New Machine Build- What is the bottom line to cut sheet metal under 2mm

[travislivid]

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

[grzegorz1965]

I tried to cut steel (0.1 mm gilette) with 80W CO2 laser.
Poor results.Bad edge.
I think You should think about 200 - 400 W CO2 laser for non idustrial use.
Grzegorz

[travislivid]

Does combining two 100w lasers sound like a reasonable thing to do?
Thanks

[MacGyver]

You do NOT want to get into the area of combining beams... you'll spend a lot of time attempting and fail int he end.

YAG is going to be much easier to use for cutting metal than CO2, as you'll need probably 5-10 times less power. The wavelength of YAG lasers are in the right range for being absorbed by metal.

[Derek Kern]

traveislivid-

We are cutting 2.3 mm mild steel and 1.7 stainless with our 150 watt CO2 laser systems. Very nice edge quality. PM me for more information.

Derek Kern
Kern Electronics & Lasers, Inc
1-888-660-2755
www.kernlasers.com