Print
Bookmark
- Industrial Gases
- Liquefied Industrial Gases
- Refrigerant Gases
- Drinks Dispense Gases
- Balloon Gas & Equipment
- Speciality Gases & Equipment
- Dry Ice
- Food Preservation Products
- Healthcare Gases
- Industrial Products
- Safety Products (PPE)
- Cryogenic Equipment & Storage Vessels
- Packaged Chemicals
- Healthcare Equipment
- Technical Supply Centre Products
- Helium
- Bulk Gases
Assist Gases
Assist gases (or process gases) are used at the point in the process where the laser interacts with the material.
Choice of assist gas
The choice of assist gas is extremely important and can have a significant effect on the resulting process quality and productivity.
When cutting mild steel, oxygen can enable higher cutting speeds and greater thickness at lower pressure and flow rate than nitrogen.
Nitrogen and other inert assist gases prevent surface oxidation, producing a higher quality finish which requires minimal preparation for other fabrication processes (such as welding) and surface treatment.
Lasers can cut a wide range of materials including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics, wood and ceramics.
The choice of assist gas should be made with regard to the material being cut.
Gases for laser cutting
| Material | Oxygen | Oxygen high purity | Nitrogen | Argon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild Steel | o | o | o | |
| Stainless Steel | o | o | o | |
| Aluminum | o | |||
| Titanium | o |
| Material | Helium | Argon |
|---|---|---|
| CO2 | o | o* |
| ND:YAG | o | |
| Diode | o |
Nitrogen or compressed air are normally used for cutting non-metallic materials.
* suitable for low-power, thin-sheet welding applications.
