Laser cutting machine cuts thick metal - GIF

[ToolTalkBot]

Laser cutting machine cuts thick metal.




Previously:

Handheld laser welder - GIF
Laser gun - GIF
Laser metal deposition - GIF
Laser removing oil from engine block - GIF
Laser tube cutting machine - GIF
Micro laser soldering - video

[IntheGroove]

My bet is oxy-acetylene...

[Frank S]

My bet is oxy-acetylene...

not oxy-acetylene. with the cutting tip that close to the work piece most likely oxy- map gas of even natural gas Too many flames for act either most will only have a max of six 4 for thinner and as few as two for cutting real thin in straight line or slicing rivets

[hemmjo]

For sure NOT laser.

[CharlesWaugh]

From: The FABRICATOR (an industry magazine for the metal fabrication trades)
"For material 3 in. and thicker, the answer is usually pretty straightforward. Typical laser cutting operations handle material up to about 1 to 1.25 in. thick. Plasma cutting’s upper limit is between 2 and 3 in. For extreme thicknesses of steel plate—4, 6, 8, and even 10 in.—oxyfuel cutting is truly at home."

[mwmkravchenko]

Flames coming out of the tip were my give away. LASER cutting can be up to 150mm or about 6 inches. But the Kerf is Tiny. Power input for such a LASER is roughly 7 times the LASER rating. So we are talking enough for a couple thousand homes when cutting that thickness of metal. And LASERS use an Oxygen stream too.

Pretty nice cut. I agree with Frank that it's Natural Gas. For the quantities that you would be pouring into such a process natural gas makes the most sense. Imagine the Gas and Oxygen bills for that place!

Mark

[hemmjo]

I am trying to imagine the cost for that hunk of steel.

It seems there would be much more cost effective ways to make letter. Unless that “D” is just shown for a visual effect?

[Frank S]

I am trying to imagine the cost for that hunk of steel.

It seems there would be much more cost effective ways to make letter. Unless that “D” is just shown for a visual effect?

Plate steel right now is running from 1 to 3 dollars per pound depending on thickness quantity and supplier

Recently I bought a 4ft by 4 ft 2" plate 80 lbs per ft 16 total sq feet cost me $1,600.00
That plater being cut is about 4 inches thats 160 lbs per sq ft not cheap

[IntheGroove]

I have been enlightened. The term I was looking for is Oxyfuel. Thank you Frank...
[https://www.thefabricator.com/thefab...y-thick-plate]