We cut this 0.010” thick Inconel ring using 400 watts of power at a rotational speed of 10 RPM, which corresponds to a linear cut speed of 3.58 meters per minute (141 inches/minute).

Inconel® refers to a family of nickel-based superalloys containing substantial amounts of nickel and chromium. Depending on the particular alloy, Inconel may contain other elements including titanium, aluminum, molybdenum, or niobium (columbium). Parts manufactured from Inconel are commonly found in aerospace or chemical processing applications where extreme heat or corrosion resistance is paramount to the integrity of the product.

This application calls for cutting thin sections of large-diameter, thin-wall Inconel tubing. Each section is cut from 114.3 mm (4.5”) diameter tube having a wall thickness of 0.254 mm (0.010”). Because each Inconel ring section is less than 1.37 mm (0.054”) wide, non-contact CO₂ laser cutting is the optimal choice as mechanical cutting methods would distort the ring.

Our setup consisted of a Firestar f400 laser, standard beam delivery components (featuring a 2.5” positive meniscus optic to achieve a 100-micron spot), and a rotary stage to turn the tubing mandrel. At a rotational speed of 10 RPM, we cut each ring with 400 watts of power using 17.2 bar (250 PSI) of nitrogen gas assist. The high-pressure nitrogen assist creates a clean edge with only a very slight amount of dross present.