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Be it the shiny curve of a luxury car or the clean edge of an aerospace part, metal cutting methods have shaped them. Metals are used more frequently by people, and metal cutting suppliers must meet the growing demand.
This is why the metal cutting industry is receiving attention. With the use of metal processing technology, there are different ways of cutting metal today. Each of them works with different materials, following different specific cutting processes, providing different results.
The choice of metal cutting methods greatly affects many factors, and this is why it is important to select wisely. Which type is best for your needs? Here are some of the most common methods of cutting metals to consider and use.
What is Metal Cutting?
Metal cutting is a process of manufacturing where the larger piece of material is separated and shaped into smaller pieces or parts using specialized tools. It is used among the most common processes for raw material processing. They shape raw sheets and create the final part.
The operation is complex as well as versatile. It generates several geometries of components in accurate shapes and dimensions. Monitoring the process is important in many situations to prevent negative effects on productivity.
If you know the basics of how metal cutting works, you can go on with the process of practice and skill with different tools and machinery.
Metal Cutting Methods
Hand tools
For many years and decades, hand tools have been used and are still used for cutting purposes. Handsaws, blades, hand shears, and more are used to cut the metals into desired shapes.
But this method is best for workpieces that use more flexible metals with thinner aluminum. Most of them are good at cutting it rather than cutting it into the exact expected shapes.
CO2 Laser cutters
Can a CO2 laser cutter cut metals? The direct answer is yes. But with caveats. Among all the laser cutters, these are best for handling non-metal materials. To cut metals, more power and additional equipment are needed, and that too is to cut specific types.
They cut light-gauge metals. They excel at cutting thin metals (not thicker or highly reflective materials). CO2 lasers used for metal cutting should be in the 150 to 650-watt range. This depends on the type and thickness of the material.
For example,
- Up to 1.2 mm-thick stainless steel can be cut using a 150-watt CO2 laser
- Up to 1.5 mm-thick aluminum can be cut using a 400-watt CO2 laser.
Fiber Laser cutters
Fiber laser cutting is one of the popular metal cutting methods. Being the latest development, it makes it easier with speed and accuracy for the metal fabrication industry. It uses active optical fibers and creates a laser beam. This hot laser beam that comes through the machine’s cutting head is narrowed down to the workpiece to cut metals in the exact way needed.
They melt and pierce metals with precision and efficiency, and they cut a range of materials and thicknesses that depend on the capacity of the equipment.
They are extremely useful in cutting sheet metal, including,
- Carbon steel
- Copper
- Aluminum
- Brass
- Stainless steel
- Titanium
Almost all fiber laser cutting machines can cut a sheet up to 13mm thick. Higher powered fiber laser machines with 10kW of power can cut mild steel up to 2mm and stainless steel and aluminium up to 30mm.
Flame Cutting
Flame cutting, also known as oxyfuel cutting, is a cutting method that uses oxygen and fuel supplies to generate a flame with enough energy. This melts and cuts the materials. But they can only cut carbon plates and are not recommended for cutting other types of metals.
With low cost and a 2m maximum cutting thickness, it is a better option, but in terms of clean edges and more, it can impact negatively.
Waterjet Cutting
Waterjet cutting is one of the metal cutting methods, but it differs from heat-based methods. Not all metals can handle high temperatures, where some get damaged or distorted. So, for materials that are heat sensitive can go with waterjet cutting, a cool way.
With much force, waterjet cutting uses a highly pressurized stream of water (up to 30 times stronger than a typical electric pressure washer), sometimes mixed with abrasive particles, to cut through soft and hard materials with precision.
They are often done underwater and cut through materials up to 4 inches thick. These are powerful tools that need necessary caution.
Plasma Cutting
Plasma cutting controls the intense heat of a high-temperature plasma arc and melts or evaporates the metal at the cutting point. Then it is blown away by the force of the high-speed plasma jet, creating a clean and precise incision. This works using an ionized stream of gases.
This offers high precision and low cost, but it works only on electrically conductive materials, and mostly it doesn’t work on thicker materials.
Choosing the Right Metal Cutting Methods for Your Needs
All the ways of cutting metal have their strengths, ideal for different materials, thickness, and applications.
- Waterjet is ideal for heat-sensitive materials
- Plasma offers speed for electrically conductive materials
- Flame cutting handles thick metals with ease
- CO2 to cut light-gauge metals
Among all the metal cutting methods today, fiber laser cutting is widely regarded for its precision and faster cutting speeds.
If you are looking to upgrade your cutting capabilities, you can find top-quality fiber laser cutting machines at Cesar CNC, where performance meets reliability. It’s a smart, future-ready choice for those who value accuracy and speed in their operations.
Conclusion
When choosing the best metal cutting methods, consider the required cutting accuracy and the characteristics of the material being cut. This cutting method can be your deciding factor between piles of rejected parts and a flawless finish.
