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Your new laser cutter may not be to blame in case you are not satisfied with the quality of the cuts that are being made. Several factors on the surface of the material being cut may explain why the cuts aren't satisfactory. This article discusses some of those surface conditions that you should investigate in order to improve the cut quality.

Surface Reflectivity

Shiny surfaces can hinder the ability of a laser cutter to produce high-quality cuts. This is because the shiny surface reflects the laser beams as they reach the cut edge. Consequently, the material will not heat to the desired temperature in order to create a desired cut in the sheet metal. This problem can be overcome by increasing the power of the laser cutter in order to compensate for the reduction in beam quality. Alternatively, you can use another laser cutter, such as a fibre laser cutter, that doesn't rely on mirrors to direct the beam onto the material being cut.

Painted or Sprayed Surfaces

Paints or sprays can affect the reaction of the material to the laser cutting process. For instance, the paint may reflect the heat or laser rays sent by the cutting machine. Such an effect can slow down the cutting rate. Conversely, the paint or spray may absorb the beam quickly and cause the material to heat up much faster than was expected. Consequently, the assist gas may be unable to remove the slag as quickly as it is generated. The result is that the cut edge will not be smooth or uniform. You can avoid this problem by postponing painting or spraying the material until laser cutting is completed.

Warped or Bent Surfaces

Surface imperfections, such as warping, affect the movement of light from the laser cutting machine to the material that is being cut. This is because the light is distorted as it encounters the indentations or bends on the material. Poor cuts become inevitable under such conditions. You should therefore always ensure that the material has an even surface so that the cutting process isn't hindered.

Galvanisation

Galvanised materials should be handled carefully because two different components have to be planned for when setting the cutting parameters. For instance, the laser cutter must be set to cut the zinc layer at a different rate from the rate of cutting the steel beneath the zinc coating. One must therefore know the composition of the material that should be cut so that the differences in the materials used are considered during the cutting process.

As you can see, material surface conditions can either hinder or aid the laser cutting process. Identify the particular surface conditions that may be causing the poor cut edges so that remedial action is taken. Consult a laser cutting expert in case you have failed to pinpoint why your machine is continuing to produce cuts of poor quality.