How can you minimise burrs during laser cutting?

Every company invests in laser cutting technology to cut materials neatly and cleanly, without burrs. But sometimes, it happens the other way. Here is a list of what to check and correct to ensure proper cuts on your laser cutting machine.

  1. Check protection lens
    • A dirty or damaged protective lens reduces transmitted energy.
    • This will hinder proper cut quality and produce slag.
    • It is recommended to replace the protective lens.
  2. Nozzle selection
    • Different materials and thicknesses need different nozzles.
    • In case of improper nozzle selection, cutting quality will be effected negatively
    • Review your parameter selection chart if unsure.
  3. Beam centering control
    • Beam centering problem is a primary cause of the burrs.
    • Check the beam centering by directing a short laser beam onto a piece of tape (we recommend our heat-resistant PTFE tapes) and adjust the beam alignment.
  4. Gas pressure adjustment
    • Make sure the pressure gauge of the gas supply is open and providing adequate pressure.
    • Ensure you select the gas pressure according to the material type and thickness.
    • Always ensure to purge any remaining gas when switching from O2 to N2 or vice versa.
  5. Using rusty material
    • Good material quality is key to good quality cuts.
    • If there is rust on the material, it is advisable to replace or clean it before cutting.
    • As a quick solution, you can apply film cutting parameters before starting to cut the material to remove the rusty material.
  6. Adjust the focus
    • Adjusting the focus and finding the optimal position can lead to a significant improvement in cutting quality.
    • The right focusing distance is related to the material type, thickness, nozzle, beam and optical parameters, hence it can be different from laser to laser.