During steel structure laser cutting, manage equipment safety, material preparation, parameter matching, operation flow, and post-maintenance to reduce safety risks and cutting defects.
Startup and pre-safety checks
Before startup, check chiller water level and water temperature. Make sure the laser cooling system works normally to prevent laser generator damage from overheating.
Check the optical path for lens contamination or misalignment. Wipe and clean lenses in time to avoid cutting energy loss.
Confirm the dust extraction system in the work area works normally. Remove metal fume and dust from cutting in time to protect operators' respiratory health.
Check protective enclosures, emergency stop buttons, laser warning devices, and other safety devices. Do not open the optical path protective door while the machine is running. The laser can instantly burn skin and damage eyesight.
Clear flammable and explosive materials from the work area and provide firefighting equipment. Operators must wear safety goggles, dust masks, cut-resistant safety shoes, and other protective gear.
Check power wiring and high-pressure gas lines for looseness or leaks to avoid electrical leakage and gas leak risks.
Steel material preparation and positioning
Clean rust, oil, paint, oxide scale, and other impurities from the steel surface. Otherwise, laser absorption is affected, the cut surface becomes rough, dross appears, and the laser head can be damaged.
Use fixtures to secure the steel firmly, especially thick steel structures, to prevent displacement and cutting errors during cutting.
Set the cutting start point and path accurately. Align the splice seam of assembled steel structures to avoid cutting deviation.
Cutting parameter setup
Adjust parameters based on steel structure thickness and material, such as Q235, Q355 carbon steel, and stainless steel structures. Parameters include laser power, cutting speed, and assist gas pressure. Refer to the manufacturer manual for specific values. For example, for 8 mm thick Q235 steel plate, recommended settings are laser power 2000 W, cutting speed 1.0 to 1.5 m/min, and oxygen assist pressure 0.5 to 0.7 MPa. For carbon steel, oxygen is recommended to improve efficiency. For stainless steel, nitrogen or compressed air is recommended to avoid oxidation on the cut face.
Adjust the laser focus position. For thick steel structures, set the focus 1 to 2 mm below the steel surface to improve cutting penetration.
Calibrate the cutting head height sensor regularly to prevent the cutting head from hitting the steel and being damaged.
We can machine custom nozzles, protective lens holders, positioning fixtures, and other precision parts for laser cutting machines from customer drawings, for single-piece or low-volume production.
Real-time control during cutting
Do not leave the post or open the protective door during cutting. Watch the cutting spark condition closely. If sparks are too large, the color is abnormal, or slag builds up heavily, stop the machine and check immediately.
Monitor assist gas supply and chiller operation to keep the system stable. Avoid gas cutoff or overheating that can interrupt cutting or damage equipment.
For thick steel structure cutting, ensure smooth slag discharge. Clean slag from the kerf in time so it does not affect later cutting.
Post-processing and equipment maintenance
After cutting, clean slag and dust from the cutting head surface and wipe the focusing lens. Replace the lens if contamination is heavy.
Clean slag and waste from the work site and sort them for disposal.
Maintain the equipment regularly: replace optical path lenses, calibrate laser power, and check gas line seals to keep the machine stable over time.
Derust and apply anti-corrosion treatment to cut sections of steel structures promptly. This prevents rapid rusting that can affect structural performance.
Our custom precision component machining capability is not limited to steel structure laser cutting. Beyond cutting nozzles, protective lens holders, and positioning fixtures, we also machine yacht precision components, RC car structural parts, medical device parts, and non-standard parts for tobacco packaging machinery, filling machinery, and printing machinery. Hansheng Automation works from customer drawings and production quantities to deliver single-piece or low-volume precision machining.
