Stainless Steel Cutting Tips or Taking Stainless Steel Cutting to a New Level

Stainless steel is difficult to machine. Cutting it is significantly more difficult than regular structural steel. However, high-quality and precise machining of stainless steel is now very high.

Features of cutting stainless steel

The most obvious solution when cutting stainless steel is to use specialized tools that offer enhanced cutting properties. Specifically, they should have high red hardness.

Research shows that stainless steel should be pre-machined with carbide cutters. Then, finish machining should be performed using high-speed cutting tools. Alternatively, carbide cutters can be used again.

Carrying out cutting stainless steel, the tool life can be increased. To do this, the working surface must be hardened. If high-speed steel requires hardening, chromium plating or cyanidation are the optimal choice.

Coolants play a special role when cutting stainless steel. They improve tool durability and reduce friction. High-pressure cooling has proven highly effective for cooling cutting tools. Carbon dioxide cooling can also be used.

Compared to dry cutting of stainless steel, high-pressure cooling increases tool life by 3-6 times. The downside of this type of cooling is liquid splashing and the formation of vapors, which makes tool operation difficult to control. Carbon dioxide cooling is more expensive but more effective.

Advantages of laser cutting technology for stainless steel

Shows high efficiency laser cutting of stainless steel, which has many advantages:

• The cutting is carried out along a precise outline, created using a computer program;
• Cutting is done using a contactless method;
• The error will not exceed 0.08 mm;
• The likelihood of burrs forming is extremely low;
• Fast processing of stainless steel;
• Possibility of cutting materials with different thermal conductivity and density;
• Minimal influence of human factor, which can worsen the result;
• The risk of deformation along the cutting line is reduced to almost zero;
• Preservation of physical properties of stainless steel.

Considering the many advantages, it is much more profitable to cut stainless steel with a laser.