Laser cutting has gained popularity over the decades, becoming a vital process in manufacturing industries.Compared to other methods, laser cutting offers high accuracy, no heat distortion, fast speed, and precise shapes from materials.
However, there is one unique element which could either greatly enhance or cause significant detriment to the effectiveness of the laser cutting system and that is the air compressor for laser cutting.The air compressor supplies assisted gas to remove slag, eject parts, and prevent fire from reaching the optics. A substandard compressor can cause compromise of cut quality, cutting rate and possibly harm laser resonators from reflected signals.
Types of Air Compressor for Laser Cutting
Three main compressor types are suitable for laser cutting applications, commonly used in the laser cutting process.
Piston Compressors
A piston air compressor uses a piston to compress air in a cylinder and directs it to storage.
The pumps generate pressures up to 150 PSI, making them ideal for high-power laser cutters. Clean and dry air supply is required and for this purpose use of an oil free piston compressor is suggested.
Rotary Screw Compressors
Rotary screw compressors employ helical screws that transpress air to the desired pressure level. They deliver oil-free compressed air and run cooler compared to piston compressors.Ideal for long use, especially in laser cutting shops with high cutting demands.
Nitrogen Generators
Nitrogen generators extract nitrogen from air, preferred over cylinders for laser cutting due to no moisture or oil contamination risk. This makes them a reliable and cost efficient method of providing assist gas when used for steady, clean cuts. Current models such as nitrogen generators for laser cutting from DEHAHA Screw use advanced technology to eliminate up to 95% of oxygen to provide high-quality nitrogen. Flow rates of 15-45 CFM maintain airflow for cutting; choose nitrogen purity, drying, and generator size for your laser.
Benefits of Using Air Compressor for Laser Cutting
Implementing a high-quality and appropriately sized air compressor on your laser system can offer tremendous benefits.
In which some are given below:
Higher Cutting Speeds
Assist gas from the compressor primarily cleans debris and slag from the cut line. It cools the work area, prevents back reflections, and minimizes debris on the optics.
Higher gas pressure and flow boost cutting speed and quality; a better compressor removes slags faster, preventing machine slowdown.
Neat and Crisp Line Margins
Assist gas directs molten material out of the cut, keeping the working area clear.Not enough airflow might leave some slag or redeposit it, which decreases edge quality to some extent.
In the long run, slight build ups will start negating the feel of the blade and make it create bad cuts. This is prevented by a highly effective assist gas stream. Consequently, you will get extremely clean cuts that are even without dross or even any traces of the residue.
Eliminate Back Reflections
During cutting, laser beams focus on the workpiece, with some energy and glowing material reflecting back to the cutting head. These back reflections can result in damage to beam delivery optics and resonators during back reflections.
Proper distribution of assist gas along the cut area is indeed imperative for eliminating back reflections. High-volume compressors raise nozzle pressure and capture gases early, preventing reflections from traveling upstream.This means your beam delivery remains pristine and the lifetimes of consumable optics optimized.
Supports Larger Sheet Sizes
As for a laser cutter, the rate of work is expressed through the amount of sheets that have been cut per time period, preferably per hour. More and more manufacturers are migrating to big machines and this means that the pressure on assist gas systems will also continue to rise.
To make the best use of cutting large format, high volume compressors enable cutting large formats. It can push assist gas strongly on more extensive cutting beds without a drop in the pressure at the edges. However, when it comes to the efficiency of your system, you need to size your compressor correctly to reach the full productivity index.
Summary
Selecting the right air compressor for a laser cutter can be a tough thing to do especially if you have never been through the process before. In laser cutting, air compressors are often undervalued despite their essential supporting role.It is therefore a sound strategy to spend money on extra flow and pressure capacity because it directly translates into other benefits such as shorter cutting times, better edge condition, higher piercing ability, and time saving. For best laser cutting results and ROI, ensure the system includes a compressor capable of meeting required performance.
