Choosing a stainless cutting process: laser, waterjet, plasma or sawing
Laser gives a narrow kerf and small HAZ for thin sheet; waterjet has no HAZ and suits thick or heat-sensitive parts; plasma is fast with a larger HAZ; sawing suits tube and heavy stock.
Comparison of common stainless cutting processes:
| Process | Thickness | Characteristics | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laser | Thin to medium plate | Narrow kerf, high accuracy, fast | Efficiency drops on thick plate; dross may need deburring |
| Waterjet | Thin to thick plate | No heat-affected zone, no metallurgical change | Slower and more costly; slightly wider kerf |
| Plasma | Medium to thick plate | Fast and lower cost | Larger HAZ; cut faces need machining; nitrogen shielding for stainless |
| Saw / abrasive cut | Tube and heavy stock | Square ends, good for cutting stock | Low productivity; watch cooling and burr |
Selection guidance:
1) Thin precision or appearance parts → laser.
2) Thick plate, no HAZ allowed, corrosion resistance to be preserved → waterjet.
3) Thick plate rough cutting, cost sensitive → plasma (allow for oxidation and machining allowance).
4) Tube and bar → sawing.
Post-cutting: deburr, remove dross and oxide; for corrosion-critical parts, remove the cut HAZ or pickle and passivate.
