Cutting Metal with Fibre laser?

[paulbaleta]

Hi Folks
Does anyone have experience cutting metal with a fibre laser?
I am looking at being able to cut up to 3mm stainless steel, brass, copper and nickel silver. Would a tabletop fibre laser be able to do this?
If so, how many watts would be required and does anyone have any experience of fibre vs. MOPA for this?
Many thanks.
Paul

[JaredJ]

First ... a fiber laser is not a different machine than a MOPA. A fiber laser can be either a MOPA or not. MOPA machines have a JPT laser source as opposed to a Raycus source. You'd need at least a 60W JPT MOPA to do reasonable cutting and that would be very slow getting through 3mm material. 100 watts and up would be preferable and those can get quite costly. Also any fiber laser over 60W needs quartz lenses which are 3-4 times the cost of the glass ones common on 60w and under machines.

[paulbaleta]

Hi Jared
Thanks for the info. Do you know if a fibre MOPA of is better at cutting metal than a non MOPA for a given wattage?

[JaredJ]

I believe any JPT source lasers above 50w are MOPA. And yes it would be better at cutting.
I have a 60w JPT MOPA and engraved and cut these from .8mm copper sheet. They took 8 minutes each to cut using a110mm lens. The same size and shape took 24 minutes each in 1.5mm thick sheet.

CopperLeaves.jpg

[paulbaleta]

Thanks Jared
On the laser cut, does it leave any burn marks or burr on the copper that needs to be cleaned up after?

[JaredJ]

It does leave the cut edges darkened with a tiny bit of a burr. Steel wool fixes that up.

[paulbaleta]

thanks!

[Sandman799]

Thanks Jared
On the laser cut, does it leave any burn marks or burr on the copper that needs to be cleaned up after?

So i am a little confused, I bought my 30 watt fiber laser based off the manufacturer specvs that say it can cut 2mm metals, so then i see stuff like this where people like you say no way will it cut anything besides paper pretty much,....

so why would a ma nufacturer state these specs if the machine cant do it? hey qould be liable for all sorts of returns and complaints and so on.....

now im now saying the laswer would cut 2mm of hardened carbon steel or anything like that but i wouls expect it to cut brass, bronze, nickle, and copper 2mm thick, even if it took 30 minutes or an hour it would still cut it..... yeah sure a 100 watt and 60 watt would do it faster, easier and better but still it should do it...

ive seen guys dol demos and reviews, honest reviews of the 20 watt like mine, and it did everything the manufacturer stated and more, they gave honest appraisals, not all were good, but the test machines did as he specs said they would, and mines a 30 watt so if the 20 watt could do it then my 30 should too

[JaredJ]

So i am a little confused, I bought my 30 watt fiber laser based off the manufacturer specvs that say it can cut 2mm metals, so then i see stuff like this where people like you say no way will it cut anything besides paper pretty much,....

so why would a ma nufacturer state these specs if the machine cant do it? hey qould be liable for all sorts of returns and complaints and so on.....

now im now saying the laswer would cut 2mm of hardened carbon steel or anything like that but i wouls expect it to cut brass, bronze, nickle, and copper 2mm thick, even if it took 30 minutes or an hour it would still cut it..... yeah sure a 100 watt and 60 watt would do it faster, easier and better but still it should do it...

ive seen guys dol demos and reviews, honest reviews of the 20 watt like mine, and it did everything the manufacturer stated and more, they gave honest appraisals, not all were good, but the test machines did as he specs said they would, and mines a 30 watt so if the 20 watt could do it then my 30 should too

You can do cuts with your 30W. I don't see that anyone said you couldn't or anything about cutting paper. The OP asked about cutting 3mm thick material which would take a very long time with a 30W though. Get some 2mm thick brass and see how it goes for you.

[Insmnyk]

JaredJ- My first day even realizing that desktop lasers capable of cutting metal even exist and you have probably answered my first question. I literally got here by searching for what wattage fiber laser cutting 2mm brass sheet.

So, if I'm patient, I can cut 2mm brass sheet with a 30w fiber laser? What about a razor blade, like a safety razor, approximately .1mm thick spring steel? I'm considering a new toy capable of cutting out custom wristwatch hands.