How to Use Laser Cutting on 304 Stainless Steel Plate

304 stainless steel plates are extensively utilized, enhancing convenience in everyday life. Laser cutting is a prevalent technique for these plates. Here’s a guide on using laser cutting for 304 stainless steel plates:

1. Managing Cutting Speed

In stainless steel plates processing, mastering cutting techniques is essential for every production operator. Experience indicates that low-speed cutting helps manage chip buildup issues, as lower speeds maintain processing temperatures within a reasonable range. This control prevents inaccuracies and severe tool damage caused by high temperatures, and also keeps material plasticity stable, avoiding built-up edges. Conversely, high-speed cutting increases the temperature, leading to surface softening and chip accumulation, thus compromising the final product's quality.

2. Drilling Techniques

In workshops, twist drills are commonly used for drilling. When drilling stainless steel plates, the helix angle of the drill must be appropriately determined. A drill bit that is too small slows down processing, while a less sharp drill can cause deviations, resulting in non-compliant finished products. Conversely, an excessively large helix angle can hinder chip removal during processing. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose the right helix angle and use an intermittent feeding mode to clear chips efficiently.

3. Cutting Fluids and Cooling Methods

Due to the characteristics of stainless steel, selecting the right cutting fluid for washing, lubricating, and cooling during processing ensures optimal tool performance and minimal impact. This also guarantees the quality of the processed materials and a smooth operation. Commonly used cutting fluids include emulsions, mineral oils, and sulfurized oils.

In cutting typical steel, the strength and hardness of the metal at the chip separation point decrease significantly with rising temperatures, facilitating a smoother cutting process. However, stainless steel plates' strength and hardness do not decrease as much at high temperatures, resulting in greater cutting forces. This concentrated cutting force near the edge can easily cause plastic deformation and damage to the cutting edge.