Laser cutting or plasma cutting of metal: differences and comparison, which is better?
Laser cutting and plasma cutting are competing technologies and have similar applications. In this regard, many often wonder which method is better.
To answer the question posed, it is necessary to understand all the subtleties and features of these types of cutting.
Features of plasma cutting
Cutting metal is a responsible task. Very often this process involves many factors that need to be taken into account. This includes the volume of work performed, the type of metal, and its thickness.
A particularly important indicator is the amount of work. If it needs to be done rarely, then plasma cutting of metal is not the most profitable option. The cost of such a device will not pay off with little use and, perhaps, in this case, it is better to give preference to other methods, for example, an angle grinder.
In other words, in order to cut a pipe in the country or for frivolous household purposes, a good angle grinder is preferable.
Another common technology is oxy-fuel cutting. Its advantages include high processing speed. However, the differences between gas welding and an angle grinder include the rough version of the resulting cut. The metal after exposure to this method must be further processed.
Scheme of plasma welding and cutting.
If at home you can spend time on this, then in production such a procedure will require significant financial costs.
Plasma cutting uses a high-speed flow of ionized gas - plasma. It serves as a current conductor between the device and the part. As a result, the product heats up and melts. Also, during operation, the gas flow blows away the molten material, thereby dividing it into parts.
From the basic principles of operation of the method, it becomes clear that it is applicable to conductive materials. These include, for example, aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel.
In the case of plasma processing, various gases can be used. Despite this, the most common option is compressed air. This gas is available, and in addition, its use does not require additional oxygen.
Features of laser processing
Laser cutting technology is one of the most advanced methods of metal processing. At the moment, it is widely used in various areas of production.
The essence of the method is that, using specialized equipment, a laser beam is formed and directed at the product being processed. The contact area in this case is on the order of several microns.
During the cutting process, the metal is locally heated to melting temperatures. At the same time, the rest of the material remains cold due to the small contact area. The result is high operational safety for personnel and the part itself.
The error in performing the work is minimal. In the cut areas from laser welding, the material immediately evaporates. The distance between the device and the product is only a couple of centimeters.
The efficiency of this technology is so high that after cutting there is no need for additional processing. The product can be immediately subjected to subsequent technological processes or sent for use.
Plasma cutting of metal.
Laser processing allows you to cut metal parts of small thickness. It can be aluminum, brass, copper, stainless steel, titanium, etc. In addition, the method, unlike the plasma method, allows for milling of products, as well as drilling holes.
Despite the fact that laser cutting of metal is one of the most modern technologies, it has its positive and negative sides.
The advantages include:
- the ability to process any materials, including fragile and durable ones;
- absence of defects and high cutting accuracy;
- the ability to cut products of any shape due to high precision;
- efficiency in the use of consumables;
- no need for additional processing of the product after cutting.
The disadvantages include:
- high cost of equipment;
- limitation on metal thickness of twenty millimeters;
- impossibility of processing materials with high reflectivity.
Laser cutting vs plasma cutting – which is better?
Plasma cutting and laser cutting technology are constantly competing with each other. Under certain conditions they can be interchangeable, but there are times when it makes more sense to choose one of them.
In applications where the quality of parts is of primary importance, laser technology will be preferable. It allows you to get a precise perpendicular cut, so the edges of the parts will be better.
Heating during laser processing is local, as a result, it is possible to avoid deformation of products, since the thermal impact zone is small. Another advantage is the accuracy of the resulting parts, especially when forming holes and figures of complex design.
Scheme of laser cutting of metal.
The main advantage of this technology is high productivity. This is especially true when working with sheet material up to six millimeters thick. In this case, high processing speed and good accuracy are ensured.
Laser processing does not leave scale or other defects on thin sheet metal. This allows the received parts to be sent for use or transferred to the next technological stages of production without additional processing.
For metals with a thickness of 20-40 millimeters, laser cutting is rarely used, and for larger thicknesses it is not used.
Plasma cutting, compared to laser cutting, allows you to process a wider range of materials in thickness. In this case, a fairly good quality of work is also ensured.
This technology is especially effective when working with copper, alloy and carbon steels, aluminum and alloys based on it. It should be borne in mind that this method has some limitations on the thickness of the metals to which it is applicable.
Plasma cutting is characterized by a taper of the cutting surface from three to ten degrees. Forming holes in thick materials can result in differences in the top and bottom radii. So in metal 20 mm thick, the radii of holes can differ by 1 mm.
So, it is impossible to say unequivocally which is better: plasma or laser cutting. As can be seen from the description above, both technologies work well only with materials of small thickness.
Action of a laser cutter.
At the same time, the quality of cuts obtained on thin sheet metal using laser cutting is significantly higher. So, if it is necessary to obtain parts of complex shapes, it will be preferable.
In addition, laser equipment allows you to solve a wider range of problems. Using it, you can mark, mark, form holes, etc. As for the service life of laser units, they are incomparably longer than those of plasma units.
An important criterion is also the cost of the equipment. Plasma cutting machines are cheaper. However, other criteria must be taken into account, such as the cost of consumables, as well as service life. As a result, it may turn out that laser equipment will be cheaper.
As a result, comparing all the parameters, we can conclude that working with thin parts is more profitable than laser cutting, and working with thicker parts is more profitable than plasma cutting. The costs of operating the equipment will depend on many factors, so in each specific case they may differ significantly from each other.
Bottom line
Technologies for laser and plasma cutting of metal have become widespread in modern industry. They allow you to ensure high productivity, as well as good quality of work performed.
Depending on the goals, each technology has its own advantages, although in many cases they can be interchangeable.
Source: https://tutsvarka.ru/vidy/lazernaya-ili-plazmennaya-rezka
Laser or plasma cutting of metal: which is better? | Comparison of two cutting technologies
Technologies for laser and plasma cutting of materials have the same area of application and are competing technologies. The consumer naturally asks the question: “ Laser or plasma cutting of metal: which is better? ". First things first.
Laser cutting of metal
A focused laser beam is used as a tool in laser cutting in a very simplified way. During continuous operation, the laser beam heats the material being processed to the melting temperature, and the resulting melt is removed by a high-pressure gas jet. When sublimation laser cutting of metal occurs, the material evaporates in the cutting zone under the influence of a laser pulse.
Plasma cutting of metal
Plasma cutting involves the penetration of the metal being cut due to the heat generated by a compressed plasma arc, and the intensive removal of the melt by a plasma jet. A plasma arc is obtained from a conventional arc in a special device - a plasma torch - as a result of its compression and injection of a plasma-forming gas into it.
Advantages of metal laser cutting
Laser cutting, in contrast to plasma cutting, provides more accurate perpendicular edges and narrower slots in relation to the thickness range characteristic of the process. Focused laser radiation allows heating a fairly narrow zone of the material being processed, which reduces deformation during cutting. This produces high-quality and narrow cuts with a relatively small heat-affected zone.
An additional advantage of laser cutting is the accuracy of the resulting parts, especially when creating cutouts, small shapes of complex configurations and clearly defined corners. One of the main advantages of this type of processing is its high productivity. Laser cutting is especially effective for steel up to 6 mm thick, providing high quality and accuracy at a relatively high cutting speed.
During laser processing, no scale remains on the thin-sheet material, which allows the parts to be immediately transferred to the next technological operation. The cutting edges of sheets up to 4 mm thick and less remain smooth and straight, while for sheets of greater thickness the edges have some deviations with a bevel of approximately 0.5°. The laser cut holes are slightly larger in diameter at the bottom than at the top, but remain round and of good quality.
For metal with a thickness of 20–40 mm, laser cutting is used much less frequently than plasma cutting, and for metal with a thickness of over 40 mm it is practically not used.
Advantages of plasma metal cutting
Plasma cutting, compared to laser cutting, is effective in processing a much wider range of sheet thicknesses with relatively good cut quality. This type of processing is economically feasible for cutting aluminum and alloys based on it with a thickness of up to 120 mm; copper up to 80 mm thick; alloy and carbon steels up to 150 mm thick; cast iron up to 90 mm thick.
On materials with a thickness of 0.8 mm or less, the use of plasma cutting is of limited use. Plasma cutting is characterized by a certain taper of the cutting surface 3° - 10°. When cutting holes, especially at large thicknesses, the presence of a taper reduces the diameter of the lower edge of the hole; on a part 20 mm thick, the difference in the diameter of the inlet and outlet holes can be 1 mm.
It should be taken into account that plasma cutting of metal has restrictions on the minimum hole size. Good quality holes are obtained with a diameter no less than the thickness of the plasma-cut sheet. With this cutting method, there is a short-term thermal firing of the edge of the metal being cut. All this leads to deterioration in the quality of parts.
Most often, these parts have a small amount of scale on them, which can be easily removed.
Laser or plasma cutting of metal?
So, laser or plasma cutting of metal: which is better? Comparing the two methods described above, we can come to the conclusion that the results of laser and plasma cutting are approximately the same when processing thin metals.
If we talk about processing metals whose thickness exceeds 6 mm, then the leading position here is occupied by plasma technology, which is superior to laser both in the speed of operations and in the level of energy costs.
But it should be taken into account that the quality of parts obtained by laser cutting at small thicknesses is much higher than when using plasma, and it is advisable to use this technology when producing products of complex shapes, for which high accuracy and maximum compliance with the project are of particular importance.
It should be noted that laser radiation, unlike plasma, is a highly versatile tool (in addition to cutting, it is also used for marking, hardening, marking, etc.). Also, the service life of consumables for laser cutting is incomparably longer than for plasma cutting.
Machine price and operating cost
An important characteristic is the cost of installations. Plasma cutting machines are cheaper than laser ones, but when comparing the cost of operating installations, one should take into account a number of identical or similar parameters that exist during the operation of these installations and affect operating costs. This applies, first of all, to the cost of consumables, as well as electricity and auxiliary gases.
Laser cutting of metal - consumables
The main gases used in laser cutting include air and oxygen (when cutting carbon steel) or nitrogen (when cutting corrosion-resistant steel and aluminum).
Energy costs include the cost of electricity consumed by the installation itself, electricity for the laser and cooling device, and consumable components include internal and external optics, lenses, nozzles, filters.
The frequency of replacement of consumable components used in a laser cutting machine ranges from several weeks to several years, depending on many parameters.
Plasma cutting of metal - consumables
When carrying out plasma cutting, air and oxygen are mainly used. Energy costs here include the cost of electricity to create the plasma and to power the plasma cutting machine itself. Consumable components include nozzle, electrode, dividing ring, caps, ceramic guide and screen. As an option, you can use low-current electrodes and nozzles, which improves the quality of cutting, but at the same time reduces its productivity.
Performance
Other parameters, such as the number of holes cut per part, affect the hourly cost of operating a plasma machine to a greater extent than the same indicator for a laser machine, since consumable components, such as nozzles and electrodes, are designed for a certain number of starts or flashes. The more holes that need to be drilled into a part to cut it, the higher the cost per hour of operation of the plasma unit.
Quality of parts
Comparing the quality of the resulting parts and based on the cost of consumables, we can come to the conclusion that laser cutting is more effective than plasma cutting for thinner sheet materials, and plasma cutting for thicker ones. It should be taken into account that operating costs for both types of cutting vary widely and are largely determined by the geometric parameters of the workpiece, the number of holes in it, and the type and thickness of the material being cut.
| Options | Laser cutting | Plasma cutting |
| Cutting width | The cutting width is constant (0.2 - 0.375 mm) | The cutting width is not constant due to the instability of the plasma arc (0.8 - 1.5 mm) |
| Cutting accuracy | Typically ±0.05 mm (0.2 - 0.375 mm) | Depends on the degree of wear of consumables ±0.1 - ±0.5 mm |
| Taper | Less than 1° | 3° — 10° |
| Minimum openings | In continuous mode, the diameter is approximately equal to the thickness of the material. For pulse mode, the minimum hole diameter can be one third of the material thickness. | The minimum diameter of the holes is 1.5 times the thickness of the material, but not less than 4 mm. Pronounced tendency towards ellipticity (increases with increasing material thickness). |
| Internal corners | High quality corners | Some corner rounding occurs and more material is removed from the bottom of the cut than from the top. |
| Scale | Usually absent | Usually present (small) |
| Burns | Invisible | Present on sharp outer edges of parts |
| Thermal impact | Very little | More than laser cutting |
| Metal cutting performance | Very high speed. For small thicknesses, usually with a noticeable decrease as the thickness increases, prolonged burning of large thicknesses. | Fast burn; very high speed at small and medium thicknesses, usually with a sharp decrease as thickness increases. |
Laser cutting of metal
Laser metal cutting is especially effective for steel up to 6 mm thick, providing high quality and accuracy at a relatively high cutting speed. The cutting edges of sheets up to 4 mm thick and less remain smooth and straight, while for sheets of greater thickness the edges have some deviations with a bevel of approximately 0.5°. The laser cut holes are slightly larger in diameter at the bottom than at the top, but remain round and of good quality.
So: which is better?
Thus, laser cutting is more effective than plasma cutting for thinner sheet materials, and plasma cutting for thicker ones. It should be taken into account that operating costs for both types of cutting vary widely and are largely determined by the geometric parameters of the workpiece, the number of holes in it, and the type and thickness of the material being cut.
Laser or plasma cutting of metal: which is better?
Source: http://www.novator-grp.ru/rus/projects/laser_vs_plasma
The Basic Essence of Plasma and Laser Cutting of Metal
These technologies for cutting metal workpieces are not opposite, although they are not interchangeable. It is not always possible to replace the use of plasma cutting with laser cutting and vice versa.
The essence of laser cutting of metal is cutting the workpiece using a powerful directed laser beam. Its focused impact allows the metal to heat up to its melting point. Subsequently, a high-pressure gas jet is applied to the cutting site. If we are talking about sublimation-type laser cutting, then in the process of using this technology the molten metal will simply evaporate under the influence of a powerful beam.
The essence of plasma cutting is the generation of a laser arc, which generates a large amount of heat, allowing it to melt a metal workpiece. The melt itself is removed during the cutting process under the influence of a plasma jet.
The choice of technology depending on the grade and thickness of the metal
Laser cutting of metal ensures high accuracy of the formed perpendicularities. This, in turn, allows cutting with a minimum cutting line thickness. During the processing of a workpiece, it is heated only under a focused laser beam - the rest of the metal sheet does not heat up and does not melt. This means that there will be no contour deformation along the edge of the finished product.
Accuracy and high productivity are the main advantages of laser cutting. But there are also disadvantages: such accuracy can only be obtained by cutting sheet metal whose thickness is no more than 6 mm. Cutting thicker sheets will certainly result in a beveled edge that will require additional processing.
Laser cutting is practically not used when cutting metal whose thickness is more than 20 mm.
When to choose plasma cutting technology?
Plasma cutting technology for metal workpieces is used for cutting:
- aluminum alloy sheets up to 12 cm thick; - copper sheets up to 8 cm thick; - alloy or carbon steel sheets up to 15 cm thick;
— cast iron sheets up to 9 cm thick.
It is not recommended to cut thin sheet metal using plasma cutting, since the risk of warping of the workpiece along the contour under the influence of high temperature increases.
Source: https://svone.ru/plasma-or-laser-cutting-which-is-better.html
Comparison of laser and plasma cutting
Often, when purchasing equipment for metal cutting, we are faced with the choice of which type of cutting is better, plasma or laser? Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and in order for you to make the right choice, in this article we will analyze each in detail.
Laser and plasma cutting technologies
Continuous metal cutting with a laser is based on a concentrated laser beam, which, in essence, is the cutting tool. The concentrated beam heats the metal to the melting point, and the gas released under pressure pushes it apart. Using sublimation cutting, the liquid metal in the cutting zone is accelerated by a laser pulse.
In the case of plasma cutting, the melting point is achieved by generating a plasma arc. Metal cutting also occurs under gas pressure.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main difference between laser cutting is the minimal deformation of the prepared parts when cutting metal. This result is achieved due to the fact that the laser beam cuts into a thin strip, which means that heating of the metal is minimal. As a result, the productivity of such cutting is high, and the execution of even the most complex parts is as accurate as possible.
The laser tool is multidisciplinary in its kind; it can be used not only to cut, but also to apply markings and markings. But it is worth considering that the laser works well on metal thicknesses of no more than 6 mm; when processing thicker material, scale forms along the edge of the cut and a bevel of 0.5 degrees appears.
If your plans include the production of simple parts, without unnecessary holes and corners, then the productivity of a plasma installation will be 2-3 times higher than that of a laser, provided the power consumption is the same.
But plasma cutting is ideal for cutting thick metal, up to 20 cm thick:
— aluminum up to 12 cm;
— cast iron up to 9 cm;
— copper alloys up to 8 cm;
— carbon steels up to 20 cm.
It is better not to process metals less than 0.5 cm thick with plasma cutting, as the parts will become deformed. Also keep in mind that the diameters of the holes cut with plasma cutting are not always ideal. The most optimal cutting diameter is one that is twice the thickness of the metal itself.
The scale that forms along the edge is easily removed. Plasma installations can be automatic or manual; if necessary, they can be easily transported.
Also, the plasma cutting process is not capricious; before starting work, you do not have to clean the metal from dirt and rust and create a sterile cleanliness, as is the case with laser equipment.
When working with a plasma installation, there is no need to undergo special training; it is enough to know safety precautions and the process of the work itself, while working with a laser requires qualified knowledge and it is not always possible to find a master who knows his job well.
The disadvantage of plasma cutting is that when cutting metal, a large amount of harmful gases are released into the air, so the room where the work is carried out must be equipped with good ventilation, and primary fire extinguishing means must be provided, since fire may occur if fire safety rules are not followed.
Key Features
| Peculiarity | Laser installations | Plasma installations |
| Width of cut line, mm | No more than 0.4 | From 0.7 to 1.6 |
| Cutting error, mm | No more than 0.05 | From 0.1 to 0.5 |
| Formation of a conical cut | No more than 1⁰ | From 3⁰ to 10⁰ |
| Minimum diameter | In a continuous process, the diameter corresponds to the thickness of the metal. With a point impact, the diameter will be 1/3 of the thickness of the metal. | The minimum diameter is 2 times the thickness of the sheet, but not less than 0.4 cm. |
| Internal corners | Great quality | A small corner cut, the lower part is cut more than the upper. |
| Presence of scale | Not visible. | Available in small quantities. |
| Presence of burns | Not observed. | Small, along the edge of the outside |
| Exposure to high temperatures | Minimal. | Average. |
| Performance | Maximum with minimum sheet thickness. | It increases in accordance with the increase in sheet thickness. |
Difference in cost
Undoubtedly, a plasma installation is much cheaper than a laser one, but you should not make your choice rashly; take into account all the costs of materials for the further operation of the equipment.
When operating laser equipment, you will need the following materials: nitrogen, oxygen, electrical energy, as well as nozzles, optics and filters, which are changed quite rarely unless you are doing it professionally and do not load the installation to the maximum.
For a plasma installation, in principle, air and nitrogen are also used, electricity is used only for the equipment itself, from consumables: a nozzle, electrodes and a protective screen. In terms of purchasing consumables, laser equipment undoubtedly wins, since the electrodes are designed for a certain amount of work.
However, in case of failure of consumables or the need for maintenance of parts, the cost for laser equipment will be 3-4 times higher than the cost for plasma equipment. In addition, in case of service or repair, the laser will need to be adjusted as precisely as possible, and this requires the services of a highly qualified specialist, the prices for which are also quite high.
Conclusion
Based on the above, we can conclude that if you plan to work with metal no more than 3 mm thick, and you will need a huge number of holes, then it is better to purchase a laser machine.
If you plan to work with metal with an average thickness of 5 mm, and the parts are not complex, you can definitely recommend a plasma installation. In this case, you will get high performance and minimal costs.
An excellent solution would be to optimize existing technologies and redesign the process to effectively use both plasma and laser equipment.
Important skills for a plasma cutting operator
Plasma cutting of metal, which has become a modern alternative to conventional gas cutting, is becoming increasingly in demand today. Productivity increases significantly and the workflow is simplified. However, to properly and effectively use a plasma torch, a specialist must have all the necessary skills.
Manual plasma cutting and automated
Plasma cutting, as a method of cutting metals, is today gaining increasing popularity and widespread use among enterprises in the metalworking industry. Cutting is carried out both using portable portable devices and using automated equipment, when a plasma cutter (plasma torch) is installed on a CNC machine
10 common mistakes when cutting metal with plasma
Assembling the entire plasma cutting system can be a very difficult task. The task includes selecting the power source that generates the plasma flow, the CNC system, software, ventilation systems, and the cutting table and gantry system.
Source: https://www.perfect-cut.ru/articles/sravneniye-lazernoy-i-plazmennoy-rezki-preimushchestva-i-nedostatki
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In modern industrial production, laser and plasma cutting technologies are widely used and at the same time competing with each other. They have the same scope of application and at first glance differ little from each other, but differences exist.
Laser cutting uses a focused beam of coherent optical radiation. It easily heats the material to the melting point. To remove the resulting melt, a gas jet is supplied to the cutting zone under high pressure.
Plasma cutting uses a high-temperature plasma arc, which is formed from a plasma-forming gas. It both melts the material and removes it from the cutting zone.
Parameters Laser cutting Plasma cutting| Cutting width | Constant cutting width (0.2–0.375 mm) | Cutting width is not constant due to instability of the plasma arc (0.8–3 mm) |
| Cutting accuracy | Typically ±0.05mm | Generally ±0.5mm |
| Taper | Less than 0.5° | 1°-3° |
| Minimum openings | Any diameter | More metal thickness |
| Internal corners | High quality corners | High quality corners |
| Scale | Usually absent | Usually present (easily removed) |
| Burns | Invisible | Present on sharp outer edges of parts |
| Thermal impact | Very little | More than laser cutting |
| Metal cutting performance | Very high speed. For small thicknesses, usually with a noticeable decrease as thickness increases, prolonged burning of large thicknesses | Fast burn; very high speed at small to medium thicknesses, usually with a sharp decrease as thickness increases |
Advantages of laser cutting
The use of laser cutting allows you to obtain:
- edges of precise dimensions;
- narrower and better cuts;
- perpendicular shape of the edges.
Thanks to these advantages, laser cutting has a small heat-affected zone and small deformations of the material, which increases the accuracy of manufacturing parts with complex configurations. The key feature of this technology is high productivity and cutting efficiency when working with sheet materials.
Advantages of plasma cutting
The use of plasma cutting has the following advantages:
- ability to work with many different metals and alloys (copper, aluminum, steel, cast iron, etc.). In this case, the workpiece can be of considerable thickness;
- high quality and cutting speed.
Due to the instability of arc parameters, plasma cutting technology has limitations for thin materials. Thermal firing of edges reduces the quality of parts and requires descaling, which complicates the production process.
Based on the above, we can conclude that plasma cutting is best used when working with metal sheets of large and medium thickness, and laser cutting is economically advantageous when producing parts or products of complex shape from metal blanks of small thickness.
Source: https://www.xn--80aaastfkafstclu.xn--p1ai/stati/laser-ili-plazma.html
Comparison of laser and plasma cutting of metal | Sign Service
There are two main technologies for cutting metal - the first uses laser equipment, the second uses plasma.
In laser cutting, a laser beam heats the surface of the metal until it begins to melt. This allows you to easily remove the melt using a gas jet directed under high pressure. And when using a high-power laser emitter, you can cut using the sublimation laser cutting method, when the metal evaporates bypassing the liquid state, in which case a gas supply is not required.
During plasma cutting, the material is melted due to heating from a compressed plasma arc from a plasma torch. The resulting molten pieces are removed using a plasma jet. A plasma-forming gas is used as a substance to generate a plasma arc.
Advantages and disadvantages of both methods
| Plasma (recommended cutting thickness – within 0.8 – 120 mm) | Laser (recommended cutting thickness – up to 6 mm) |
| The holes at the bottom of the metal are larger in diameter compared to the holes at the top due to the peculiarities of cutting with a plasma torch | Smooth and straight cutting edges, high quality and ideal geometric shape with minimal taper |
| Wide cut | Narrow cut |
| Average service life of manufactured parts due to rougher cut edges than laser cut ones | Precision of work and durability of the resulting parts: no defects or geometric irregularities, narrow and barely visible cuts with small temperature zones are obtained, which increases the service life of the product. This is especially important when creating small figures with complex shapes and clear angles. The ability to heat a narrow zone of metal, which reduces the level of deformation during work. |
| Low cost of equipment, high cost of consumables | High cost of equipment, low cost of consumables |
| Fast working speed when processing thick steel. You can cut sheets with a thickness of: up to 150 mm if it is carbon and alloy steel; up to 120 mm if it is aluminum and alloys; up to 90 mm if it is cast iron; up to 80 mm if it is copper | Fast working speed when processing thin steel. No scale appears on the metal, so it can be sent to the next production stage without additional processing |
| Disadvantages: inability to use for sheets with a thickness of less than 0.8 mm, the appearance of scale after working with any type of steel due to short-term thermal firing, the presence of restrictions on the minimum hole size | Disadvantages: when processing sheets with a thickness of over 4 mm, a deviation of 0.50 appears, high rejects when working with sheets with a thickness of over 20-40 mm |
In terms of productivity, a plasma machine is more affected by the number of holes required per part than a laser machine. This increases operating costs and the cost of an hour of operation due to restrictions on starts and firmware for nozzles and electrodes, respectively.
Comparison criteria
When processing workpieces that have a small thickness and do not have large configuration requirements, both technologies provide almost identical results. However, when working with thick sheets (over 6 mm), plasma cutting is much more effective in terms of efficiency and speed.
Laser technology is significantly superior to its competitor when working with complex parts. This is especially important for products that have high requirements for quality and shape. Laser is also better than plasma due to its greater versatility: it can be used not only to cut, but also to harden, mark, mark and other operations. Not to mention the greater durability of the resulting products.
How much will the equipment and maintenance cost?
Plasma equipment is much cheaper than laser equipment at the purchase stage. In terms of operating costs, both technologies depend on the price of consumables, auxiliary gases and wound electrical energy, the geometric parameters of the workpiece and the number of holes in it.
What is required for work
Plasma equipment requires the use of air and oxygen. During operation, electricity is used to power the unit and create a plasma jet for cutting. During operation, the cutting rings, ceramic guide, nozzles, electrodes and screen are consumed and quickly fail.
Laser equipment also requires air and oxygen for carbon steel, or nitrogen for aluminum or corrosion-resistant steel. Operating costs include electricity consumed by the equipment, and consumable materials and elements include external and internal optics, filters, lenses and nozzles.
Quality of parts
| Comparison parameter | Plasma technology indicators | Indicators of laser technology |
| Taper,° | 3-10 | Less than 1 |
| Performance | Large for small and medium material thicknesses, medium for large thicknesses | Large for small material thicknesses, small for large thicknesses |
| Internal corners | During cutting, more material melts from the bottom compared to the top | Excellent quality, straight cut |
| Scale | Small | Absent |
| Thermal impact | Average | Weak |
| Burns | Medium, visible on sharp outer edges | Weak |
| Accuracy, mm | ±0.1-0.5 Depends on wear of consumables | ±0.05 Constant |
| Cutting width, mm | Varies within 0.8-1.5, since the plasma arc is not constant during operation | Constant value. Varies slightly - about 0.2-0.375 |
| Minimum openings | Depends on the thickness of the sheet, the maximum possible diameter is 1.5 mm and above. In this case, the workpiece should not be thinner than 4 mm | With continuous operation, you can make a diameter equal to the thickness of the sheet. And with pulse it can be a third of the thickness |
Comparison results
When comparing the quality of products, you can make sure that each technology is good and appropriate for its field of application. Laser – for thin sheets with a thickness of up to 6 mm. At the same time, it allows you to obtain smooth and straight edges on workpieces up to 4 mm thick. Plasma is more suitable for high-speed and rough processing of thick sheets of aluminum and alloys, copper, alloy and carbon steel, cast iron.
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Source: https://sign-service.ru/company/articles/sravnenie-lazernoj-i-plazmennoj-rezki-metalla.html
What is better laser or plasma for cutting metal?
When purchasing machines for processing metal products, the first question that arises is which cutting technology to choose: plasma or laser? They are eternal competitors, since in most cases they are quite capable of replacing each other. However, there are also situations when it is more advisable to use a specific unit.
Work process
The main laser cutting tool is a focused beam. Under constant operating conditions, it heats the material being processed to a certain temperature at which the melting process begins.
The resulting slag is removed by a gas jet released under high pressure. There is another technology for similar cutting, it is called sublimation.
In this case, the excess material at the cutting sites is exposed to a laser pulse, due to which it evaporates.
The essence of plasma cutting is to melt the material being processed under the influence of heat generated by a compressed arc, and carefully remove the excess with a jet. The process of converting a regular arc into a plasma arc is quite simple. It is carried out using a plasma torch - a special device that compresses the arc and blows gas into it, forming plasma.
Technology Features
- Laser cutting allows you to get a more accurate and accurate result. This was made possible thanks to focused radiation, which heats a specific narrow area of the material and reduces the risk of its deformation during the cutting process. Another advantage of this method is the absolute accuracy of the resulting parts, this is especially important when creating cutouts, small intricate shapes, and corners with clear outlines. The result is a high-quality, precise, dross-free cut with smooth, straight edges. The most prominent representative of laser machines is Bodor BCL1309XM (150W Reci W6 + CW5200AH).
- Plasma cutting is used when processing sheets of material more than 80 mm thick. It must be taken into account that the minimum size of the resulting hole is limited. It is possible to create a high-quality hole only if its diameter is not less than the thickness of the material being processed. In addition, you should be aware that the result of such cutting is thermal firing, which deteriorates the quality of the parts. This is expressed in the presence of scale, which is quite easy to remove.
Purchase and operating costs
The cost of the machines is important. Plasma units are more affordable than laser units, but it is worth considering the costs of their maintenance and repair.
The laser cutting process mainly uses gases such as air, oxygen and nitrogen. Energy costs refer to the cost of electricity that powers the installation, the laser and the device responsible for cooling. Consumable materials include: optics, lenses, filters. Components in such machines should be updated at different intervals, depending on the parameters and operating conditions.
Plasma cutting is carried out using air and oxygen. In this case, electricity ensures the operation of the installation; the process of creating plasma cannot do without it. There are a lot of components used in such cutting, these include: nozzle, electrode, covers, screen, etc. The operating cost is also affected by the number of holes drilled for cutting - the more of them, the higher the costs.
Conclusion
Making the right choice in favor of a particular machine is possible only through a deep analysis of production, namely its tasks and capabilities. In addition, consideration should be given to integrating machines into existing processes or redesigning those processes to ensure the most efficient use of laser or plasma cutting.
Source: https://RuStan.ru/chto-luchshe-lazer-ili-plazma-dlya-rezki-metalla
Laser or plasma cutting of metal - which is better?
October 25, 2016, Tue
Often, when thinking about purchasing new equipment for metal processing, we ask ourselves the question of what type of technology to give preference to: laser or plasma cutting. Even though both technologies are competing, there are still a number of factors that can help you make the right choice.
Knowing the specifics of your business and the tasks it is designed to solve, by the end of the article you will have an understanding of what is most suitable for you.
But first things first.
In this article we will try to outline the main features of laser and plasma cutting. But first, let’s define the main difference between laser and plasma cutting.
Material thickness
Laser cutting is especially effective for steel up to 20 mm thick, providing high quality and accuracy at a relatively high cutting speed. During laser processing, no scale remains on the thin-sheet material, which allows the parts to be immediately transferred to the next technological operation. The cutting edges of sheets up to 4 mm thick and less remain smooth and straight, while for sheets of greater thickness the edges have some deviations with a bevel of approximately 0.5°.
Plasma cutting, compared to laser cutting, is effective in processing a much wider range of sheet thicknesses with relatively good cut quality. This type of processing is economically feasible for cutting aluminum and alloys based on it with a thickness of up to 120 mm; copper up to 80 mm thick; alloy and carbon steels up to 150 mm thick; cast iron up to 90 mm thick. On materials with a thickness of 0.8 mm or less, the use of plasma cutting is of limited use.
Hole quality
The laser cut holes are slightly larger in diameter at the bottom than at the top, but remain round and of good quality. In continuous mode, the diameter is approximately equal to the thickness of the material. For pulse mode, the minimum hole diameter can be one third of the material thickness.
In plasma cutting machines, when cutting holes, especially at large thicknesses, the presence of a taper reduces the diameter of the lower edge of the hole; on a part 20 mm thick, the difference in the diameter of the inlet and outlet holes can be 1 mm.
The minimum diameter of the holes is 1.5 times the thickness of the material, but not less than 4 mm. Pronounced tendency towards ellipticity (increases with increasing material thickness).
Cutting accuracy
Laser cutting, in contrast to plasma cutting, provides more accurate perpendicular edges and narrower slots in relation to the thickness range characteristic of the process.
Focused laser radiation allows heating a fairly narrow zone of the material being processed, which reduces deformation during cutting. This produces high-quality and narrow cuts with a relatively small heat-affected zone.
As a result, the resulting parts are highly accurate, especially when creating cutouts, small shapes of complex configurations and clearly defined corners.
With the plasma cutting method, there is a short-term thermal firing of the edge of the metal being cut. All this leads to deterioration in the quality of parts. Most often, these parts have a small amount of scale on them, which can be easily removed.
Consumables
The main gases used in laser cutting include air and oxygen (when cutting carbon steel) or nitrogen (when cutting corrosion-resistant steel and aluminum).
Energy costs include the cost of electricity consumed by the installation itself, electricity for the laser and cooling device, and consumable components include internal and external optics, lenses, nozzles, filters.
The frequency of replacement of consumable components used in a laser cutting machine ranges from several weeks to several years, depending on many parameters.
When carrying out plasma cutting, air and oxygen are mainly used. Energy costs here include the cost of electricity to create the plasma and to power the plasma cutting machine itself. Consumable components include nozzle, electrode, dividing ring, caps, ceramic guide and screen.
conclusions
If high precision and speed are important to you, and you work with small thicknesses, then without a doubt, we recommend that you choose a metal laser cutting machine.
You can find out more detailed information about plasma cutting machines here.
Source: https://hanslaser.wrs.ru/article_2.html
Laser or plasma cutting of metal: which method is better? Articles of the company "SES LLC"
Laser and plasma cutting of metal: what is the difference between these concepts, and which method is more effective?
Laser or plasma cutting of metal: which method is better?
Laser and plasma cutting are competing metal processing methods. To reach a verdict on which method is more effective, it is important to understand the essence of both technologies.
Features of laser cutting
The essence of the method is a targeted laser beam that melts an unnecessary piece of metal to a liquid state. This area is subsequently removed using a gas stream. The advantage of laser exposure is the ability to cover and remove a thin part of the sheet, which has almost no effect on the integrity of the material.
Upon contact with the beam, no oxidation occurs, which allows operations on the part to continue without post-processing. A metal laser cutting machine is indispensable when working with complex geometric shapes and sharp bends. It is believed that the laser option is more suitable for material less than 6 mm thick. At the same time, the operation of the machine is characterized by the accuracy and efficiency of the process.
For sheets with a thickness of 20–40 mm, the method is used much less frequently than the plasma method, and for products thicker than 40 mm it is not used at all.
Features of plasma cutting
The essence of the method is to melt metal using an arc with ionized gas. The method is used if the thickness of the starting material reaches 40 mm or more. At the same time, it becomes possible to work with steel up to 150 mm, aluminum up to 120 mm, copper up to 80 mm. When making slots, the plasma method imposes certain restrictions regarding the diameter: it should not be less than the thickness of the sheet itself.
Comparison of laser and plasma cutting: which is better?
Both methods work well when working with thin metal layers. When it comes to materials thicker than 6 mm, using plasma cutting is more appropriate. However, with a small thickness, the laser system demonstrates better results than its analogue, which is important if it is necessary to accurately follow the pattern. In addition, the laser is multifunctional: in addition to cutting, it can be used to mark, mark, etc.
In general, a laser system is cheaper, but this advantage is offset by a large number of operating costs. The energy consumption to generate plasma and maintain operation is much higher than with laser processing.
The use of low-current spare parts slows down the productivity of the plasma machine, although it improves the quality of its work. In this case, the components are designed for a certain number of holes made.
Accordingly, their condition greatly affects the final cost of equipment operation.
Laser machines may not need to replace parts for several years - the more precise period depends on operating conditions. The overall scale of costs in both cases is determined by the complexity of the work, the type of metal, the number of holes and other parameters.
| Options | Laser cutting | Plasma cutting |
| Cutting width | The cutting width is constant (0.2 - 0.375 mm) | The cutting width is not constant due to the instability of the plasma arc (0.8 - 1.5 mm) |
| Cutting accuracy | Typically ±0.05 mm (0.2 - 0.375 mm) | Depends on the degree of wear of consumables ±0.1 - ±0.5 mm |
| Taper | Less than 1° | 3° — 10° |
| Minimum openings | In continuous mode, the diameter is approximately equal to the thickness of the material. For pulse mode, the minimum hole diameter can be one third of the material thickness. | The minimum diameter of the holes is 1.5 times the thickness of the material, but not less than 4 mm. Pronounced tendency towards ellipticity (increases with increasing material thickness). |
| Internal corners | High quality corners | Some corner rounding occurs and more material is removed from the bottom of the cut than from the top. |
| Scale | Usually absent | Usually present (small) |
| Burns | Invisible | Present on sharp outer edges of parts |
| Thermal impact | Very little | More than laser cutting |
| Metal cutting performance | Very high speed. For small thicknesses, usually with a noticeable decrease as the thickness increases, prolonged burning of large thicknesses. | Fast burn; very high speed at small and medium thicknesses, usually with a sharp decrease as thickness increases. |
Results
To summarize: in a situation where performance and high cutting accuracy are important, it is better to use a laser. On our website you can buy a powerful laser cutting machine for high-quality processing of any metal surfaces.
Source: https://stanok96.ru/a202769-lazernaya-ili-plazmennaya.html
Plasma or laser cutting - which is better?
What is preferable—plasma or laser cutting—depends on the brand and thickness of the metals being cut, on the requirements for cutting accuracy and on the financial capabilities of the customer. These factors are decisive when it comes to purchasing metal cutting equipment .
What is the essence of laser and plasma cutting
Both technologies are eternal competitors (but not antagonists!). Although, under certain conditions, one will completely replace the other. However, there are cases in which preference is given to laser or plasma.
In a simplified way, laser cutting is carried out using a focused laser beam, which, in fact, is the cutting element. During continuous operation, it heats the metal in the area of its presence to the melting point. And the molten (essentially liquid metal) is removed by a gas jet supplied under high pressure.
During sublimation laser cutting, under the influence of a laser pulse, sheet metal evaporates in the cutting zone.
In plasma cutting, the heat that melts the material is generated by generating a plasma arc. The melt is also removed due to the action of the plasma jet on the liquid metal.
Due to the compression of a conventional arc and the simultaneous injection of plasma-forming gas into the plasma torch, a plasma arc occurs.
The main difference between laser cutting of metal and plasma cutting is the accuracy of perpendicularity of the edges and thickness of the slots formed during the cutting process. Thus, a focused laser beam makes the cutting line thinner. This means that a smaller area of the sheet heats up during the cutting process. This, in turn, explains the virtually absent contour deformation of the resulting workpieces.
Laser cutting has decent productivity with the highest accuracy of the resulting parts. It ensures perfect cutting of small but complex shapes and high accuracy of angles.
However, this technology is most effective when cutting sheets whose thickness is less than or equal to 6 mm. In this case, the workpieces are completely free of scale, and the edges of the parts are perfectly smooth and straight.
When cutting thicker sheets, the edges are beveled up to 0.5 degrees. Therefore, the diameters of laser-cut holes in the lower part are always slightly larger than in the upper part. True, the quality of the cut and the shape always remain impeccable.
Laser machines are rarely used for cutting sheets with a thickness of 20-40 mm. And for thicker ones they are not used at all.
Unlike laser equipment, plasma equipment gives a better quality cut when processing sheets:
- made of aluminum and its alloys (thickness up to 120 mm);
- made of copper (up to 80 mm thick);
- from carbon and alloy steels (thickness up to 150 mm);
- their cast iron (thickness up to 90 mm).
At the same time, a plasma arc is used very rarely for cutting thin sheet metals (up to 0.5 mm) - due to the high temperature in the cutting zone, warping of the contours of the workpiece can occur.
In addition, during operation on such equipment, a cutting taper is formed, varying between 3-10 degrees. Therefore, when cutting holes in thick metals, the lower diameter is smaller than the entrance diameter. So, a circle cut from 20 mm steel will have a diameter difference of 1 mm.
Plasma cutting has limitations on the diameter of the holes cut. Ideal holes are those whose diameter is 1.5-2 times larger than the thickness of the sheet being cut. In this case, a small, easily removed scale is formed.
Parameters Laser cutting Plasma cuttingBelow is a comparative table of the functionality of laser and plasma machines:
| Cutting width | 0.2-0.375 mm | Cutting width 0.8-1.5 mm |
| Cutting accuracy | ±0.05 mm | ±0.1-0.5 mm Depends on the degree of wear of consumables |
| Taper | Less than 1° | 3° — 10° |
| Minimum openings | In continuous mode, the diameter is approximately equal to the thickness of the material. For pulse mode, the minimum hole diameter can be one third of the material thickness. | The minimum diameter of the holes is 1.5 times the thickness of the material, but not less than 4 mm. |
| Internal corners | High quality corners | There is a slight rounding of the corner, more material is removed from the bottom of the cut than from the top |
| Scale | Usually absent | Usually present (small) |
| Burns | Invisible | Present on sharp outer edges of parts |
| Thermal impact | Very little | More than laser cutting |
| Metal cutting performance | Very high speed at small thicknesses. Long-term burning of large thicknesses decreases noticeably with increasing metal thickness. | Fast burn; very high speed at small and medium thicknesses, usually with a sharp decrease as thickness increases. |
The difference between plasma cutting and laser cutting in terms of cost
When deciding which is better - plasma or laser cutting of metal, you need to understand that the price of a portal plasma installation is 5-6 times lower than a similar laser one. However, when comparing both types of equipment, you should take into account not only the starting cost, but also further operating costs.
This includes the cost of electricity, auxiliary gases and the price of consumables. When choosing what to order - plasma or laser cutting of metal, keep in mind that the operating cost estimate for laser cutting includes:
Gas cost:
- air or pure oxygen - for cutting carbon steels;
- nitrogen - for producing billets from aluminum (its alloys) and corrosion-resistant steels (for example, stainless steel).
Energy consumption:
- energy consumption costs of the installation itself;
- electricity for laser and cooler.
Consumables:
- optics (internal and external);
- nozzles;
- filters.
Depending on the intensity of use of laser equipment,
consumables are changed every few weeks or years.
But the answer to the question: “What is the difference between plasma cutting and laser cutting?” would be incomplete without knowledge of the operating costs of a plasma treatment facility . Therefore, we will continue to study in detail the costs of alternative equipment.
Plasma cutting uses oxygen or air. Electricity is spent exclusively on powering the machine itself and creating plasma. As for consumables, there are no more of them than in laser equipment. So, this item includes:
- nozzle;
- electrode;
- protective screen.
To reduce costs in a plasma cutter, you can use low-current nozzles and electrodes,
however, this will reduce the productivity of the machine, but will not reduce the quality of the cut.
An indicator such as the number of holes per workpiece reduces the hourly cost of plasma operation. In this battle, the laser will win, since the nozzles and electrodes used in plasma units are designed for a given number of flashes and starts.
The more holes that need to be made, the higher the operating costs of the plasma machine.
Summarizing the above, we can come to the following conclusion: it is impossible to say in absentia what is more profitable to purchase - plasma or laser cutting. But if you need to cut metal up to 6 mm, and especially with a large number of holes, then a laser will be in favor. When cutting materials from 6 mm, buy CNC plasma machines.
| S-WT series | M30 series | L50 series | Series L100-COMBI |
| Price: from 230,000 rub. | Price: from 470,000 rub. | Price: from 700,000 rub. | Price: from 860,000 rub. |
Source: https://plazma-stanok.ru/plazmennaya-ili-lazernaya-rezka-chto-luche/
What to choose: Plasma or Laser metal cutting? Articles of the company "FMGroup"
What and how you can save money, advantages and disadvantages, which is better
May 29, 2017
The technologies for these types of cutting belong to the same application area and are competing. Which is easier and more profitable to use.
What to choose?
1. You need to decide on the thickness of the metal to be cut.
If you plan or use metal of small thicknesses, then the quality results will be approximately the same.
If it is a metal with a thickness of more than 6 mm, then in this case plasma cutting speed exceeds laser cutting.
If the metal is of small thickness up to 4 mm, then in theory the laser source provides better cutting quality.
2. What parts do you need to cut and what quality do you want to achieve.
If it's thin metal and you need to cut out delicate delicate details, then yes. You need a laser.
If you do not have high requirements for accuracy and have tolerances, there are no thin lines, then you can safely opt for plasma cutting.
3. You not only need to cut, but also mark and engrave.
You can choose either a universal laser or use a plasma source. Developers of plasma cutting sources can offer you this option.
4. Service life of consumables
5. Yes, the service life of consumables for laser cutting is much longer than for plasma cutting. From several weeks to several years.
6. And now the price of the issue.
This is one of the main aspects, along with quality.
If we consider the price based on: coordinate table + laser or coordinate table + plasma, then the difference will be noticeable. Factor of. For example, for thin metals, an installation equipped with a plasma cutting source will cost less than 1 million rubles, and for the same thickness of metal, the cost of a plasma cutting installation will approach 10 million rubles. The cost is based on a fiber laser.
| Options | Laser cutting | Plasma cutting |
| Cutting width | The cutting width is constant (0.2 - 0.375 mm) | The cutting width is not constant due to the instability of the plasma arc (0.8 - 1.5 mm) |
| Cutting accuracy | ±0.05 mm (0.2 - 0.375 mm) | ±0.1 - ±0.5 mm |
| Taper | Up to 2° | 3° — 10° |
| Surface roughness R, µm | 1,25-2,5 | 6,3-12,5 |
| Minimum openings | In continuous mode, the diameter is approximately equal to the thickness of the material. For pulse mode, the minimum hole diameter can be one third of the material thickness. | The minimum diameter of the holes is 1.5 times the thickness of the material, but not less than 4 mm. Pronounced tendency towards ellipticity (increases with increasing material thickness). |
| Internal corners | High quality corners | Some corner rounding occurs and more material is removed from the bottom of the cut than from the top. |
| Scale | Usually absent | Usually present (small) |
| Burning | Invisible | Present on sharp outer edges of parts |
| Thermal impact | Very little | More than laser cutting |
| Metal cutting performance |
| Fast burn; very high speed at small and medium thicknesses, usually with a sharp decrease as thickness increases. |
What's better
If you are interested and production requires a cut with minimal taper, with imperceptible burning and almost no scale, you cut thin metals and have an amount of more than 10 million rubles , then you can choose a laser cutting installation. The price depends very much on the thickness of the metal. At thicknesses of 4-6 mm, a laser cutting machine is 8-10 times more expensive than a plasma cutting machine; at a thickness of 6-20 mm, the price difference is 18 times or more.
If you are interested and production requires a cut with minimal taper, with imperceptible burning and almost no scale, you cut metals up to 80 mm thick and have an amount of more than 10 million rubles , then you can choose a plasma cutting installation with a professional series source.
If you are interested and the production allows tolerance for taper, holes and angles, you cut metals up to 30 mm thick and have an amount of no more than 1 million rubles , then you can choose a plasma cutting installation with a semi-professional series source.
You can get more detailed information from our managers, they will answer any of your questions.
The choice is always yours.
Source: https://fmg58.com/a197130-chto-vybrat-plazmennaya.html
