Laser cut 304 stainless - not deburred

[dbb-the-bruce]

Seems to be one of those un-google-able things. At least for my attempts.

Short version: Looking for an example of laser cut thin stainless sheet, and it seems impossible to google.

Long version:
Recently used send-cut-send to laser cut some 16 gage 304 sheet for parts that I will complete all the fine machining on. I chose the deburring option because it really didn't matter to me but didn't cost anything.

Parts are small and trapped in a large frame with tabs. Looks great, but I did notice a small about of rounding on the edges. I'm going to machine all of the captured small parts accurately and it will touch all sides so I don't think the slight rounding will matter.

However, I'd now like to see what a raw/undeburred piece of laser cut 304 16 gauge (or any thin sheet) would have looked like and decide if next time I just skip the deburring. Or just ask them to go lighter on it.

All I really care about is that the sheet smooth enough so it sits flat when I do the final milling.

 

[coolidge]

I had stainless sheet laser cut by two companies. The edge was crisp but not sharp to the degree that the edge would cut you. That said company B parts had spikes of needle like shards in some areas that had to be knocked off. Like a bunch of stainless wires. Company A parts had none of this and was overall 100% better quality, things of beauty really. I had some welding done by both, again company B was fair to poor while company A wow I was in awe of their TIG powers.

 

[dbb-the-bruce]

I had stainless sheet laser cut by two companies. The edge was crisp but not sharp to the degree that the edge would cut you.

I guess I can just skip the deburring next time and see what I get.

I'd really like to see laser cut 304 sheet right off the laser and decide from there. Do you think there would be a lot of variation from machine to machine? I could see that laser power might have some impact on how the cuts come out.

My sheets had a couple of .125 alignment holes - both came out ever so slightly under, .001 or less, both sides. So not a lot of taper and pretty accurate.

 

[Asm109]

Try water jet cutting.

 

[coolidge]

I'd really like to see laser cut 304 sheet right off the laser and decide from there.