel alloy, galvanized sheets etc.
Table 1 below lists the maximum cutting thickness of five common materials that can be cut by the metal laser cutting machine with different power.
Table 1: Maximum Cutting Thickness of Different Power Metal Laser Cutter Max. Cutting thickness (mm) 500W 1000W 2000W 3000W 4000W 8000W Stainless steel 3 5 8 10 12 30 Carbon steel 6 12 16 20 22 25 Aluminum 1.5 3 7 10 10 30 Copper 1 1 3 5 6 12 Brass 1.5 3 6 8 10 15

Laser metal cutting machine price and technical parameters

The fiber metal laser cutting machine adopts flexible laser beam cutting, with fast speed, good precision and high cutting quality. So an increasing number of metal working manufacturers choose to buy a fiber laser metal cutting machine. But in general, the laser metal cutting machine price is relatively higher than the CNC plasma cutting machine and CO2 laser cutter of the same power. And the price ranges approximately from $20,000 to $90,000.

Factors that affect the laser metal cutting machine price

Firstly, the laser generator itself is expensive. The higher power the laser generator, the higher its price. To achieve rapid and high precision cutting of metal sheets of certain thickness, such as 6mm, 8mm or 12mm, a high power laser generator is necessary. And this causes extra cost to the metal laser cutting price.

Secondly, the choice of other parts of the metal laser cutting machine will also affect its cost. For example, some fiber laser cutting machines may use Japanese pneumatic components, Japanese rail systems or French electrical components. These stable and reliable imported parts also increase the metal laser cutting machine price accordingly.

Thirdly, the laser metal cutting machine price is also affected by other factors, such as specifications, brands, etc.

Although the initial investment for a fiber laser cutting machine is high, we also need to consider the subsequent operation cost. As mentioned above, the metal laser cutter has powerful functions and stable performance. If properly used and maintained, there is basically no need for maintenance. The operation cost is low. Besides, the metal cutting laser will become the mainstream cutting method of metal materials, having extensive applications and development prospect.
With all things considered, the metal cutting laser is worthwhile for large-scale metal working manufacturers.

Major technical parameters

The Table 2 below lists several major technical parameters of our fiber laser cutters. But the parameters may vary based on the specific situation. What’s more, the configurations, such as working area, laser power or other auxiliary parts can be customized according to your personal requirements.
Table 2: Major Technical Parameters
  Model Fiber laser cutting machine Working voltage 220V/380V/50Hz Working area 3000*1500mm, 4000*1500mm
4000*2000mm, 6000*2000mm Laser power 1000W/1500W/2000W/3000W/4000W/6000W/8000W Repeated positioning accuracy ±0.01mm Transmission system Gear + rails (as required by customers) X, Y axis max moving speed 120,000mm/min Max. cutting speed 1-10m/min
(depending on different metal materials and laser power) Cutting thickness (mm) 0.2-25mm (depending on laser power and material) Cooling mode Industry water chiller Operating temperature 5-45℃ Operating humidity 5-95% (free of condensed water) Certification ISO9001, CE, FDA, ROHS

Major parts of metal laser cutting machine

Fiber laser generator

It is the most essential part of the fiber laser metal cutting machine, and also the “power source” to realize metal laser cutting service. So be sure to pay attention to the choice of the fiber laser generator when buying a metal laser cutting machine.

Bed

The bed structure is an important factor affecting the cutting speed, precision, stability and durability of the metal laser cutter. Our laser cutting machine bed is made of high-strength cast iron with integrally welded structure. It is sturdy and durable.

Gantry 

The gantry is mounted on the support rail of the bed and is equipped with high-quality linear guide rails. Our laser cutting machine adopt aerospace grade aluminum and has characteristics of good toughness, light weight, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance and low density. This greatly improves the processing speed.

Laser cutting head

The laser cutting head is a laser output device. It consists of a nozzle, a focusing lens and a focusing tracking system. The laser cutting head will travel according to the set cutting path. But the height of the laser cutting head needs to be adjusted and controlled automatically for different materials, different thicknesses and different cutting methods.

Movement system

It mainly includes gears, racks, guide rails, gantry, servo motor, reducer etc. High quality movement system can effectively guarantee the cutting precision, positioning speed and repeatability precision of the metal laser cutting machine.

Control system

It is also the computer numerical controlled system. Most laser metal cutting machine manufacturers adopt an imported control system to make designs and layouts and control the cutting path.

Air supply system

The air supply system mainly includes air source, filter and pipes. Our fiber laser cutting machine usually adopts compress air, nitrogen and oxygen as the air source.

Water chiller

The fiber laser cutting machine will generate a large amount of heat when working. In order to guarantee the service life, a professional cooling device must be provided. The water chiller must have super-high temperature alarm, flow protection, water level protection and other safety alarm alert functions. This will allow the machine to work under a constant temperature.

Metal laser cutting machine recommendation

Flatbed fiber laser cutting machine for metal

This laser metal cutting machine is an ideal entry-level CNC metal cutting machine, without expensive purchase cost or maintenance cost. It adopts an imported laser, fixed light path and compact structure. Its working hours could be over 100,000 hours. And it is the best choice for cutting metal sheets less than 3mm thick. Features of this metal laser cutter include excellent machining system, friendly interface, simple operation and real-time feedback of working status. All specification configurations can be customized according to your special requirements.

Fiber laser stainless steel CNC cutting machine

This is a laser metal cutting machine for cutting stainless steel of different thickness. It can also cut other metal materials, such as carbon steel, silicon steel, aluminum, etc. This fiber laser cutter adopts top fiber laser, imported servo motor, double drive precision reducer, high quality rack and pinion structure, to ensure the high speed, high precision and reliable operation. The fiber laser absorption rate can reach up to 25% to 30%, with small focused spot and fine cutting lines. It utilizes less energy and is more environmentally friendly than CO2 laser cutters. Custom metal laser cutting machine specifications are acceptable.

The latest sheet metal laser cutting machine

This metal laser cutting machine adopts many imported parts, such as laser head, driver, motor, liner guider system, etc. These parts and components guarantee the excellent and stable performance. The bed structure of this sheet metal laser cutting equipment, which has been proved and verified by many CAE analyses, ensures both rigidity and stability. Its X/Y axis adopts a precision helical gear transmission mechanism to effectively ensure the accuracy and speed during the cutting process. This laser metal cutting machine is able to cut various metal materials and widely used in many industries.

Working videos

In case that you are interested in our metal laser cutter and eager to see some working videos, please keep reading.
High Speed 2mm Stainless Steel Plate Online Cutting by Fiber Laser Cutting Machine

The video shows our latest fiber laser cutting machine cutting the 2mm stainless steel with a high speed. This laser cutting machine adopts the flying cutting method, a very popular and advanced technology for cutting process with a high speed. It is very suitable for cutting thin metal sheets, like 2mm steel sheets.

2mm-5mm Brass Laser Cutting by Blue Elephant Fiber  Metal  Laser Cutting Machine

This video shows the 2mm, 3mm and 5mm brass cutting process by our fiber laser cutting machine. Brass is favored by people because of its attractive golden color, high melting point and non-magnetic properties. The wavelength of the fiber laser is easily absorbed by brass, so the finished brass products have perfect cutting quality. This machine is also capable for cutting other metals, like stainless steel, carbon steel, galvanized sheet etc.

8mm-12mm Stainless Steel Cutting with High Power Laser Metal Cutting Machine

Equipped with a high power fiber laser, our laser metal cutting machine is capable for cutting 8mm to 12mm metal sheets with high speed and good quality. All our metal laser cutter products adopt the imported Raytools laser cutting head. It has such advantages as optimized optical configuration, smooth and efficient airflow design, double-layer protection, zero contamination of the lens, etc. If you have other requirements on the laser cutting head, we can also customize the machine.

Metal laser cutting applications and projects

Due to powerful cutting functions and good quality, the fiber laser metal cutting machine has extensive applications in many industries. Listed below are the top 7 application industries and popular projects for metal laser cutting machine.

Decoration industry

Due to the high speed and flexible cutting features of fiber laser cutting machine, many complex graphics can be cut quickly. The finished products also receive many consumers’ favor. For example, laser cut steel partition wall, laser cut stainless steel artworks, ornaments, pendants, etc. There are more and more people choosing laser cut metal products to decorate their homes, restaurants, hotels or other places.

Infrastructure and construction industry

By choosing a work table with a large working area, the metal laser cutting machine can cut larger areas of metal sheets or tubes for construction purposes. Examples include laser cut steel structures, steel beams, building doors, windows, partition walls, railings, yard gates, laser cut iron fences etc. Combined with other processes such as welding and painting, a strong and durable infrastructure is built. In addition, by designing the desired graphics through corresponding CAD software, the metal laser cutting machine can help you cut out unique and attractive metal railings, screens and fences.

Advertising industry

Due to the large number of customization productions in the advertising industry, the traditional processing method is obviously inefficient. And the fiber metal laser cutter is quite suitable for this industry. No matter what kind of designs, the laser cutting machine can produce high quality laser cut metal products for advertisement use. Combined with various lighting effect, you can definitely create a unique advertising sign for your store.

Kitchen appliance

Nowadays, people have higher demand on the design and application of kitchenware. So kitchen-related products have a promising market around the world. A good deal of kitchenware is made of stainless steel, such as sink, shelf, cabinet, vent, etc. The fiber laser cutting machine is very suitable for cutting thin stainless steel with fast speed, high precision and smooth cutting surface. It can also realize custom metal laser cutting kitchenware according to your needs.

Automobile and other manufacturing industry

Many metal parts of the automobile, such as car doors, exhaust pipes, brakes etc. can be processed precisely by the metal laser cutting machine. The manufacturing of automobile or other equipment requires higher precision and finished product quality. The laser cut metal parts processed by the fiber laser cutting machine have features of high precision, smooth and tidy cutting surface and edge and free of subsequent processing.

Lighting industry

At present, many indoor or outdoor lighting lamps are made of laser cut metal. The traditional cutting method cannot meet the requirements of high efficiency and high precision. And the style of the lamps is insufficient. The metal laser cutting machine is not only able to cut metal quickly, efficiently and with high precision, but also can realize custom metal laser cutting service. As long as you have a good design plan, the metal laser cutters can customize unique lamps and lanterns according to your plan.

Jewelry industry

The laser metal cutting machine also has wide application in jewelry making. The laser cut gold and silver necklace and earrings are sufficient and delicate in patterns, and very popular in customers. Even though small laser cut jewelry can have high precision. Compared with traditional jewelry cutting method, laser cut jewelry have high production efficiency, good precision, and it can realize custom metal laser cutting jewelry.

 

Considerations before buying a metal laser cutting machine

In this age of CNC machines, the metal laser metal cutter is still too expensive for small workshops or average hobbyists. You can buy low-power machines (less than 100W) fairly cheaply, but these will hardly scratch a metal surface.
A metal laser cutting machine has to use at least 300W, which will run you up to at least $10,000. In addition, it also requires gas, usually oxygen, for cutting, which will cause more cost.
So, before buying a fiber laser cutting machine, you need to consider whether you really need a metal laser cutter. After all, the initial investment is high.

Evaluate your production demands and capability.

First, you need to figure out your company’s production capability, output etc. So you can consider whether it’s worthwhile to buy a laser cutter or use outsourcing metal laser cutting service. After all, for small businesses, a fiber laser cutter could be a big investment. If your production capability and volume is not large, the outsourcing metal laser cutting service may be a more cost-effective method.

Consider the configuration requirements.

Next, if you intend to buy a metal laser cutting machine, you need to consider the required configuration requirements based on your machining demands. For example, laser power, working area, laser generator, laser cutting head etc. Large power is suitable for cutting thick metal sheets. There is differences in the price of domestic or imported parts and components, so you may determine based on your own budget and machining requirements.
Speaking of the laser cutting power, it has a great influence on the cutting thickness, speed, width and quality. Generally speaking, the larger the laser power, the thicker the cutting sheet and the faster the cutting speed.
Taking 1mm thick sheet of stainless steel, medium steel, aluminum and copper as example, the chart below shows that the higher the laser power, the faster the cutting speed.

Select qualified manufacturers.

Thirdly, you have to select a qualified manufacturer. As the metal laser cutter is so expensive, we need to make every cent of the money worthwhile. So, be sure to make comparison among the metal cutting laser manufacturers. I recommend choosing the manufacturer with good production qualification, good product quality and high customer satisfaction.

Conclude a contract with the manufacturer.

Last but not least, when you finish negotiating all matters concerning the machine purchase with the manufacturer, be sure to enter into a contract or an agreement. This contract will stipulate the rights and obligations of both you and the manufacturer. And it will specify things about, for example, total price, delivery time and after-sales service. The contract is helpful for safeguarding your rights and interests.

Precautions for using and caring a metal laser cutting machine

Even if one of the features of the metal laser cutting machine is free of maintenance, there are still many precautions in daily use and care of the metal cutting laser. Only proper operation and reasonable care can reduce the machine wear, keep good working conditions and prolong the service life of the laser metal cutting machine. The following lists several precautions in the course of using or caring the fiber metal laser cutting machine.

Preparations before operation

1. The operators must comply with the laser cutting machine safety operation procedures. And they must switch on the laser generator, adjust the light and make a test run in strict accordance with the laser starting procedures.
2. All operators of the metal cutting machine shall have received relevant training, be similar with the cutting software, machine structure, performance and operations.
3. Carefully check the working conditions of the metal cutting laser before every day operation. Manually operate the machine in X, Y and Z axis direction at a low speed after start the machine, in order to confirm whether there is any abnormality.
4. The operators shall wear personal protective equipment according to relevant regulations and must wear protective glasses when working near the laser beam.

Precautions during operation

1. Before you confirm that whether a material can be cut with a laser cutting machine, do not cut it for fear of giving off smoke or steam or other potential danger.
2. When the machine is running, the operator shall not leave the machine without authorization. If it is really necessary to leave, the operator shall stop the machine or cut off the power supply.
3. Keep the fire extinguisher within easy reach. Be sure to turn off the laser or power switch in case of no operation. Do not place paper, cloth or other combustible materials near an unprotected laser beam.
4. In case of discovering any abnormal phenomenon, shut down the metal laser cutting machine immediately, and timely eliminate all failures or report to your supervisor.
5. Always observe the working condition of the laser cutting machine, and stop immediately if there is any unexpected situation.

Maintenance after operation

1. After the operation is complete, clean the dust or metal slag timely. Keeping the metal laser cutting machine in a clean and tidy environment is conducive to maintain its precision, reduce the wear of parts and prolong its service life.
2. Keep the cleanliness and orderliness of the laser, laser cutting head, bed and surroundings, and put the workpieces, metal sheets and wastes according to relevant regulations.
3. Check if the circulating water in the water chiller is sufficient; if not, timely supply the water.
4. Inspect the contamination of the focusing lens every half month, and clean the optical lens in time to ensure its service life.
5. Timely clean the Z-axis linear guide and the dust on the screw shaft and timely add engine oil.
6. When the machine is not used for a long period of time, please apply butter to the moving parts, check the machine condition at a regular basis.

Factors affecting the accuracy of metal laser cutting machine

High precision is one of the outstanding characteristics of the fiber laser cutters. That’s also the reason why many metal finishing companies choose the fiber metal laser cutting machine. However, you may discover that, during the cutting process, the precision of laser cut products is not consistent. Then what factors could affect the fiber laser cutting accuracy?

Fiber laser

As an essential part of the laser metal cutting machine, all the laser beam quality, the shape of the laser beam and the size of the laser beam spot have an influence on the accuracy of the metal laser cutting machine. The smaller the laser beam spot size, the narrower the cutting slit and the higher the precision. In addition, the laser beam generated by the laser is in tapered shape, so the slit is in tapered shape as well. Under this case, the thicker the cutting materials, the lower the precision and the larger the slit.

Cutting materials

When cutting metals with a fiber laser cutter, different materials have different precision. For example, under similar conditions, the cutting precision of stainless steel is higher than that of aluminum.
Even though it is the same type of material, if the composition is different, the cutting precision will be different too. In addition, the thickness and surface smoothness can affect the precision as well. Generally speaking, the smoother the material surface, the higher the cutting accuracy.

Bed structure

The laser metal cutting process may generate slight vibration during machining. So the quality of the bed structure is also an important factor affecting the cutting process. The more sturdy and more accurate the bed structure, the more accurate the cutting process.

Metal laser cutting machine troubleshooting

There is no guarantee that a machine will not have any problems during use. So when a malfunction occurs, there is no need to worry too much. The quality of our metal laser cutting machine is certified by many certification institutions. And even if there is a problem, it can be solved after a simple adjustment.
The table below lists several common problems when operate a metal laser cutting machine, and give the causes and relevant solutions.
Table 3: Troubleshooting of Metal Laser Cutting Machine Problems Causes Solutions No laser at the laser cutting head; or weak light No light signal Check the PWM signal line The laser or fiber is broken Check the laser The nozzle is blocked; or
optical path deviates Replace the nozzle;
Adjust the optical path No auxiliary gas output Lack of pressure Check the air pressure The solenoid valve or wire line is broken Check the solenoid valve or solenoid valve line Abnormal sound in the axis movement No lubricants on the moving parts Apply lubricants Guide rail or rack is broken Check if the guide rail or rack is in good condition Cutting patterns not matching the size of the drawing Program errors Read instructions and check if the operation is correct The positioning accuracy is affected Check the positioning accuracy The servo system is damaged Replace or repair the servo system

Conclusion

This ultimate guide gives a brief introduction to the metal laser cutting machine, including the composition, characteristics, applications and operation precautions. In addition, this guide recommends three fiber laser cutting machines for the metal laser cutting service.

In conclusion, even if the laser metal cutting machine price is high, its powerful functions and wide applications make the money you spent worthwhile. With corresponding design software and different laser power, the metal laser cutting machine is capable for cutting various patterns on a wide range of metals in different thickness. What’s more, with proper and reasonable use and care, the metal laser cutter is free of maintenance.

Therefore, if your business involves a large batch of metal cutting work on different kinds of metals, the metal laser cutting machine is definitely your ideal choice and good assistance.
 

The success of metal laser cutting machine can be described as a process revolution in the field of sheet metal processing. The laser metal cutting process has the features of fast speed, good precision, high flexibility and short production cycle and can bring high benefits to manufacturers. Therefore, metal laser cutting machine is a good choice for metal working manufacturers.If you intend to buy a metal laser cutter but still have some doubts about laser metal cutting, you are lucky to see this article. This complete guide lists all the things you want to know about a metal laser cutting machine, including the information of the machine itself and how to use it. It also recommends three best-selling fiber laser cutting machines for you to choose from.Just as the name suggests, the metal laser cutting machine is a type of CNC metal cutting machine adopting laser technology. There are currently two kinds of mainstream CNC metal cutting machines using laser technology in the market, i.e. CO2 laser cutting machine and fiber laser cutting machine.CO2 laser cutter is a type of CNC laser machine using CO2 laser to cut materials. It is widely used for industrial cutting of many materials, including titanium, stainless steel, mild steel, aluminium, plastic, wood, engineered wood, wax, fabrics, and paper. However, the CO2 laser machine has low efficiency in cutting metal materials. So it is generally used to cut non-metal materials.However, the fiber laser cutting machine is widely used for cutting metal materials because of its high cutting efficiency, good processing quality and low maintenance cost. Therefore, the metal laser cutting machine referred to in this article mainly refers to the fiber laser cutting machine.Since I have mentioned these common two types of laser cutting machine, I will make a simple comparison of them. It may help when you choose a laser cutting machine.With the help of oxygen assisted gas, the CO2 laser cutter of 150W and above can cut 1mm sheet steel. Generally speaking, although CO2 laser cutting machine can cut metal, but its processing efficiency is low. And it will assume plenty of energy. It is much good at cutting non-metal materials, such as wood, acrylic, leather, fabric, stone etc.By comparison, the fiber laser cutting machine is 200 percent more efficient than the CO2 laser cutter on thinner metal cutting. With different laser power, the fiber metal cutting machine can cut a wide range of metal materials in different thickness. However, when cutting medium and above thick (over 30mm) metal sheets, the cutting efficiency of the metal laser cutting machine may decrease.In addition, the CO2 laser cutting machine has many easily-worn parts, which require more care, frequent replacement and more operation cost. While the fiber metal laser cutting machine does not have such issues and much maintenance.The metal laser cutting machine uses a highly focused laser beam to cut metals. The laser generator fires a laser beam, which is focused into a high power density laser beam through the optical path system. The laser beam hits the surface of the work piece so that the metal surface reaches the melting point or boiling point.And the high-pressure gas that is aligned with the beam will blow away the melt or vaporized metal. With the movement of the laser beam on the metal surface, the metal is finally cut into desired shapes. The temperature of laser cutting can reach 11,000℃, so the metal laser cutting machine can basically cut any metal materials.When cutting, the metal laser cutting machine will spray the inert gas flow, blow out the incision to melt the metal and make the incision smooth and straight. Therefore, the laser metal cutting method has narrow slit, precise dimension, smooth surface and higher cutting quality than other CNC metal cutting methods.Nowadays, an increasing number of metal working manufacturers choose fiber metal laser cutting machine to increase their production efficiency and output. That’s because the fiber laser cutting machine has many advantages and benefits that other CNC metal cutting methods don’t. The following lists 10 outstanding advantages of the fiber metal laser cutting machine.For details, please also visit: https://www.elephant-cnc.com/blog/722-plasma-cutting-machine-vs-laser-cutting-machine-ultimate-comparison/The metal laser cutting machine is capable for cutting sheets and square and round tubes made of a variety of metal materials, for example:Laser cutting machine a very effective machining tool for the manufacturers who take thin stainless steel sheets as the main raw materials. Under strict control of heat input measures during the laser cutting process, the heat affected ares is small. It is helpful for maintaining the good corrosion resistance of such materials.The maximum cutting thickness of the carbon steel sheet could reach 25mm with high laser power.Most alloy steel materials can be cut with the metal laser cutting machine with good cutting edge quality. However, for high-speed tool steel and hot die steel containing tungsten, there may be erosion and slag sticking during laser cutting.The laser cutting aluminum belongs to the cutting type by melting. And auxiliary gas is used to blow away the molten aluminum from the cutting area.The high power metal laser cutting machine can cut the materials with highly reflective properties, such as copper, brass.In addition to the following materials, the metal laser cutting machine can also process many other types of metals, such as titanium and titanium alloy, nickel alloy, galvanized sheets etc.Table 1 below lists the maximum cutting thickness of five common materials that can be cut by the metal laser cutting machine with different power.Table 1: Maximum Cutting Thickness of Different Power Metal Laser CutterThe fiber metal laser cutting machine adopts flexible laser beam cutting, with fast speed, good precision and high cutting quality. So an increasing number of metal working manufacturers choose to buy a fiber laser metal cutting machine. But in general, the laser metal cutting machine price is relatively higher than the CNC plasma cutting machine and CO2 laser cutter of the same power. And the price ranges approximately from $20,000 to $90,000.Firstly, the laser generator itself is expensive. The higher power the laser generator, the higher its price. To achieve rapid and high precision cutting of metal sheets of certain thickness, such as 6mm, 8mm or 12mm, a high power laser generator is necessary. And this causes extra cost to the metal laser cutting price.Secondly, the choice of other parts of the metal laser cutting machine will also affect its cost. For example, some fiber laser cutting machines may use Japanese pneumatic components, Japanese rail systems or French electrical components. These stable and reliable imported parts also increase the metal laser cutting machine price accordingly.Thirdly, the laser metal cutting machine price is also affected by other factors, such as specifications, brands, etc.Although the initial investment for a fiber laser cutting machine is high, we also need to consider the subsequent operation cost. As mentioned above, the metal laser cutter has powerful functions and stable performance. If properly used and maintained, there is basically no need for maintenance. The operation cost is low. Besides, the metal cutting laser will become the mainstream cutting method of metal materials, having extensive applications and development prospect.With all things considered, the metal cutting laser is worthwhile for large-scale metal working manufacturers.The Table 2 below lists several major technical parameters of our fiber laser cutters. But the parameters may vary based on the specific situation. What’s more, the configurations, such as working area, laser power or other auxiliary parts can be customized according to your personal requirements.Table 2: Major Technical ParametersIt is the most essential part of the fiber laser metal cutting machine, and also the “power source” to realize metal laser cutting service. So be sure to pay attention to the choice of the fiber laser generator when buying a metal laser cutting machine.The bed structure is an important factor affecting the cutting speed, precision, stability and durability of the metal laser cutter. Our laser cutting machine bed is made of high-strength cast iron with integrally welded structure. It is sturdy and durable.The gantry is mounted on the support rail of the bed and is equipped with high-quality linear guide rails. Our laser cutting machine adopt aerospace grade aluminum and has characteristics of good toughness, light weight, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance and low density. This greatly improves the processing speed.The laser cutting head is a laser output device. It consists of a nozzle, a focusing lens and a focusing tracking system. The laser cutting head will travel according to the set cutting path. But the height of the laser cutting head needs to be adjusted and controlled automatically for different materials, different thicknesses and different cutting methods.It mainly includes gears, racks, guide rails, gantry, servo motor, reducer etc. High quality movement system can effectively guarantee the cutting precision, positioning speed and repeatability precision of the metal laser cutting machine.It is also the computer numerical controlled system. Most laser metal cutting machine manufacturers adopt an imported control system to make designs and layouts and control the cutting path.The air supply system mainly includes air source, filter and pipes. Our fiber laser cutting machine usually adopts compress air, nitrogen and oxygen as the air source.The fiber laser cutting machine will generate a large amount of heat when working. In order to guarantee the service life, a professional cooling device must be provided. The water chiller must have super-high temperature alarm, flow protection, water level protection and other safety alarm alert functions. This will allow the machine to work under a constant temperature.This laser metal cutting machine is an ideal entry-level CNC metal cutting machine, without expensive purchase cost or maintenance cost. It adopts an imported laser, fixed light path and compact structure. Its working hours could be over 100,000 hours. And it is the best choice for cutting metal sheets less than 3mm thick. Features of this metal laser cutter include excellent machining system, friendly interface, simple operation and real-time feedback of working status. All specification configurations can be customized according to your special requirements.This is a laser metal cutting machine for cutting stainless steel of different thickness. It can also cut other metal materials, such as carbon steel, silicon steel, aluminum, etc. This fiber laser cutter adopts top fiber laser, imported servo motor, double drive precision reducer, high quality rack and pinion structure, to ensure the high speed, high precision and reliable operation. The fiber laser absorption rate can reach up to 25% to 30%, with small focused spot and fine cutting lines. It utilizes less energy and is more environmentally friendly than CO2 laser cutters. Custom metal laser cutting machine specifications are acceptable.This metal laser cutting machine adopts many imported parts, such as laser head, driver, motor, liner guider system, etc. These parts and components guarantee the excellent and stable performance. The bed structure of this sheet metal laser cutting equipment, which has been proved and verified by many CAE analyses, ensures both rigidity and stability. Its X/Y axis adopts a precision helical gear transmission mechanism to effectively ensure the accuracy and speed during the cutting process. This laser metal cutting machine is able to cut various metal materials and widely used in many industries.In case that you are interested in our metal laser cutter and eager to see some working videos, please keep reading.The video shows our latest fiber laser cutting machine cutting the 2mm stainless steel with a high speed. This laser cutting machine adopts the flying cutting method, a very popular and advanced technology for cutting process with a high speed. It is very suitable for cutting thin metal sheets, like 2mm steel sheets.This video shows the 2mm, 3mm and 5mm brass cutting process by our fiber laser cutting machine. Brass is favored by people because of its attractive golden color, high melting point and non-magnetic properties. The wavelength of the fiber laser is easily absorbed by brass, so the finished brass products have perfect cutting quality. This machine is also capable for cutting other metals, like stainless steel, carbon steel, galvanized sheet etc.Equipped with a high power fiber laser, our laser metal cutting machine is capable for cutting 8mm to 12mm metal sheets with high speed and good quality. All our metal laser cutter products adopt the imported Raytools laser cutting head. It has such advantages as optimized optical configuration, smooth and efficient airflow design, double-layer protection, zero contamination of the lens, etc. If you have other requirements on the laser cutting head, we can also customize the machine.Due to powerful cutting functions and good quality, the fiber laser metal cutting machine has extensive applications in many industries. Listed below are the top 7 application industries and popular projects for metal laser cutting machine.Due to the high speed and flexible cutting features of fiber laser cutting machine, many complex graphics can be cut quickly. The finished products also receive many consumers’ favor. For example, laser cut steel partition wall, laser cut stainless steel artworks, ornaments, pendants, etc. There are more and more people choosing laser cut metal products to decorate their homes, restaurants, hotels or other places.By choosing a work table with a large working area, the metal laser cutting machine can cut larger areas of metal sheets or tubes for construction purposes. Examples include laser cut steel structures, steel beams, building doors, windows, partition walls, railings, yard gates, laser cut iron fences etc. Combined with other processes such as welding and painting, a strong and durable infrastructure is built. In addition, by designing the desired graphics through corresponding CAD software, the metal laser cutting machine can help you cut out unique and attractive metal railings, screens and fences.Due to the large number of customization productions in the advertising industry, the traditional processing method is obviously inefficient. And the fiber metal laser cutter is quite suitable for this industry. No matter what kind of designs, the laser cutting machine can produce high quality laser cut metal products for advertisement use. Combined with various lighting effect, you can definitely create a unique advertising sign for your store.Nowadays, people have higher demand on the design and application of kitchenware. So kitchen-related products have a promising market around the world. A good deal of kitchenware is made of stainless steel, such as sink, shelf, cabinet, vent, etc. The fiber laser cutting machine is very suitable for cutting thin stainless steel with fast speed, high precision and smooth cutting surface. It can also realize custom metal laser cutting kitchenware according to your needs.Many metal parts of the automobile, such as car doors, exhaust pipes, brakes etc. can be processed precisely by the metal laser cutting machine. The manufacturing of automobile or other equipment requires higher precision and finished product quality. The laser cut metal parts processed by the fiber laser cutting machine have features of high precision, smooth and tidy cutting surface and edge and free of subsequent processing.At present, many indoor or outdoor lighting lamps are made of laser cut metal. The traditional cutting method cannot meet the requirements of high efficiency and high precision. And the style of the lamps is insufficient. The metal laser cutting machine is not only able to cut metal quickly, efficiently and with high precision, but also can realize custom metal laser cutting service. As long as you have a good design plan, the metal laser cutters can customize unique lamps and lanterns according to your plan.The laser metal cutting machine also has wide application in jewelry making. The laser cut gold and silver necklace and earrings are sufficient and delicate in patterns, and very popular in customers. Even though small laser cut jewelry can have high precision. Compared with traditional jewelry cutting method, laser cut jewelry have high production efficiency, good precision, and it can realize custom metal laser cutting jewelry.In this age of CNC machines, the metal laser metal cutter is still too expensive for small workshops or average hobbyists. You can buy low-power machines (less than 100W) fairly cheaply, but these will hardly scratch a metal surface.A metal laser cutting machine has to use at least 300W, which will run you up to at least $10,000. In addition, it also requires gas, usually oxygen, for cutting, which will cause more cost.So, before buying a fiber laser cutting machine, you need to consider whether you really need a metal laser cutter. After all, the initial investment is high.First, you need to figure out your company’s production capability, output etc. So you can consider whether it’s worthwhile to buy a laser cutter or use outsourcing metal laser cutting service. After all, for small businesses, a fiber laser cutter could be a big investment. If your production capability and volume is not large, the outsourcing metal laser cutting service may be a more cost-effective method.Next, if you intend to buy a metal laser cutting machine, you need to consider the required configuration requirements based on your machining demands. For example, laser power, working area, laser generator, laser cutting head etc. Large power is suitable for cutting thick metal sheets. There is differences in the price of domestic or imported parts and components, so you may determine based on your own budget and machining requirements.Speaking of the laser cutting power, it has a great influence on the cutting thickness, speed, width and quality. Generally speaking, the larger the laser power, the thicker the cutting sheet and the faster the cutting speed.Taking 1mm thick sheet of stainless steel, medium steel, aluminum and copper as example, the chart below shows that the higher the laser power, the faster the cutting speed.Thirdly, you have to select a qualified manufacturer. As the metal laser cutter is so expensive, we need to make every cent of the money worthwhile. So, be sure to make comparison among the metal cutting laser manufacturers. I recommend choosing the manufacturer with good production qualification, good product quality and high customer satisfaction.Last but not least, when you finish negotiating all matters concerning the machine purchase with the manufacturer, be sure to enter into a contract or an agreement. This contract will stipulate the rights and obligations of both you and the manufacturer. And it will specify things about, for example, total price, delivery time and after-sales service. The contract is helpful for safeguarding your rights and interests.Even if one of the features of the metal laser cutting machine is free of maintenance, there are still many precautions in daily use and care of the metal cutting laser. Only proper operation and reasonable care can reduce the machine wear, keep good working conditions and prolong the service life of the laser metal cutting machine. The following lists several precautions in the course of using or caring the fiber metal laser cutting machine.High precision is one of the outstanding characteristics of the fiber laser cutters. That’s also the reason why many metal finishing companies choose the fiber metal laser cutting machine. However, you may discover that, during the cutting process, the precision of laser cut products is not consistent. Then what factors could affect the fiber laser cutting accuracy?As an essential part of the laser metal cutting machine, all the laser beam quality, the shape of the laser beam and the size of the laser beam spot have an influence on the accuracy of the metal laser cutting machine. The smaller the laser beam spot size, the narrower the cutting slit and the higher the precision. In addition, the laser beam generated by the laser is in tapered shape, so the slit is in tapered shape as well. Under this case, the thicker the cutting materials, the lower the precision and the larger the slit.When cutting metals with a fiber laser cutter, different materials have different precision. For example, under similar conditions, the cutting precision of stainless steel is higher than that of aluminum.Even though it is the same type of material, if the composition is different, the cutting precision will be different too. In addition, the thickness and surface smoothness can affect the precision as well. Generally speaking, the smoother the material surface, the higher the cutting accuracy.The laser metal cutting process may generate slight vibration during machining. So the quality of the bed structure is also an important factor affecting the cutting process. The more sturdy and more accurate the bed structure, the more accurate the cutting process.There is no guarantee that a machine will not have any problems during use. So when a malfunction occurs, there is no need to worry too much. The quality of our metal laser cutting machine is certified by many certification institutions. And even if there is a problem, it can be solved after a simple adjustment.The table below lists several common problems when operate a metal laser cutting machine, and give the causes and relevant solutions.Table 3: Troubleshooting of Metal Laser Cutting MachineThis ultimate guide gives a brief introduction to the metal laser cutting machine, including the composition, characteristics, applications and operation precautions. In addition, this guide recommends three fiber laser cutting machines for the metal laser cutting service.In conclusion, even if the laser metal cutting machine price is high, its powerful functions and wide applications make the money you spent worthwhile. With corresponding design software and different laser power, the metal laser cutting machine is capable for cutting various patterns on a wide range of metals in different thickness. What’s more, with proper and reasonable use and care, the metal laser cutter is free of maintenance.Therefore, if your business involves a large batch of metal cutting work on different kinds of metals, the metal laser cutting machine is definitely your ideal choice and good assistance.