It sounds simple enough – just match your gas supply to the amount of material you intend to cut.
But there are lots of factors that can impact on your usage. The type of work you’re undertaking; the material (e.g. stainless steel, mild steel or aluminium) and the thickness of the material you’re working with will determine the type of gas, the purity, and the pressure and flow rate required.
Changing your material, even by the slightest difference in thickness, or ramping up your cutting activity, can have a significant impact on your supply needs.
If you are new to laser cutting and aren’t sure how much assist gas you will need, speak with your chosen laser equipment supplier or speak to a BOC industry expert.
At BOC, we have a deep understanding of the laser cutting process and the modern fibre laser cutting machines in use today. Equipped with the knowledge of how your business operates; the amount of cutting you’re doing, your shifts and materials, we can work with your equipment provider to make a good estimate of your assist gases usage.
However, it’s always worth testing first. We suggest that new customers start with MCPs (cylinder bundles). Then we accumulate and analyse the data on your usage and propose a cost-effective vessel solution that works for your needs today – and your plans for the future.