I’m new to laser cutting
We can guide you through the process
Which assist gas do you need?
What is the best supply mode?
How much gas do you need?
Do you need resonator gas?
Let us guide you through the various considerations.
Buying a new laser
If you are considering the purchase of a laser machine, or have recently purchased, then there is a lot to think about. Our team of laser experts can hold your hand through the process and advise on a gas supply solution that will meet your current requirement as well as your future business ambitions.
It’s important to consider your gas supply mode and supplier as early as possible in the process. The correct choice of gas supply will have an impact on your overall laser running operation costs, your cut quality and your machine installation.
Gas Solutions - you will need assist gas
ASSIST GAS (or cutting gas) is a jet of gas that effectively blows away the molten material to create the cut. A clean cut requires high purity gas. The gas will often need to be delivered at a high pressure and at a set flow rate. These parameters will be determined by your specific laser model.
NITROGEN is used for most cutting applications – in particular stainless steel and aluminium. The material is heated to melting temperature by the laser beam and the nitrogen gas blows out the melt to create the cut and cools to prevent oxidisation. We have market-leading nitrogen supply modes to maximise productivity: the largest capacity cylinder packs in the industry and our high pressure liquid supply which eliminates all downtime when refilling.
OXYGEN is used for cutting unalloyed or low alloyed mild/carbon steels whereby the material is heated to ignition temperature by the laser beam and burned in an oxygen jet. Pressure, the shape of the cutting jet and gas purity determine cut quality and cutting speed. We offer oxygen in various purities and a full range of supply modes to tailor the supply to your specific requirements.
Calculating Assist Gas Consumption
A common question asked is “how much gas will I require?“. This answer is a function of nozzle size, material, material thickness, machine speed, flow rate and uptime.
Your laser manufacturer can provide the necessary data points. However, if you would like a more detailed calculation please contact us and ask for a free laser gas consumption consultation.
What about Resonator Gas?
Lasing gas (or resonator gas) is a precise gas mix required to generate the laser beam. Only CO2 laser machines require resonator gas and not fibre lasers.
Depending on your laser manufacturer’s specifications you will either need individual cylinders of pure gas or a pre-mixed gas cylinder. The volume of gas required is very small – possibly only 2 or 3 cylinders per year (depending on laser uptime) however, the gases need to be ultra pure to ensure the highest quality beam characteristics are consistently achieved.
All our resonator gases meet or exceed the gas purity and mix accuracy specifications of the world’s leading laser manufacturers.
You may benefit from liquid supply
- For medium-sized operations we recommend our unique compact on-site high-pressure CryoEase® service. This service allows your gas to be refilled while your laser is still running meaning no loss in vented gas or production time.
- For larger operations, we have a range of bulk tanks in various pressures and flow rates to suit all businesses. Liquid supply modes remove the requirement to handle cylinders so are safer and more efficient plus, we monitor your tank so there is never a risk of running out of gas.
- Our tanks are designed to be durable with minimal heat ingress. Most customers choose to rent tanks at our highly competitive rates with maintenance and servicing included making it a hassle-free install-and-go option.
The roadmap starts with cylinder packs
Regardless of the size of your laser operation, we always recommend to start with cylinder packs for assist gas. Cylinder packs (also known as manifolded pallets) are multiple cylinders connected with a dual outlet. We have some of the largest volume 300 bar packs in the industry with 40% more gas than conventional cylinder packs offering significant operational cost benefits via increased uptime and reduced handling.
If your operation is large enough to benefit from a liquid supply, we will be able to size and specify your tank more accurately based on the running data from cylinder packs. We can then ensure a seamless transition to liquid. Some customers also retain a small volume of packs as a back-up to liquid or gas generation supply.
Consider our Gas Installation Services
If you are looking for a fully-integrated solution, our in-house gas installation services will work with you to design and engineer the gas supply system for your laser operation. Whether you are looking for pipework, pressure reduction systems, regulators, isolating valves or cages we can recommend and install a bespoke solution. We can also provide maintenance and inspection services to ensure your system remains efficient, safe and compliant.
Ask the Expert
“Why should I consider switching to CryoEase® service”
The high pressure CryoEase® tank and delivery service combination means that you never need to shut down production to refill your gas tank; meaning maximum output. It also means that you never run out of gas, as we monitor your usage and schedule refilling automatically.