[MasterRusty]

You know....the spangled stuff.

Having trouble cutting galvanized with my 4kw laser. I'm getting large black dross on several edges (leads me to believe that it is not alignment). This suff is so big that it is holding in parts and slugs.

Any suggestions to get a clean cut?

[schiada96]

how thick?

[MasterRusty]

appx. .135" (10 ga)

Someone has now told me that paint will not stick to laser cut galvanized, even when cut with nitrogen.

Is this true?

[wklaser]

I don't think so.

[Exsecratio]

Watch out for white feathers Rusty, ZincOxide is nasty stuff if inhaled

best wishes

Dave

[txcncman]

Zinc has a really low melt temperature. This is why you are having difficulty. It is never a good idea to flame cut, weld, or laser cut zinc or zinc plating (galvanizing) unless you are in an extremely well ventilated work area. I have personally known welders that have developed chemical pneumonia from welding galvanized pipe. The safest method for working with galvanized steel is to remove the plating first. The next safest is to have good ventilation. Unless you remove the plating, I doubt you can do anything to get good cutting results. Unless it is specially prepared and primered, paint does not stick well to galvanized steel.