+31 40 8080 193Cutting aluminum with a fiber laser It works perfectly, but requires attention: aluminum is reflective and conducts heat away quickly. With nitrogen and the right power, you can still cut cleanly and precisely. In this guide, you will read about the challenges, the right cutting gas, the required power, and practical tips.
Table of contents
Cutting aluminium with a fiber laser: the challenges
When cutting aluminum with a fiber laser, two properties come into play: the material is reflective and conducts heat excellently. Fortunately, the short fiber wavelength is absorbed well, meaning reflection is not a problem as it is with a CO₂ laser. However, the high thermal conductivity does require sufficient power and the correct speed to prevent burr formation.
What power output for what aluminum thickness?
| Power | Maximum cutting thickness of aluminium (with nitrogen) |
|---|---|
| 1 kW | 8 mm |
| 2 kW | 10 mm |
| 3 kW | 15 mm |
| 4 kW | 23 mm |
Maximum cutting thicknesses according to the MetaQuip FC3015/FC4020 specification. The optimal thickness for high speed is lower; edge quality depends on gas pressure, focus, and speed.
Tips for a clean cutting edge
For a clean edge when cutting aluminum with a fiber laser, use high-pressure nitrogen, balance the speed with the power, and set the focus accurately. A clean, sharp nozzle is important, because otherwise the aluminum quickly forms burrs on the underside.
Aluminum versus other metals
Compared to structural steel and stainless steel, aluminum requires more power for the same thickness, primarily due to its high thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, you can effortlessly cut steel, stainless steel, and aluminum with a single fiber laser; you simply adjust the cutting gas and parameters per material.
Aluminum cutting in practice
In practice, you define a recipe for each thickness: power, nitrogen pressure, speed, and focus. This ensures repeatable cutting without burrs, whether it involves thin decorative sheet metal or thicker aluminum construction work.
Do you produce varied work in multiple metals? Then a versatile fiber laser with stored parameters is ideal: you switch quickly between materials and maintain consistent quality and turnaround time.
Getting started with aluminium
The required capital partly determines the investment. Therefore, also consider which laser power you need, the choice nitrogen or oxygen as cutting gas and Cutting stainless steel with a fiber laser. You can read more background at Wikipedia on laser cutting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you cut aluminum with a fiber laser?
Yes. Thanks to its short wavelength, aluminum absorbs fiber light well, whereas a CO₂ laser largely reflects it. With nitrogen, you cut aluminum cleanly and precisely.
Which gas do you use for cutting aluminium?
Nitrogen. This produces a clean, oxide-free cutting edge. Compressed air can be a cost-effective alternative for thin aluminium.
Why is aluminum harder to cut than steel?
Aluminum is reflective and conducts heat away quickly, which can lead to burr formation. With the right power, high nitrogen pressure, and the right speed, you can still cut cleanly.
Post-processing and quality control
After cutting the aluminum with a fiber laser, check the edge for burrs and dimensional accuracy. Thanks to the clean nitrogen cut, post-processing is often minimal, but light deburring may be necessary for thick material. Constant gas pressure and a clean nozzle maintain consistent quality across the entire batch.
Do you want to know for sure which power and settings suit your aluminium thicknesses? A short cutting test on your own material will immediately provide an answer regarding speed, edge quality, and yield per sheet.
