What is the bottom line to cut sheet metal under 2mm | |
I have been reading posts for days and chatting back and forth with laser tube traders. I want to build a machine to cut mild steel and stainless less then 2mm. Alot of the lasers under 100w say they can cut sheetmetal but not specific on how thick. a couple kit suppliers say they have plans for 50w, 80w, and even 100w lasers I can cut sheet metal. A guy selling a 150w YAG laser told me 2mm sheet metal is no problem but I would have to focus the beam for it. I have seen other posts that say you need 200w, at the very least and more like 500w. A friend of mine built a laser engraver and said that to cut even thin steel I need 200w but that I could combine 2 lasers with a beam combiner and have enough power to cut steel. If I truly do need 200w, it seems like I can build 2 100w lasers way ceaper then finding a 200w+ laser and power supply without spending 10g's
Please weigh in. I am not too concerned with feed rate. Just need to know if there is any way possible to get a clean cut through thin sheetmetal with under 100w?
Thanks sooooo much
Travis  |