Gases for laser cutting and welding processes

Laser application technology has seen substantial progress and development since the invention of the laser in the 1960s. At the time it was recognised that nitrogen cutting was possible, giving an unoxidised edge, but laser power was simply too low to make this commercially attractive. The 1980s, 1990s and into the new millennium saw a steady increase in CO2 laser power up to 6 kW for cutting. At this power level it became realistically possible to cut stainless steel with nitrogen at a reasonable speed, with the big advantage of oxide-free, bright cut edges. It became viable to even cut thin mild steel plate with nitrogen, as the high laser power enabled a higher cutting speed than with oxygen, with the added benefit of a clean edge that could immediately be painted.