Laser cutting stainless steel
Laser cutting stainless steel calls for a different approach than ordinary steel: the cutting gas, the heat input and the finishing depend on what the surface has to do later.
What is different about stainless steel
Stainless steel conducts heat less well than structural steel and reacts differently to the cut. It therefore needs more attention to the heat input, and the choice of cutting gas affects the colour and the quality of the cut edge.
Why finishing starts at the cutting stage
If the part is welded later, discolouration is added anyway. For visible work and for applications that have to be cleanable, a finishing step belongs in the plan – glass bead blasting, for example. That is not an afterthought but a choice that is best made in advance.
Which grades we cut
We cut stainless steel up to 30 mm thick. These are the grades we process:
| Material no. | EN 10088 | Common name |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4016 | X6Cr17 | 430 |
| 1.4057 | X17CrNi16-2 | 431 |
| 1.4104 | X14CrMoS17 | 430F |
| 1.4122 | X39CrMo17-1 | |
| 1.4301 | X5CrNi18-10 | 304 |
| 1.4305 | X8CrNiS18-9 | 303 |
| 1.4307 | X2CrNi18-9 | 304L |
| 1.4310 | X10CrNi18-10 | 301 |
| 1.4401 | X5CrNiMo17-12-2 | 316 |
| 1.4404 | X2CrNiMo17-12-2 | 316L |
| 1.4462 | X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 | duplex 2205 |
| 1.4541 | X6CrNiTi18-10 | 321 |
| 1.4571 | X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2 | 316Ti |
If your grade is not listed, please ask.
What we need from you
The stainless steel grade, the thickness, the quantities and where the part will end up. The last one is not a formality: a part for a machine cabinet and a part for a food processing line call for a different end result.
Frequently asked questions
How thick can you laser cut stainless steel?
We cut stainless steel up to 30 mm thick. That is the machine limit; what is feasible for your part depends on its shape and on the operations that follow. In your enquiry, state the stainless steel grade, the thickness, the quantities and where the part will end up.
Which stainless steel grades does Baas Metaal process?
1.4016, 1.4057, 1.4104, 1.4122, 1.4301 (304), 1.4305 (303), 1.4307 (304L), 1.4310, 1.4401 (316), 1.4404 (316L), 1.4462 (duplex 2205), 1.4541 (321) and 1.4571 (316Ti). If your grade is not listed, please ask.
How do you prevent discolouration on stainless steel?
Stainless steel conducts heat less well than structural steel, so the heat input and the cutting gas determine the colour and quality of the cut edge. Welding adds discolouration afterwards. Glass bead blasting removes weld discolouration and the oxide layer, which restores the material's corrosion resistance. That finishing step is best chosen in advance.