Aluminum laser cutting

Among all manufacturing techniques, aluminum laser cutting is definitely essential in order to obtain high quality semi-finished or finished final products.

Aluminum is easy to cut, thanks to its lightness and malleability, but it presents other characteristics that can make aluminum laser cutting not the easiest of tasks.

Aluminum laser cutting by Minifaber

Minifaber has over 50 years of experience in metalworking and has developed an excellent know-how that allows it to perform aluminum laser cutting with no risks and great results.

In order to do so, Minifaber can rely on a technologically advanced machinery and a well-prepared technical office. Are technicians, experts in the field, sit with our clients to discuss their project and develop the best way to manufacture the desired final product.

Minifaber’s 4 combined punching machines are able to perfectly cut aluminum foils up to 1250x2500 mm thick, with high speed and excellent precision.

 

The challenges of aluminum laser cutting

Aluminum is very reflective, by nature. And this can cause the laser beam to bounce back from the aluminum surface and damage the laser cutter. This is the main reason why it requires a high level of experience to perform aluminum laser cutting.

It’s mostly difficult with pure aluminum, while it gets easier with aluminum alloys (which are mixed with other metals, such as copper and magnesium for example) that are less reflective.

 

Aluminum laser cutting: which is the best laser?

In order to perform laser cutting, there are usually two different kinds of lasers: CO₂ and fiber laser. They both guarantee very precise and clean cuts; however, when it comes to aluminum laser cutting, a fiber laser proves to be the best option.

This is mainly because the CO₂ laser has a series of mirrors inside that are supposed to direct the beam towards the surface; unfortunately, these mirrors only risk creating even more damage, by bouncing the laser beam around.

While on the other hand, a fiber laser doesn’t require any mirror and is therefore less susceptible to the aluminum’s reflection.