Cutting Titanium Sheet Metal

It s true that improvements in fiber lasers have resulted in a wider range of options for laser metal cutting including copper brass titanium and other alloys that weren t ideal for co 2.

Cutting titanium sheet metal.

Because it is a reactive metal it changes its chemical properties when exposed to heat. Using a carbide tipped band saw blade not only allows for the successful cutting of titanium alloys but it simultaneously offers longer blade life and faster cutting as well. The sheet cutting speed is 2 4 times of co 2. That means it s not possible to cut titanium using traditional methods without changing its chemical composition.

A sharp cutting edge minimizes cutting forces in titanium but the cutting edge also needs to be strong enough to resist cutting pressure. Laser cutting 5mm sheet metal titanium grade 5 duration. In the video below you can see a cosen ah320 horizontal band saw being used to cut a block of titanium. Laser cutting titanium thick titanium materials such as plates or reinforced sheets are typically cut with co2 lasers because they have higher power capacity than other laser models.

However despite these improvements material thickness still presents a significant limitation on laser cutting. Since titanium alloys are a stronger and harder material they pose a unique cutting challenge best solved by carbide blades. The process of cutting titanium sheet is made even more complicated by the material s reactivity to heat. The wavelength of the optical fiber laser is 1 06μm is more easily absorbed by the metal material compared with the wavelength of co 2 which is 10 6 μm and is especially beneficial for sheet metal cutting.

A secondary relief tool design in which the first positive area of the cutting edge resists forces after which the second area falls away to increase clearance accomplishes both these objectives see. Laser cutting 1 16 stainless steel with oxygen assist gas duration. Titanium is known for its strength corrosion protection and light weight composition but because of a low melting point it is impossible to cut using traditional co2 laser technology. Cutting titanium is not an easy task.