10 Questions You Should to Know about Laser Cutting Protection Film Supplier

Protective film on sheet metal plays a crucial role in the production process. Suppliers often standardize their films, which can compromise the optimization of cutting processes. However, when production volumes reach a certain threshold, or if the film is applied directly by the manufacturer, a more suitable film choice can be made.

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For more information, please visit Laser Cutting Protection Film Supplier.

When selecting the film, it is vital to strike a balance between high adhesion to reduce bubbling and low adhesion to facilitate easier removal.

A) There are several important factors to consider when choosing a film:

? Cutting Technology: Fibre Laser or CO2 Laser
Fibre lasers operate at a wavelength that is about ten times shorter than that of CO2 lasers, which is not absorbed by plastic. Consequently, using CO2 laser-specific films with fibre lasers can lead to uneven cuts. Films designed for fibre laser cutting incorporate built-in absorbers.

? Material Type: Stainless Steel, Aluminium, Pre-lacquered, etc.

When tapping sheet metals, materials like aluminium have high thermal conductivity, resulting in heat spreading during cutting, which may melt the film. For these materials, sheet protection must have a higher thermal resistance compared to films designed for stainless steel.

Cutting pre-lacquered steel can be challenging if the lacquer isn’t optimized for effective laser wave absorption. Specific films exist, but it’s essential to ensure the lacquer is appropriately modified with specific additives.

Utilizing double-sided protection can also introduce minor burring during cutting, as the film on the table side holds the material. Opting for thinner films is advisable to minimize or eliminate quality issues.

? Sheet Metal Thickness
Different thicknesses encapsulate varying levels of cutting gas pressure, thereby requiring different adhesion levels. Utilizing a film made for thinner sheet metal on thicker metal can result in significant bubbling.

? Surface Finishes: Brushed, Glossy, Scotch-Brite, etc.
Film adhesion also hinges on the material surface finish. Certain films are tailored for specific surfaces, making it crucial to consider the material finish during selection.

B) Quality Control: How to Ensure the Film is Suitable and Properly Applied?

? Color Codes and Markings are key identifiers to visually inspect the type of film being used. Brice Lequette from Novacel states: "A CO2 laser protective film is black on the adhesive side and white externally, whereas a fibre laser film has a black adhesive side and grey outer side."

? Proper Film Application is essential to prevent excessive elongation since plastic is a shape-memory material that will revert to its original form when stretched. Elongation directly reduces adhesion, which can compromise the film's resistance to gas pressure and elevates the risk of bubbling.

To quickly verify if the film has been correctly applied, one can:

• Peel off a strip of film from the sheet.
• Wait for a minute.
• Compare the length of the removed film with the area where it was attached — the difference should be no greater than 1%.

Visual indicators may also signal any application problems, such as bubbles or other defects.

? Wait 48 Hours Before Cutting the Sheet Metal following film application.

For further details on protective tape for aluminium, please feel free to reach out.