Laser cutting steel can feel complicated for newcomers. But it doesn’t have to be. Experienced laser cutter operators know what makes the perfect cut and how to do it as efficiently and flawlessly as possible. 

Being involved in the industry for many years and having connections with hundreds of operators all over the glove, we have been fortunate enough to talk to our oldest clients about what new users should know before operating a laser cutter. And talking to them we’ve gather 7 tips for laser cutting steel that every user must know to achieve the perfect cut. 

Following these tips, we’re sure you’ll be able to avoid some of the most common laser cutting mishaps that plague new users and make you a pro in no time. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it. 

Top 7 Tips and Tricks You Must Learn for Laser Cutting Steel

Laser cutting has entirely transformed the mechanical industry, providing accurate and efficient options for various uses. Because laser cutters are compatible with computers, it’s easy to create intricate designs with little waste and even get precise and clean steel cuts. 

However, when using a laser cutter to cut steel, there are some tips you can keep in mind to produce even better results! From our experience, as well as opinions from our clients, we have rounded up the top 7 tips you can consider to get the best results out of your projects:

1. Choose The Correct Steel Thickness

While it may sound obvious, the number of people who make this straightforward mistake will surprise you. Depending on the project, you must select the correct steel with the proper thickness, which will determine your laser cutter’s size and power in turn. 

The laser’s wattage will determine the maximum thickness of steel it can cut, so consult the manufacturer’s specifications. Even if minor variations exist, the manufacturer’s guidelines are a great benchmark. 

Typically, a laser cutter with 150W can cut through steel between 0.5 and 1 mm thick. However, a laser cutter with 500W of power is advised for materials with a thickness of 2 mm or greater. Therefore, selecting the appropriate steel is the first and essential step. If you don’t temper your steel correctly, it will char, vaporize, and slice unevenly.

2. Use Appropriate Software Programs

It’s common for laser devices to be able to read both vector and raster image formats. However, steel laser cutters require vector files. Only a vector file (usually in .dxf format) is necessary for laser cutters to reproduce the design accurately. 

Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, and AutoCAD are all excellent options for making designs for laser cutting. Using one of these software, you can create a 2D vector file with the cutting lines for the laser to analyze the file and begin processing. 

3. Avoid Overly Complicated Designs

Be it a beginner or an expert, overly complicated designs can be challenging. So, we recommend keeping your project as simple as possible. However, if you need to cut a steel piece more than once, you can first make unique layouts in different documents. After that, put them in one after the other. By doing so, you can avoid any overlaps.

It will be challenging to manage if you include too many undefined designs in the same file. You risk the laser cutter misinterpreting your lines, overlapping lines, and the entire job being ruined. So, try to take things slowly and in order.

4. Make Sure You Have Good Vector Lining Around Your Cutting Section

Metal templates serve as guides for the laser cutter. Having a correct vector line is crucial. So, you’ll need to completely close off the shape of any area you want to keep open of metal. Say you need to make a square out of a sheet of steel. Then, the laser’s focus must adequately trace all of the lines. That can’t be done without clean vector lines.

And when you need a circle cut from a metal sheet using a laser cutter, the curve in your file must be a complete circle. When cutting metal, even the slightest “breaks” in the lines can leave an unintended tab where the cutout should have been. As a result, you need to take extra care when making the vector file.

5. Choose Between Sharp Angles and Rounded Fillets For The Corners

Steel typically leaves behind pointed edges when your vector file has no parameters when chopped. As a result, the points can be dangerous to one’s health. The sharp corners can be filled (rounded) to increase security if you are all about safety. The standard recommendation for fillet thickness is half the material’s thickness.

Open your file and edit it softer to get round-corner fillets. The first step is to launch AutoCAD. Next, sketch out the form that your steelwork will take. Finally, smooth off the steel’s sharp edges. If you stick to this method, you’ll have spotless corner fillets. 

6. Make Precise Holes with Laser

It’s not always easy to drill through steel. Fortunately, you can use a laser cutter to etch and pierce a specific place for your holes. Out of any other methods, we guarantee that this is the most precise method for drilling threaded holes. 

To begin, we recommend etching the perimeter of the hole. The next step is to use the laser to make a tiny hole in the center carefully. Since the piercing will be used as a guide, we advise making it slightly smaller. 

This piercing method guarantees a perfect hole seal when done on cold steel. For threaded holes, it is crucial. But don’t drag out the laser treatment any longer than necessary. The steel may heat up to the point where it evaporates. You can finish off by drilling the hole with a bit.

7. Make Sure There’s Enough Room in Between

You may need to modify one metal sheet to suit multiple purposes. If you’re starting, we wouldn’t suggest trying this. But if you want to save money, by all means, do so. Always maintain the correct spacing between the various steel components. When cutting many pieces from the same metal sheet, it’s usually a good idea to leave at least the thickness of the metal between each cut. 

You run the danger of material being burned away between cutting lines if you place pieces too closely together or cut very tiny features. It would be best to outline each piece separately rather than attempting to “share” cuts by connecting them with lines.

Conclusion

Laser cutting of metals is a reliable method for making precise, intricate cuts, and it works well with a wide variety of metals, like steel! Be it a beginner or an expert in laser cutting steel, some helpful tips for this practice always help. So here, we bring you seven tips for laser cutting steel to help you make your project successful. Thanks for reading till now.