The importance of stainless steel sheets in today’s era cannot be denied, as they are used in many critical applications.
The cutting process of stainless steel sheets requires great care and proper tooling. It is very important that you never put your safety at risk when operating a saw, whether it’s a hacksaw, Miter saw, or band saw because using the incorrect blade can damage you as well as your equipment.
In this article, we will discuss some methods of cutting stainless steel sheets without damaging your equipment and materials.
One of the most frequently used instruments for cutting stainless steel is a hacksaw. It is an affordable alternative that is accessible at the majority of supply stores.
When employing a hacksaw, exercise caution and ensure that the blade is designed for metal cutting. Furthermore, we recommend employing a blade with the highest number of teeth per inch. This will reduce the likelihood of the blade becoming stuck in the substance.
2.Use a Miter Saw
A miter saw is still another excellent tool that can be utilized to cut stainless steel.
The blade of this instrument is designed to cut through metal. It is recommended that you make use of a blade with a carbide tip for optimal results.
Cutting at an easy pace is a crucial technique to use while working with a miter saw. If you make an effort to complete the project in a short amount of time, both the material and the blade will be susceptible to damage.
The following table shows some blades that are specified for cutting stainless steel.
Blade material | Coating | Stainless steel grade | Material hardness |
High speed steel | None | 304 | HB 180 |
High speed steel | None | 316 | HB 190 |
Carbide | Titanium Nitride | 304 | HB 180 |
Carbide | Titanium Nitride | 316 | HB 190 |
Carbide | Titanium Nitride | 410 | HB 270 |
Ceramic | Aluminum Titanium Nitride | 304 | HB 180 |
Ceramic | Aluminum Titanium Nitride | 316 | HB 190 |
Ceramic | Aluminum Titanium Nitride | 410 | HB 270 |
3.Use a Bandsaw
The process of cutting stainless steel is not simple. It is possible to achieve high-precision cuts, however, if you set your sights on shorter cuts.
To a similar extent, even the challenging cutting design will appear straightforward.
To cut stainless steel, you need to use the appropriate blade. If you are using a blade that is purpose-built for wood, it will start to break out quite quickly. Maintain the sharpness of your blade.
4.Use an Angle Grinder
There are a variety of types of angle grinders available, including corded and cordless instruments.
On the other hand, a high-performance grinder is required to cut stainless steel correctly. Angle grinders that are powered by batteries do not deliver significant amounts of power.
As a result, a corded angle grinder is capable of cutting stainless steel with minimum effort and also provides sufficient power. An angle grinder cuts stainless steel best with diamond blades.
5.Use a Plasma Cutter
The metal is cut with plasma cutters by using the ionized gas. These tools are the most effective ones for cutting through a variety of materials, including brass, aluminium, and stainless steel, among others. Perfect cuts are a major benefit of plasma cutter instruments. Following that, these instruments are risk-free due to the fact that ionized gas cannot conduct electricity.
6.Use a Waterjet Cutter
Waterjet cutters are equipment that operate at high pressure.
To cut the metal, they are designed to incorporate a water jet that operates at a high pressure. The use of waterjet cutters allows for the more convenient cutting of materials such as stone, glass, aluminum, and stainless steel.
Techniques that include waterjet cutting are fairly popular in the car manufacturing industry.
This technology is useful for high-precision cuts in the automotive industry, where complicated designs require high precision.
7.Use an Oxy-Acetylene Torch
Are you interested in using an oxy-acetylene flame to cut stainless steel? A metal such as stainless steel can be cut using this method, although it is not an easy task to do.
At the start, you must ensure that your torch is properly set up. Bring the temperature down a little bit, and set the length of that flame to around half an inch.
Take care not to go wild. After that, position the torch so that it is at a 45-degree angle, and carefully move it along the area where you want to make the cut.
8.Use a Laser Cutter
The accuracy of laser cutters is widely recognized as being superior. It is possible to cut through any metal, including stainless steel, using these cutters, which are the best instruments available.
At the same time, it is essential that you do not underestimate the requirements. Having the appropriate setting for cutting each metal is quite necessary.
If you do not have the appropriate settings, it will be difficult to achieve the desired surface finishing.
9.Use an EDM Machine
Electric discharge machining (EDM) equipment is perfect for cutting stainless steel. It is possible to achieve a precise cut using an EDM machine that will not cause any damage to the material that is surrounding it.
EDM machines are able to erode metal by employing electrical current in their operation. This method is extremely precise and leaves no heat-affected zones.
EDM machines are fast, so you can accomplish your project quickly. The use of an EDM machine to cut stainless steel is not only risk-free but also very quick.
10.Use a CNC Router
CNC routers serve several purposes. This tool can mill aluminum, stainless steel, and also used for cutting and engraving wood.
CNC routers must follow standards to cut stainless steel plates. As an example, a CNC router is utilized for the purpose of cutting extremely thick plates that are made up of multiple layers of metal.
So, go slow for excellent outcomes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, all the methods for cutting stainless steel are used in industries, and each cutting technique has its own importance.
After reading this article you can easily choose the more precise and accurate method for your project. You can easily contact us for more information and guidance according to your project.