1. The cutting focus is on the workpiece

This method is also called negative focus, because the cutting point is not located on the surface or inside of the workpiece, but above the cutting material.

When this kind of focus is used, the thickness of the plate is generally high. If the focus is not positioned in this way, it may lead to insufficient oxygen delivered by the nozzle, resulting in a drop in the cutting temperature and failure to cut the material. However, the obvious disadvantage of this method is that the cutting surface is rough, which is not suitable for precision cutting.

2. The cutting focus is in the workpiece

This method is called positive focus, and the focus mode that is generally used when cutting stainless steel or aluminum steel plate and other materials makes the cutting focus inside the workpiece.

The main disadvantage of this method is that the cutting range is large, and this mode often requires more powerful cutting air flow, sufficient temperature, and longer cutting and piercing time. Therefore, it is only used when cutting stainless steel or aluminum and other materials with high hardness.

3. The cutting focus is on the workpiece surface

This method is the most common focus position, also known as zero focus, and is commonly used to cut SPC/SPH/SS41 and other workpieces. When using this method, let the focus of the laser cutter close to the workpiece surface.

In this mode, due to the slight difference in the smoothness of the upper and lower surfaces of the workpiece, the cutting surface of the side close to the focus will be more smooth. On the contrary, the cutting surface of the side away from the focus will be rough. In actual use, it is often determined according to the different process requirements of the upper and lower surfaces.

To sum up, in the process of using the laser cutting machine, we choose different focus modes according to the processing needs of different workpieces, which can give full play to the performance advantages of the laser cutting machine and ensure the cutting effect.