XT LASER
Analysis of Piercing Speed and Process Parameters for 20mm Carbon Steel on High-Power Laser Cutting Machines
Written by Steven, Technical Operations at XT LASERPublished: July 2026 | Read Time: 3mins
TL;DR:The piercing speed of 20mm carbon steel on high-power laser cutting machines is influenced by laser power, piercing method, and parameter configuration, with piercing time inversely correlated with power level. This article, based on industry experimental data, explains the core factors affecting piercing speed and parameter optimization approaches.
Power Level and Piercing Time Baseline
The primary determining factor of piercing speed is laser power. For 12,000W-class equipment using step piercing, the piercing time for 20mm carbon steel typically ranges from 0.6 to 1.5 seconds—this configuration is currently the mainstream solution in the market with high process maturity. 40,000W-class high-end equipment equipped with intelligent high-speed piercing functions can further compress piercing time, suitable for high-takt production scenarios. Piercing time increases non-linearly with plate thickness; high-power equipment can consistently control piercing time for 20mm carbon steel within 1 second through optimized energy control.
Piercing Methods and Time Optimization
Efficiency increased by over 200%: Cutting and loading/unloading occur simultaneously, eliminating machine idle time; a single loading can sustain continuous operation for hours without manual intervention.
Labor costs reduced by over 60%: One operator can oversee 24-hour production, replacing traditional multi-person shift configurations.
Highly consistent quality: Industrial IoT monitors parameters in real time, automatically calibrates nozzles and the optical center, eliminating human error.
Real-World Case Data
Step Piercing
Step piercing is the standard method for thick plate processing, dividing the piercing process into multiple stages with independently configured parameters for each stage. Taking a two-stage step piercing on 12,000W equipment as an example: Stage 1—nozzle height 10-12mm, duty cycle 35%, pulse frequency 1000Hz, focus position -8mm, dwell time 450ms; Stage 2—nozzle height 14-15mm, duty cycle 35%-45%, pulse frequency 3000-5000Hz, focus position -2 to -4mm, dwell time 150ms. The total dwell time for the two stages is approximately 600ms; with the stop-and-blow cycle included, the complete cycle is about 0.8 seconds.
Pulse Piercing and Burst Hole Control
The main process risk in thick plate piercing is the burst hole phenomenon, where molten metal is ejected upward under vapor recoil pressure, causing nozzle damage and piercing failure. The main causes include excessive duty cycle, excessive gas pressure, excessive frequency, and insufficient stop-and-blow between stages. The countermeasure is to use a multi-stage pulse sequence, with independent control of power, frequency, duty cycle, and nozzle height at each stage, and to add stop-and-blow between stages to remove slag and cool the material, effectively reducing the occurrence of burst holes.
Piercing Focus Matching
The piercing focus is typically set in the middle region of the plate thickness, with a common range of -2 to -8mm for 20mm carbon steel. Orthogonal tests indicate that a defocus of -6mm and frequency of 500Hz produce better results. In operation, ensure the beam spot does not contact the nozzle; under this premise, appropriately lowering the focus can improve efficiency.
Parameter Optimization Recommendations
The above parameters should serve as initial reference values. Due to differences in laser source, cutting head, and other configurations across equipment, stepwise experiments are needed to gradually approach the optimal combination. Parameter optimization should follow this priority: piercing gas pressure and nozzle height primarily affect quality, while output power and defocus primarily affect efficiency—stabilize quality first, then adjust efficiency. Significantly reduced spatter and changes in airflow sound when piercing is complete can serve as auxiliary verification criteria.
Summary
The piercing time for 20mm carbon steel is typically within 1 second, depending on power level and parameter matching precision. The core of stable and efficient piercing lies in adopting a step pulse sequence, properly configuring parameters at each stage, and adding stop-and-blow between stages to prevent burst holes. It is recommended to use the parameters in this article as a baseline and conduct stepwise testing based on actual equipment conditions.
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