Comparison between laser cutting and plasma cutting！

1. Comparison of application scope

Laser cutting machines have a wide range of applications. They can cut both metals and non-metals. CO2 laser cutting machines can be used to cut non-metals, such as cloth and leather, and fiber laser cutting machines can be used to cut metals. The plate has little deformation.

Plasma cutting machines can be used to cut various metal materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, copper, cast iron, and carbon steel. Plasma cutting has obvious thermaleffects, low precision, and the cutting surface is not easy to undergo secondary processing.

2. Cutting thickness comparison

The industrial application of laser cutting carbon steel is generally below 20mm. The cutting capacity is generally below 40mm. Stainless steel industrial applications are generally below 16mm, and cutting capabilities are generally below 25mm. Moreover, as the thickness of the workpiece increases, the cutting speed decreases significantly.

Plasma cutting thickness is 0-120mm, and the best cutting quality range is around 20mm. The plasma system has the highest cost performance. 

3. Cutting speed comparison

Using a 1200W laser to cut a 2mm thick mild steel plate, the cutting speed can reach 600cm/min; to cut a 5mm thick polypropylene resin plate, the cutting speed can reach 1200cm/min. The cutting efficiency that wire EDM can achieve is generally 20 to 60 square millimeters/minute, and can reach up to 300 square millimeters/minute. Obviously, laser cutting speed is fast and can be used for mass production.

The cutting speed of plasma cutting is slow and the relative accuracy is low. It is more suitable for cutting thick plates, but the end face has a slope. 

4. Comparison of cutting accuracy

The laser cutting incision is narrow, both sides of the slit are parallel and perpendicular to the surface, and the dimensional accuracy of the cut parts can reach ±0.2mm.

Plasma can reach within 1mm.

5. Comparison of slit width

Compared with plasma cutting, laser cutting is more precise and the slit is smaller, about 0.5mm.

Plasma cutting slits are larger than laser cutting, about 1-2mm.