Sheet Metal Laser Cutter
When cutting sheet metal to shape a Kern Metal Cutting System should be your machine of choice. The metal cutting feature immediately gives your the versatility that your shop has been looking for. Oxygen assist through the high pressure optics nozzle, is needed to initiate the cut and will give you a clean smooth edge. Our systems were designed to handle common sizes of stock sheet metal. A 4' x 8' section of sheet metal will fit comfortably onto our largest cutting table. Larger table sizes can be custom ordered to suit your application needs.
The 150 watt laser will cut up to approximately .075" mild steel and .090" stainless steel. The 400 watt laser will cut up to approximately .1875" mild steel, .125" stainless steel and some aluminum alloys up to .100". Both of the lasers can also cut thin shimstock metals like brass, phosphorus bronze and nickel. Please feel free to send us your metal samples to determine the feed rate and edge quality that the KERN Metal Cutting Laser can produce.
Shown below is a video of Kern's 150 watt HSE Laser System equipped with the metal cutting option. The laser machine is cutting 1/8" holes into 18 gauge mild steel.
Metals that can be cut with a Kern Metal Cutting Laser are:
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Automatic Z Axis
The Automatic Capacitive Sensing Height Follower developed by Kern Lasers is one of the key elements when laser cutting mild steel and stainless steel. A sensor senses the capacitance from the end of the isolated cutting tip to the metal being cut. This information is fed into a Kern Height Follower Controller. The gap between the metal being cut and the cutting tip can be adjusted until a desired gap is obtained. The Kern Height Follower will track the flatness of the metal keeping a constant focus point.
Variable Air Control System
A Variable Air Control System has been added to the entire Kern Laser System line up. This feature will allow you to set a separate air level for penetration and straight line cutting to reduce "blow outs" when piercing into the interior surface of metals.
Switching from wood and plastic cutting to metal cutting takes only minutes and is accomplished quite easily. Just remove the honeycomb grid work and replace it with steel grid work, change the optics nozzle and switch from shop air to oxygen. Now you are ready to go.
Metal Etching
Kern Lasers Systems also have the ability to leave long lasting etches on a variety of metals. One of the most common applications for metal etching is serialization. Kern offers software that will automatically increment your tools or product numerically. Tool foam can then be cut and engraved to place the etched tools into. There is no need to buy expensive marking sprays as our laser system are able to create dark etchings, like the one pictured below, with its unique metal marking capabilties.
Please contact us for metal samples or for more information about Kern's Metal Cutting and Etching Systems.