-
Scam Alert. Members are reminded to NOT send money to buy anything. Don't buy things remote and have it shipped - go get it yourself, pay in person, and take your equipment with you. Scammers have burned people on this forum. Urgency, secrecy, excuses, selling for friend, newish members, FUD, are RED FLAGS. A video conference call is not adequate assurance. Face to face interactions are required. Please report suspicions to the forum admins. Stay Safe - anyone can get scammed.
-
Several Regions have held meetups already, but others are being planned or are evaluating the interest. The Ontario GTA West area meetup is planned for Saturday April 26th at Greasemonkeys shop in Aylmer Ontario. If you are interested and haven’t signed up yet, click here! Arbutus has also explored interest in a Fraser Valley meetup but it seems members either missed his thread or had other plans. Let him know if you are interested in a meetup later in the year by posting here! Slowpoke is trying to pull together an Ottawa area meetup later this summer. No date has been selected yet, so let him know if you are interested here! We are not aware of any other meetups being planned this year. If you are interested in doing something in your area, let everyone know and make it happen! Meetups are a great way to make new machining friends and get hands on help in your area. Don’t be shy, sign up and come, or plan your own meetup!
Laser capability
- Thread starter John 345
- Start date
I had no clue but was curious. So I asked AI. Here is the response I got:
Here's a breakdown of its material and thickness capabilities:
**I. Non-Metals (Where CO2 Lasers Excel):**
A 1000W CW CO2 laser is highly capable for a wide range of non-metallic materials. The 2500W pulse power will enhance quality and speed for many of these:
* **Acrylic/Plexiglass:**
* **Cutting:** Excellent quality, often with polished edges. Can cut **up to 25mm (1 inch) or even 30mm (1.2 inches)**, though speeds will decrease significantly with thickness. The pulse mode can help prevent melting and maintain edge quality on thicker acrylic.
* **Wood (Plywood, MDF, Solid Wood):**
* **Cutting:** Good for various thicknesses. Can typically cut **up to 20mm (0.8 inches) or even 25-30mm (1-1.2 inches)**, depending on the wood type (softer woods cut faster and thicker). Kerf width and charring will increase with thickness. Pulse mode can help manage charring.
* **Leather:**
* **Cutting/Engraving:** Very good for various leather thicknesses, often up to **5mm (0.2 inches)** or more for cutting. Excellent for intricate designs and engraving.
* **Fabrics/Textiles:**
* **Cutting:** Highly efficient for synthetic fabrics (which melt cleanly) and natural fabrics. Can cut various thicknesses, typically **up to 10mm (0.4 inches)** of stacked fabric or felt.
* **Paper/Cardboard:**
* **Cutting/Engraving:** Extremely fast and precise for intricate cuts, scoring, and engraving. Can cut various thicknesses, typically **up to 10-15mm (0.4-0.6 inches)** of cardboard.
* **Rubber:**
* **Cutting/Engraving:** Good for various types of rubber, including for stamp making. Can cut **up to 10-20mm (0.4-0.8 inches)**.
* **Plastics (various types like Delrin, ABS, Nylon, Polycarbonate - *Note: PVC is not recommended due to toxic fumes*):**
* **Cutting:** Capabilities vary widely by plastic type. Can cut general plastics typically **up to 10mm (0.4 inches)**, with some thicker.
* **Foam:**
* **Cutting:** Excellent for various foams (e.g., EVA foam, polyethylene foam) for packaging, cosplay, etc., often up to **30mm (1.2 inches)** or more.
* **Stone/Ceramics/Glass:**
* **Engraving/Marking only:** CO2 lasers are generally used for engraving or marking these materials, not cutting, as they tend to shatter or chip due to thermal shock when cutting. The 2500W pulse can achieve deeper, clearer engravings.
**II. Metals (More Limited, but Possible):**
While fiber lasers are the go-to for metal cutting, a 1000W CW / 2500W pulse CO2 laser can cut thinner gauges of certain metals, particularly with an assist gas like oxygen (for mild steel) or nitrogen (for stainless steel). The high pulse power is beneficial for piercing and cleaner cuts on reflective metals.
* **Carbon Steel (Mild Steel):**
* **Cutting:** Typically **up to 6mm (0.24 inches)**, with good quality. Can potentially cut up to **10-12mm (0.4-0.47 inches)** but with slower speeds and potentially rougher edge quality (more dross).
* **Stainless Steel:**
* **Cutting:** Generally **up to 3mm (0.12 inches)** with good quality. Can potentially cut **up to 5mm (0.2 inches)**, but slower and with more challenges.
* **Aluminum:**
* **Cutting:** Very challenging for CO2 lasers due to its high reflectivity. Typically limited to very thin gauges, perhaps **1-2mm (0.04-0.08 inches)**, and often with lower quality compared to fiber lasers. The 2500W pulse might assist with initial penetration.
* **Galvanized Steel, Copper, Brass:**
* **Cutting:** Similar to aluminum, highly reflective and more challenging. Limited to very thin sheets, likely **1-2mm (0.04-0.08 inches)**.
**Factors Influencing Actual Performance:**
* **Assist Gas:** Crucial for metal cutting (Oxygen for carbon steel, Nitrogen for stainless steel/aluminum/brass). Air is also used for some non-metals.
* **Lens Quality and Focus:** Proper focusing is critical for achieving optimal cut quality and thickness.
* **Machine Mechanics:** The rigidity, precision, and speed of the gantry system are vital for consistent cutting.
* **Material Quality:** Consistency of material thickness and composition affects results.
* **Beam Quality:** A higher quality beam (M2 value) allows for tighter focus and better cutting performance.
* **Operator Skill and Parameter Optimization:** Experienced operators can fine-tune settings (speed, power, frequency, assist gas pressure) to push the limits of the machine.
* **Maintenance:** A well-maintained laser (clean optics, properly aligned beam) performs better.
In summary, a 1000W CW / 2500W pulse CO2 laser is a robust tool for diverse non-metallic applications, offering significant capabilities for engraving and cutting materials like wood, acrylic, and plastics. For metals, it's suitable for thinner gauges of steel, but less efficient or capable than fiber lasers for thicker metals or highly reflective materials.
I hope that helps. It will be interesting to see what experienced members think compared to AI.
Here's a breakdown of its material and thickness capabilities:
**I. Non-Metals (Where CO2 Lasers Excel):**
A 1000W CW CO2 laser is highly capable for a wide range of non-metallic materials. The 2500W pulse power will enhance quality and speed for many of these:
* **Acrylic/Plexiglass:**
* **Cutting:** Excellent quality, often with polished edges. Can cut **up to 25mm (1 inch) or even 30mm (1.2 inches)**, though speeds will decrease significantly with thickness. The pulse mode can help prevent melting and maintain edge quality on thicker acrylic.
* **Wood (Plywood, MDF, Solid Wood):**
* **Cutting:** Good for various thicknesses. Can typically cut **up to 20mm (0.8 inches) or even 25-30mm (1-1.2 inches)**, depending on the wood type (softer woods cut faster and thicker). Kerf width and charring will increase with thickness. Pulse mode can help manage charring.
* **Leather:**
* **Cutting/Engraving:** Very good for various leather thicknesses, often up to **5mm (0.2 inches)** or more for cutting. Excellent for intricate designs and engraving.
* **Fabrics/Textiles:**
* **Cutting:** Highly efficient for synthetic fabrics (which melt cleanly) and natural fabrics. Can cut various thicknesses, typically **up to 10mm (0.4 inches)** of stacked fabric or felt.
* **Paper/Cardboard:**
* **Cutting/Engraving:** Extremely fast and precise for intricate cuts, scoring, and engraving. Can cut various thicknesses, typically **up to 10-15mm (0.4-0.6 inches)** of cardboard.
* **Rubber:**
* **Cutting/Engraving:** Good for various types of rubber, including for stamp making. Can cut **up to 10-20mm (0.4-0.8 inches)**.
* **Plastics (various types like Delrin, ABS, Nylon, Polycarbonate - *Note: PVC is not recommended due to toxic fumes*):**
* **Cutting:** Capabilities vary widely by plastic type. Can cut general plastics typically **up to 10mm (0.4 inches)**, with some thicker.
* **Foam:**
* **Cutting:** Excellent for various foams (e.g., EVA foam, polyethylene foam) for packaging, cosplay, etc., often up to **30mm (1.2 inches)** or more.
* **Stone/Ceramics/Glass:**
* **Engraving/Marking only:** CO2 lasers are generally used for engraving or marking these materials, not cutting, as they tend to shatter or chip due to thermal shock when cutting. The 2500W pulse can achieve deeper, clearer engravings.
**II. Metals (More Limited, but Possible):**
While fiber lasers are the go-to for metal cutting, a 1000W CW / 2500W pulse CO2 laser can cut thinner gauges of certain metals, particularly with an assist gas like oxygen (for mild steel) or nitrogen (for stainless steel). The high pulse power is beneficial for piercing and cleaner cuts on reflective metals.
* **Carbon Steel (Mild Steel):**
* **Cutting:** Typically **up to 6mm (0.24 inches)**, with good quality. Can potentially cut up to **10-12mm (0.4-0.47 inches)** but with slower speeds and potentially rougher edge quality (more dross).
* **Stainless Steel:**
* **Cutting:** Generally **up to 3mm (0.12 inches)** with good quality. Can potentially cut **up to 5mm (0.2 inches)**, but slower and with more challenges.
* **Aluminum:**
* **Cutting:** Very challenging for CO2 lasers due to its high reflectivity. Typically limited to very thin gauges, perhaps **1-2mm (0.04-0.08 inches)**, and often with lower quality compared to fiber lasers. The 2500W pulse might assist with initial penetration.
* **Galvanized Steel, Copper, Brass:**
* **Cutting:** Similar to aluminum, highly reflective and more challenging. Limited to very thin sheets, likely **1-2mm (0.04-0.08 inches)**.
**Factors Influencing Actual Performance:**
* **Assist Gas:** Crucial for metal cutting (Oxygen for carbon steel, Nitrogen for stainless steel/aluminum/brass). Air is also used for some non-metals.
* **Lens Quality and Focus:** Proper focusing is critical for achieving optimal cut quality and thickness.
* **Machine Mechanics:** The rigidity, precision, and speed of the gantry system are vital for consistent cutting.
* **Material Quality:** Consistency of material thickness and composition affects results.
* **Beam Quality:** A higher quality beam (M2 value) allows for tighter focus and better cutting performance.
* **Operator Skill and Parameter Optimization:** Experienced operators can fine-tune settings (speed, power, frequency, assist gas pressure) to push the limits of the machine.
* **Maintenance:** A well-maintained laser (clean optics, properly aligned beam) performs better.
In summary, a 1000W CW / 2500W pulse CO2 laser is a robust tool for diverse non-metallic applications, offering significant capabilities for engraving and cutting materials like wood, acrylic, and plastics. For metals, it's suitable for thinner gauges of steel, but less efficient or capable than fiber lasers for thicker metals or highly reflective materials.
I hope that helps. It will be interesting to see what experienced members think compared to AI.