how to support expanded metal steel sheets in laser cutter
I need suggestions on how to support expanded metal steel sheets in our Trumpf TruLaser 3030. The cut parts or the sheet jump up after cutting and interfere with the laser head. This is expanded metal used for machine guards and is about .182" thick with diamond shape openings that are .94 x .31".
Thanks in advance for your help,
Doug
Re: how to support expanded metal steel sheets in laser cutter
We punch a bunch of 18ga expanded metal on our old Nisshinbo turret and it has always been a PITA. We've reduced ourselves to shearing the 4x4 sheets down to 24x16 and run it as a single part, no nesting, with decent corner tabs.
If your parts have a straight edge, you might be better off finishing them in the shear.
Re: how to support expanded metal steel sheets in laser cutter
When I am cutting expanded metal I always up the nozzle distance in the tech table and that usually works. And also run it one gauge thicker.