As the use of thermal cutting processes in the metalworking industry has increased substantially the need to remove the oxidation produced by those processes has also increased.
Removing oxidation from laser cut steel.
Stainless steel oxide removal.
The oxides adhere poorly to the metal when painted which then causes paint to chip and flake.
Fabricators typically use oxygen as an assist gas during laser cutting of mild steel.
Removing the oxidised edge after laser cutting.
As laser and plasma cutting are much more cost effective than die cutting it is quickly becoming the norm for part.
Rodger talbert writes in his book paint technology handbook that sanding grinding chipping and blasting are effective means of removing the oxide layer from laser cut parts.
Oxygen is excellent for cutting mild steel as it actually speeds up the cutting process and allows cutting.
Mix 1 quart of white vinegar with 1 quart of water in a bucket.
Laser cleaning is the best solution to remove oxide from aluminum.
Step 3 apply a quarter size amount of fine cut automotive rubbing compound designed for use on aluminum onto a terry cloth rag.
It can also be removed before several surface treatments such as before a coating process to prevent the paint from peeling off.
By gf lasers aug 17 2017 blog.
Use the sponge to rub away any light oxidation from the surface of your aluminum coated furniture.
In addition not as much pressure is required to feed the oxygen to the cutting head.
The cleaned parts clearly show the melted recast material around the cut and no gentle cleaning will remove this.
For example oxide can be removed before welding to strengthen the welds.
Utilization of oxygen as an assist gas causes an exothermic reaction that creates heat which helps the laser cut through the metal faster.
Carbon oxide is formed on the edges of parts when gas is introduced during the thermal metal cutting process.
Figure 3d shows a stainless steel part that has been electropolished after laser drilling.
Laser oxide scale removal.
Laser assist gases are used at the point where the laser cuts the metal and most laser cutting companies use either oxygen or nitrogen as the assist gas.
Manually finishing these parts he adds is quite difficult because of high labor costs inconsistent practices and odd shapes that are not easily manipulated.
The oxygen causes an exothermic reaction that creates heat which helps the laser cut through the metal.
In order to effectively remove this recast a gentle electropolish is necessary.
This oxidation or scale left over from thermal cutting can cause problems for metal finishers and end customers alike.
