In the field of industrial manufacturing, fiber laser cutter for meta has become a tool for metal processing with its high-precision and high-efficiency characteristics. But what few people know is that not all materials can be cut with lasers-some materials can cause fatal hazards at high laser temperatures. Let's take a look at the five categories of materials that are strictly prohibited from laser cutting today. Let's use fiber laser cutter for meta safely together.：
1. Chlorine-containing polymers (such as PVC and polyvinyl chloride)：
When the laser beam comes into contact with PVC material, it releases highly toxic hydrochloric acid gas (HCl) and the carcinogen dioxin. Once, a sheet metal factory misused fiber laser cutter for meta to treat PVC signs, causing the entire workshop to be filled with pungent yellow-green smoke, and the lenses of the equipment were severely corroded. Therefore, image materials must be cut with mechanical engraving or waterjet instead.
2. Highly reflective metals (untreated copper, aluminum, brass)：
The reflectance of bare copper material to 1064nm wavelength lasers is as high as 95%. When an auto parts factory tried to process a 2mm copper plate with a 20kW fiber laser cutter for meta, the reflected laser burned the internal sensor of the cutting head. The safety plan is: First perform oxidation treatment (blackening of the surface) or use nitrogen to assist cutting, and choose a smart device with reflection detection function.
3. High-density composite materials (carbon fiber reinforced plastic)：
When laser cutting carbon fiber board, toxic dust such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN) will be released, and the slag generated by the combustion of the resin matrix will permanently stick to the lens. Even more deadly is that carbon fiber debris may cause a short circuit in the equipment circuit. Therefore, we recommend using diamond tools or ultrasonic cutting for this type of material.
4. Asbestos-containing insulation materials：
Asbestos sheets for construction will release carcinogenic fibers at high laser temperatures. These micron-scale fibers can penetrate conventional masks and enter the lungs. When a repair factory used 6kW fiber laser cutter for meta to retrofit old equipment, many people had difficulty breathing due to unrecognized asbestos interlayer. Then such materials must be handled by professional institutions.
5. Airtight containers (aerosol tank, pressure tank)：
Flammable and explosive gases may remain inside seemingly ordinary metal cans. An accident at a waste station in 2023 showed that when the 1.5kW handheld laser equipment mistakenly cut the lighter inflatable tank, the explosion caused directly penetrated the 3mm steel plate. Professional emptying treatment must be carried out before processing.
The Golden Rule of Safe Operation：
Be sure to perform a three-step confirmation before enabling fiber laser cutter for meta：
1.Check the laser compatibility in the material safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
2.Perform low-power trial cutting (<100W) on unknown materials to observe the reaction.
3.Ensure that the workshop is equipped with a strong smoke exhaust system and explosion-proof fire-fighting equipment.
Safety is the cornerstone of efficient production：
As the main equipment of modern manufacturing, the safe operation red line of fiber laser cutter for meta is not to be touched. Feiying Laser recommends that you establish a material database and write the no-cut list directly to the equipment control system. After all, avoiding a 1-minute risky operation is better than dealing with a 10-hour production accident!