possible to cut aluminum with 100W laser?

[daniel coyle]

I was asked recently to cut aluminum. Is it possible, safe to do this with a 100W laser? If so, how thick can I expect to be able to cut and is there anything I need to know before diving in? I have only found posts about engraving aluminum so far.

[Ross Moshinsky]

No, you're going to need a lot more power than 100W.

[Dan Hintz]

With some special techniques you can cut foil... that's it.

[Clark Pace]

No, you're going to need a lot more power than 100W.

As far as I know you can't. The beam frequency is made not to cut aluminum at all on your standard co2 laser. My guess is so it won't cut through the honey comb bed.

I know a guy who has a Kern laser 400watts. He can cut through 1/4" steal (needs special cooling), but still can't cut the standard aluminum honey comb bed underneath.

One reason why I purchased a desktop CNC.

[Lucy Lee]

CO2 laser can't cut aluminum,no mater which power , in another way ,if you use a magic powder

I was asked recently to cut aluminum. Is it possible, safe to do this with a 100W laser? If so, how thick can I expect to be able to cut and is there anything I need to know before diving in? I have only found posts about engraving aluminum so far.

[Dave Sheldrake]

Aluminium is one of the hardest materials to cut due to the heat dissipation properties and reflective surface of the melt pool. Even at 6kW+ you are only looking at 10mm thickness.

cheers

Dave

[Matt Turner (physics)]

CO2 laser can't cut aluminum,no mater which power , in another way ,if you use a magic powder

I think you mean that glass-tube DC CO2 lasers can't cut aluminum. >1 kW CO2 lasers cut aluminum all the time. Our 400W can cut up to 1/16".