Reading time: about 8 minutes · Category: Technical guide / Machine settings
Technical review: Ahura Shaddel · Published: July 30, 2026
Fiber laser cutting is the most precise and economical way to cut sheet metal, but cut quality depends entirely on the machine settings. If speed, gas type and pressure, nozzle, focus position and nozzle height are not matched to the material, thickness and laser power, the result is a rough edge, dross (slag) under the part and extra finishing cost.
This article gives a complete fiber laser cutting chart for 1 to 12 kW lasers and the most common metals: mild steel (carbon steel), stainless steel, aluminum, galvanized steel, brass and copper. Start with the maximum thickness each power can cut, then take the speed from the table for your material and the gas, nozzle and focus settings from the table below it. Piercing, dross troubleshooting and frequently asked questions about laser cutting settings for metals follow at the end. If you are choosing a machine, see the Asim sheet metal laser cutting machine page.
Data source: reference data published by fiber laser source manufacturers for 1 to 12 kW, compiled and organised for this article.
Jump to: Max thickness Mild steel (O₂) Mild steel (N₂/air) Stainless Aluminum Galvanized Brass & copper Piercing Troubleshooting FAQ
Laser cutting chart summary: maximum thickness by laser power
Thicknesses are in millimetres, for production-quality cuts. The value in brackets is the maximum thickness that can be cut only with trial parameters, for small batches.
| Laser power | Mild steel (O₂) | Mild steel (N₂/air) | Stainless | Aluminum | Brass | Copper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | 8 (up to 10†) | 1 | 4 (up to 5†) | 3 | 2 (up to 3†) | — |
| 1.5 kW | 12 (up to 16†) | 1 | 5 (up to 6†) | 3 (up to 4†) | 2 (up to 3†) | — |
| 2 kW | 16 (up to 20†) | 2 | 6 (up to 8†) | 4 (up to 6†) | 4 (up to 5†) | — |
| 3 kW | 20 (up to 22†) | 2 | 8 (up to 10†) | 6 (up to 8†) | 5 (up to 6†) | — |
| 4 kW | 22 (up to 25†) | 3 | 10 (up to 12†) | 8 (up to 10†) | 6 (up to 8†) | — |
| 6 kW | 22 (up to 25†) | 6 | 16 (up to 20†) | 12 (up to 16†) | 10 (up to 12†) | — |
| 8 kW | 25 (up to 40†) | 8 | 25 (up to 30†) | 25 (up to 30†) | — | 8 (up to 10†) |
| 10 kW | 25 (up to 40†) | 10 | 25 (up to 40†) | 25 (up to 40†) | 12 (up to 16†) | 8 (up to 10†) |
| 12 kW | 25 (up to 40†) | 10 | 25 (up to 40†) | 25 (up to 40†) | 12 (up to 16†) | 8 (up to 10†) |
Copper is listed only for 8 kW and above, and oxygen is recommended for cutting it; with nitrogen or air, cut quality and stability are poor.
To choose the right power for the materials and thicknesses you cut most, see Asim industrial laser cutting machines or talk to our engineers.
Before you use the laser cutting chart
- Prerequisites: a clean, undamaged lens and nozzle, gas of suitable purity (nitrogen at least 99.9%), stable pressure and flow, and working fume extraction.
- Test order: always start with a small strip (for example 50×50 mm) before moving on to the final part.
- Choosing the gas: oxygen for thick mild steel (faster cutting thanks to the oxidation reaction, oxidised edge); nitrogen for stainless steel, aluminum and brass (bright, oxide-free edge); compressed air for thin mild steel and, at 8 kW and above, for stainless steel at a far lower gas cost. High-consumption workshops usually supply oxygen and nitrogen from a Dewar (liquid gas tank) on site.
- Safety: a hood and proper ventilation are mandatory, especially for galvanized steel (zinc fumes). See our CNC and laser machine safety guide for more.
Nozzle codes and focus sign
| Nozzle code | Type | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| S | Single layer, high gas flow | High-pressure gas cutting: stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and mild steel with nitrogen or air |
| D | Double layer | Mild steel cutting with oxygen |
| E | High-speed double layer | Fast bright-surface cutting of thick mild steel with oxygen at high power (6 kW and above) |
| B | Stepped single layer (Boost) | Thick stainless steel and aluminum with nitrogen or air at high power and lower pressure |
The number next to the code is the nozzle bore in millimetres (for example 1.5S is a 1.5 mm single-layer nozzle). In the focus column, positive (+) means the focal point is above the sheet surface, negative (−) means inside the sheet and zero means on the surface. Rule of thumb: positive focus with oxygen, zero or negative focus with nitrogen or air, becoming more negative as the sheet gets thicker.
1. Mild steel (carbon steel) laser cutting chart with oxygen
Cutting speed (m/min)
| Thickness (mm) | 1 kW | 1.5 kW | 2 kW | 3 kW | 4 kW | 6 kW | 8 kW | 10 kW | 12 kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 5 | 5.2 | 5.5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | 3 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4 | 4.5 | 3.6–4.2 | — | — | — |
| 4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.3–3.8 | — | — | — |
| 5 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3–3.6 | — | — | — |
| 6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.7–3.2 | — | — | — |
| 8 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.2–2.5 | 2.3–2.5 | — | — |
| 10 | 0.8† | 1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.0–2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| 12 | — | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1 | 1.2 | 1.9–2.1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 14 | — | 0.65† | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1 | 0.8–0.9 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| 16 | — | 0.5† | 0.7 | 0.75 | 0.8 | 1.2–1.4 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| 18 | — | — | 0.5† | 0.65 | 0.7 | 0.65–0.75 | — | — | — |
| 20 | — | — | 0.4† | 0.6 | 0.65 | 0.6–0.7 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
| 22 | — | — | — | 0.55† | 0.6 | 0.55–0.65 | 0.65 | 1.0 | 1.2 |
| 25 | — | — | — | — | 0.5† | 0.5† | 0.45 | 0.65 | 0.95 |
| 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.25† | 0.35† | 0.8† |
| 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.15† | 0.2† | 0.3† |
Speeds are in metres per minute (m/min). Red values marked † are trial parameters: production-grade cut quality is not guaranteed and they suit small batches only; for volume production at that thickness, choose a higher power.
Gas, nozzle and focus settings — 1 to 6 kW
| Thickness (mm) | Gas pressure (bar) | Nozzle | Focus (mm) | Nozzle height (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1.6 to 2 | 1.0D, 1.2D | +3 | 0.8 |
| 3 to 10 | 0.5 to 0.6 | 1.0D, 1.2D, 1.5D, 2.0D, 2.5D, 1.2E | +2.5 to +4 | 0.8 |
| 12 to 16 | 0.5 to 0.6 | 2.5D, 3.0D, 3.5D, 4.0D, 1.2E, 1.4E | +2.5 to +6 | 0.8 to 1 |
| 18 to 25 | 0.5 to 0.6 | 4.0D, 4.5D, 5.0D | +2.5 to +4 | 0.8 to 1 |
Gas, nozzle and focus settings — 8 to 12 kW
| Thickness (mm) | Gas pressure (bar) | Nozzle | Focus (mm) | Nozzle height (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 to 10 | 0.6 | 1.2E | +4 to +6 | 0.8 |
| 12 to 16 | 0.6 | 1.2E, 1.4E | +7 to +9 | 0.8 |
| 18 to 22 | 0.6 to 0.7 | 1.6E, 1.8E, 1.4SP | +8 to +11 | 0.5 to 0.8 |
| 25 to 30 | 0.7 to 1.3 | 1.8E, 1.5SP | +10 to +12 | 0.5 to 1.2 |
| 40 | 1.5 | 1.8E | +11.5 | 1.2 |
Oxygen oxidises the edge; if a clean edge matters for welding or painting, finish the edge after cutting or use nitrogen for thinner sheet.
2. Mild steel laser cutting chart with nitrogen or air (fast cutting of thin sheet)
| Thickness (mm) | 1 kW | 1.5 kW | 2 kW | 3 kW | 4 kW | 6 kW | 8 kW | 10 kW | 12 kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 35 | 35 | 45 | 40–45 | 50–60 | 50–80 |
| 2 | — | — | 9 | 20 | 15 | 25 | 30–35 | 35–40 | 45–48 |
| 3 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 14 | 20–25 | 25–30 | 30–38 |
| 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 15–18 | 18–20 | 20–26 |
| 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.4 | 10–12 | 13–15 | 15–20 |
| 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8–9 | 10–12 | 10–13 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5–5.5 | 7–8 | 7–10 |
| 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3.5–4.5 | 5–6.5 |
Speeds are in metres per minute (m/min). Red values marked † are trial parameters: production-grade cut quality is not guaranteed and they suit small batches only; for volume production at that thickness, choose a higher power.
| Thickness (mm) | Gas pressure (bar) | Nozzle | Focus (mm) | Nozzle height (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 to 1 | 10 to 12 | 1.5S | 0 | 1 |
| 2 to 3 | 10 to 14 | 2.0S | -1.5 to 0 | 0.5 |
| 4 to 6 | 13 to 16 | 2.0S, 2.5S, 3.0S, 3.5S | -3 to 0 | 0.5 |
| 8 to 10 | 13 | 3.0S, 4.0S | -3 to -1 | 0.5 |
On thin sheet, cutting mild steel with air or nitrogen is several times faster than with oxygen (for example 2 mm at 6 kW: about 25 m/min with air versus about 5 m/min with oxygen). The edge is oxide-free, though a little fine dross may remain under the part. The higher the power, the thicker the sheet this method pays off for: about 2 mm at 2 to 3 kW, 6 mm at 6 kW and 10 mm at 10 to 12 kW.
3. Stainless steel laser cutting chart with nitrogen
| Thickness (mm) | 1 kW | 1.5 kW | 2 kW | 3 kW | 4 kW | 6 kW | 8 kW | 10 kW | 12 kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | 13 | 20 | 28 | 45 | 40 | 60 | 60 | 50–60 | 63 |
| 2 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 20 | 30 | 35 | 35–40 | 42 |
| 3 | 3 | 4.5 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 25–30 | 33 |
| 4 | 1 | — | 3 | 6.5 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 18–20 | 27 |
| 5 | 0.6† | 1.5 | 2 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 18 |
| 6 | — | 0.8† | 1.5 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 15 |
| 8 | — | — | 0.6† | 1.2 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
| 10 | — | — | — | 0.8† | 1.2 | 2 | 3.5 | 4 | 7.5 |
| 12 | — | — | — | — | 0.8† | 1.2 | 2.5 | 3 | 5.5 |
| 14 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2.4 | 3.5 |
| 16 | — | — | — | — | — | 0.6 | 1 | 2 | 2.3 |
| 18 | — | — | — | — | — | 0.5† | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 20 | — | — | — | — | — | 0.3† | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.45 |
| 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.2† | 0.25† | 0.26† |
| 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.15† | 0.15† |
Speeds are in metres per minute (m/min). Red values marked † are trial parameters: production-grade cut quality is not guaranteed and they suit small batches only; for volume production at that thickness, choose a higher power.
| Thickness (mm) | Gas pressure (bar) | Nozzle | Focus (mm) | Nozzle height (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 to 2 | 10 to 12 | 1.5S, 2.0S | -1 to 0 | 0.5 to 1 |
| 3 to 6 | 8 to 16 | 3.5B, 2.0S, 2.5S, 3.0S, 3.5S | -3 to 0 | 0.5 |
| 8 to 12 | 5 to 16 | 5.0B, 6.0B, 3.0S, 3.5S, 4.0S | -7.5 to 0 | 0.5 |
| 14 to 20 | 6 to 20 | 5.0B, 7.0B, 4.0S, 5.0S | -12 to -6 | 0.3 to 0.5 |
| 25 to 40 | 6 to 15 | 7.0B | -13 to +9 | 0.3 |
Cutting stainless steel with compressed air (8 kW and above)
At high power, stainless steel can also be cut with compressed air at almost the same speed as nitrogen, with a much lower gas cost. The edge is slightly darker than with nitrogen.
| Thickness (mm) | 8 kW | 10 kW | 12 kW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 | 50–60 | 60 |
| 2 | 35 | 30–35 | 38 |
| 3 | 25 | 25 | 28 |
| 4 | 16 | 20 | 25 |
| 5 | 10 | 17 | 18 |
| 6 | 8 | 10 | 15 |
| 8 | 5.5 | 7 | 10 |
| 10 | 3.5 | 6 | 6.5 |
| 12 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| 14 | 2 | 3 | 2.6 |
| 16 | 1 | 2 | 2.3 |
| 18 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| 20 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.4 |
| 25 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1 |
| 30 | 0.25† | 0.25† | 0.28† |
For a bright, oxide-free stainless edge, nitrogen purity matters (at least 99.9%). A yellow or black edge usually means low gas purity.
4. Aluminum laser cutting chart with nitrogen
| Thickness (mm) | 1 kW | 1.5 kW | 2 kW | 3 kW | 4 kW | 6 kW | 8 kW | 10 kW | 12 kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | 10 | 18 | 20 | 30 | 30 | 50 | 45 | 55 | 45 |
| 2 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 30 | 35 |
| 3 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| 4 | — | 0.8† | 1.5 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 20 |
| 5 | — | — | 0.9† | 3.2 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 16 |
| 6 | — | — | 0.6† | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 11 |
| 8 | — | — | — | 0.9† | 1.3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| 10 | — | — | — | — | 0.8† | 1.2 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 5 |
| 12 | — | — | — | — | — | 0.7 | 2 | 2 | 2.6 |
| 14 | — | — | — | — | — | 0.5† | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| 16 | — | — | — | — | — | 0.4† | 1 | 1.2 | 1.6 |
| 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.8 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1 |
| 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.2† | 0.25† | 0.45† |
| 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.15† | 0.3† |
Speeds are in metres per minute (m/min). Red values marked † are trial parameters: production-grade cut quality is not guaranteed and they suit small batches only; for volume production at that thickness, choose a higher power.
| Thickness (mm) | Gas pressure (bar) | Nozzle | Focus (mm) | Nozzle height (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 to 2 | 12 to 14 | 1.5S, 2.0S | -1 to 0 | 0.5 to 1 |
| 3 to 6 | 12 to 16 | 2.0S, 2.5S, 3.0S | -3.5 to -1 | 0.5 |
| 8 to 12 | 14 to 18 | 5.0B, 2.5S, 3.0S, 3.5S, 4.0S | -5 to -4 | 0.5 |
| 14 to 20 | 16 to 20 | 5.0B, 7.0B, 4.0S, 5.0S | -9 to -5 | 0.3 to 0.5 |
| 25 to 40 | 16 to 18 | 7.0B | -10 to +8 | 0.3 |
Aluminum is highly reflective. Keep the sheet surface clean, and if piercing is difficult, use pulsing and the staged piercing method (below).
5. Galvanized steel laser cutting settings
Galvanized sheet is carbon steel with a zinc coating, so its settings are close to those for mild steel:
- Thin and medium sheet: start from the section 2 table (mild steel with nitrogen or air). Nitrogen or air prevents the zinc coating from burning back along the edge and gives a cleaner cut.
- Thicker sheet: use the section 1 table (oxygen) and fine-tune the speed with a test sample.
- The zinc coating changes cutting behaviour slightly; the mild steel values are only a starting point, so always confirm the final speed on a sample.
6. Brass and copper laser cutting chart
Brass with nitrogen (m/min)
| Thickness (mm) | 1 kW | 1.5 kW | 2 kW | 3 kW | 4 kW | 6 kW | 10 kW | 12 kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 28 | 28 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 27 | 35 |
| 3 | 0.8† | 1.8† | 3 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 22 |
| 4 | — | — | 1.3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 18 |
| 5 | — | — | 0.8† | 2.2 | 3 | 5.5 | 11 | 15 |
| 6 | — | — | — | 1.3† | 2.5 | 3.8 | 7 | 10 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | 1† | 1.8 | 5 | 7 |
| 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 12 | — | — | — | — | — | 0.7† | 2 | 2.4 |
| 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1† | 1.4† |
| 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.7† | 1† |
Copper with oxygen (m/min) — 8 kW and above
| Thickness (mm) | 8 kW | 10 kW | 12 kW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 | 30 | 35 |
| 2 | 20 | 20 | 25 |
| 3 | 14 | 15 | 18 |
| 4 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 8 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 |
| 10 | 0.7† | 0.7† | 1.2† |
Speeds are in metres per minute (m/min). Red values marked † are trial parameters: production-grade cut quality is not guaranteed and they suit small batches only; for volume production at that thickness, choose a higher power.
Brass and copper are highly reflective. Oxygen is recommended for copper; with nitrogen or air, cut quality and stability are poor. Before cutting copper or brass, make sure the laser source has back-reflection protection.
Piercing thick sheet: the three-stage method
On thick sheet, the start hole is pierced in three consecutive stages. At each stage the nozzle moves closer to the sheet and the focus becomes more negative. The values below are the typical pattern for 1 to 6 kW (at 6 kW the nozzle height for mild steel is about 4 mm higher):
| Stage | Nozzle height (mm) | Focus (mm) | Mild steel with oxygen | Stainless with nitrogen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (start) | 12 | 0 | Pulse duty 50–100%, 100–300 Hz, 1 bar, 0.1–0.2 s | Pulse duty 100%, 600–1000 Hz, 10 bar, 0.1–0.2 s |
| 2 (middle) | 8 | −4 to −5 | Pulse duty about 45%, 0.6–0.8 bar, 0.2–2.5 s | Pulse duty 35–60%, 10 bar, about 0.5 s |
| 3 (final) | 4 | −5 to −8 | Pulse duty 40–55%, 0.6–0.7 bar, 1–3 s | Pulse duty 35–45%, 10 bar, 1–1.5 s |
The thickest sheet each power typically pierces: 1 kW mild steel 10 / stainless 5 mm, 2 kW mild steel 20 / stainless 8, 3 kW mild steel 22 / stainless 10, 4 kW mild steel 25 / stainless 12, 6 kW mild steel 25 / stainless 20, and 8 to 12 kW mild steel up to 30 and stainless with nitrogen up to 20 mm.
Tuning speed, gas pressure and focus: testing and optimisation
- Start from the chart: where a range is given, start in the middle of it.
- Step-by-step testing: cut a 50 to 100 mm sample for each combination, inspect the edge, and change only one parameter at a time by 10 to 20 percent.
- Focus and nozzle height first: most edge-quality problems come from focus and nozzle-to-sheet distance, not speed.
- Lens and nozzle: a dirty lens or damaged nozzle severely reduces quality; inspect them regularly.
Fixing dross and common laser cutting problems (quick troubleshooting)
| Problem | Likely cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Fine, regular dross under the part | Focus too low or speed too high | Raise the focus, reduce the speed |
| Irregular stringy dross and surface discoloration | Focus too high, speed too low or gas pressure too low | Lower the focus, increase speed and pressure |
| Dross on one side of the cut only | Nozzle not centred or nozzle bore damaged | Re-centre the nozzle or replace it |
| Hard, sticky dross under the part | Speed too high, pressure too low, impure gas or focus too high | Reduce speed, increase pressure, use purer gas, lower the focus |
| Incomplete cut / drag lines deflected and wide at the bottom | Speed too high, power too low, pressure too low or focus too high | Reduce speed, increase power and pressure, lower the focus |
| Molten metal spraying upward or plasma along the cut | Speed too high, power too low or focus too low | Stop immediately so spatter does not reach the lens; reduce speed and increase power |
| Rough cut surface | Focus too high, pressure too high, speed too low or overheated sheet | Lower focus and pressure, increase speed, let the sheet cool |
| Black or yellow edge on stainless steel | Low nitrogen purity | Use nitrogen of at least 99.9% purity |
| Heavy fumes with galvanized steel | Insufficient ventilation | Improve fume extraction and use personal protective equipment |
Daily laser cutting machine maintenance checklist
- Clean the protective lens with alcohol and a lens tissue
- Inspect the nozzle and replace it if the bore is worn or deformed
- Check nozzle centring and height calibration
- Log gas pressure and daily consumption
- Cut a test sample at the start of each shift, because temperature, humidity and gas quality vary day to day
- Check the extraction system and filters (especially for galvanized steel)
For the common causes of breakdowns and how to prevent them, read why CNC machines fail on our blog.
Fiber laser cutting settings: frequently asked questions
Does this chart apply to every machine?
No. These values are starting points. The laser source brand, fiber core diameter, cutting head, lens, nozzle, gas purity and sheet quality all change the final settings.
How thick a mild steel sheet can a 1 kW fiber laser cut?
With oxygen, mild steel up to about 8 mm at production quality and up to 10 mm with trial parameters. Stainless steel up to about 4 mm and aluminum up to about 3 mm.
Why doesn't a more powerful machine cut thin mild steel faster with oxygen?
In oxygen cutting, speed is limited by the reaction between oxygen and steel. On thin sheet, high power multiplies the speed only with nitrogen or air.
How do I reduce dross under the part?
In this order: check focus and nozzle height, raise the gas pressure, adjust the speed within reason, and inspect the nozzle for wear and centring. The troubleshooting table above shows the cause of each type of dross.
Can stainless steel be cut with compressed air?
Yes. At 8 kW and above, stainless steel cuts with air at almost the same speed as nitrogen, at a far lower gas cost; the edge is only slightly darker. At lower powers, nitrogen is recommended for stainless steel and aluminum.
Should galvanized steel be cut with oxygen or nitrogen?
For thin and medium sheet, nitrogen or air gives a cleaner edge. Either way, ventilation and operator protection are essential.
Summary
To choose fiber laser cutting settings, first use the maximum thickness table to confirm that your machine's power is enough for the thickness. Then take the speed from the table for your material and the gas, nozzle and focus from the settings table, and test on a small sample. Keep the lens and nozzle clean, use gas of suitable purity, and take ventilation seriously with galvanized steel. If you still have questions about machine types, read our guide to laser machine types as well. Asim Electronic's technical team can also prepare and test settings for your machine and material.