Common Methods for Stainless Steel Plates Cutting

The common methods for Stainless Steel Plates Cutting include mechanical cutting, laser cutting, plasma cutting, and waterjet cutting.
Mechanical Cutting:

Shearing: This method utilizes a shearing machine and is suitable for both ordinary carbon steel and stainless steel. The blades used for shearing stainless steel must be made from high-speed tool steel, ensuring a sharp cutting edge without burrs. Due to the high ductility of stainless steel plates, especially austenitic stainless steel, the blade clearance should be minimized during cutting to ensure a clean shear and prevent plastic deformation.

Sawing: This can be further divided into band sawing and hack sawing. Band sawing employs a composite high-speed steel band saw blade with a positive rake angle and adjustable pitch, typically operating at a cutting speed of 20-35m/min. Hack sawing uses a high-speed steel saw blade with a positive rake angle, operating at a cutting speed of 10-20m/min, and requires the addition of a 10-20% concentration emulsion as a cutting lubricant.

Laser Cutting:
Laser Cutting with Nitrogen Assist Gas: This method is suitable for cutting thicker stainless steel plates. It offers fast cutting speeds, narrow kerf widths, and small heat-affected zones, while preserving the material's corrosion resistance.

Plasma Cutting:
CNC Plasma Cutting: This method utilizes a plasma cutting machine and is suitable for stainless steel plates ranging from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch in thickness. During cutting, the negative electrode cable is clamped to the workpiece, and the cutter is activated to burn through the steel plate and cut along the marked lines. Plasma cutting produces a relatively wide kerf (3-4mm) and a heat-affected zone no wider than 5mm, but it offers fast cutting speeds and can be performed underwater to reduce deformation.

Waterjet Cutting:
Ultra-High Pressure Waterjet Cutting: This method is suitable for cutting all types of special sheet metal products. It does not produce a heat-affected zone, thus completely eliminating the risk of cracking. However, its cutting speed is slower compared to plasma arc cutting, and the equipment investment is high, resulting in relatively fewer applications at present.