The Boss Laser HP series expands the cutting capabilities for users in a variety of materials. These machines use the same body as the LS series, but with several internal upgrades that give them superior abilities.  

The HP series contains multiple upgrades over the LS series. A few examples are:

• Standard with a 150W laser. 
• Equipped with a high pressure line capable of withstanding 150PSI of pressure. 
• The motion controller is capable of controlling the opening and closing of the air assist via a relay and a high pressure solenoid valve. 
• The laser head is designed to maximize the air pressure at the nozzle. 
• Comes standard with an air compressor. 

The advantage of this configuration and added components allow you to increase your cutting capabilities and quality if utilized properly. 

To fully utilize your HP system, the first thing to understand is that the most important feature of the system is to be able to handle a lot more air pressure. This is the most important variable that will increase your cutting capability and quality. Results will vary based on material. Therefore, the first thing to do is to be able to provide this air pressure, the HP machine comes with an air compressor able to maintain a consistent 30PSI of air pressure and up to 150PSI for short periods of time. Depending on your specific application some instances may need to maintain a greater pressure than 30PSI to fully utilize their HP capabilities, to achieve this it is possible to upgrade your air compressor to a larger compressor than the one provided by BOSSLASER as long as the maintained air pressure is not greater than 150PSI. 

This configuration also allows you to replace the air compressor with an oxygen tank and oxygen regulator to use oxygen as the assist gas (note: oxygen is only for metal processing), this will now allow you to cut small cut files out of thin gauge metal. However, having this capability does not turn your machine into CO₂ steel cutting machine. It also comes with a lot of challenges, limitations and risk. 

To help understand these limitations we will now outline the main differences between a Boss Laser HP system and a CO₂ steel cutting machine. A CO₂ steel cutting machine usually comes in a larger format than our HP unit, it also comes with a greater power output and is usually equipped with a live focus function.  

These aforementioned features all play a key role in a CO₂ steel cutting machine. The larger format brings a sturdier structure. This sturdiness is important in CO₂ metal cutting applications because it avoids very fine vibrations and improves overall stability. When working with very thin metals, even the slightest vibration can ruin the cut quality.  

The greater output power is needed as metal material generally requires more power than non-metal material to be cut.  

The live focus function is a laser head able to automatically move up and down during a cut, it is also able to keep a certain offset distance between the cutting nozzle and the material at all times. This feature operates as the laser head is in motion and helps keep the laser beam fully focused at all times. This is very important because when metal is being processed by a laser it generates heat and this heat usually results in the metal warping therefore the material becomes uneven.   

Now that you understand the fundamental differences between a CO₂ steel cutting system and your HP machine we can talk about these challenges, limitation and risk. 

Challenges when processing metal using oxygen with you HP 

• The first challenge for your system to process metal is that your laser beam must be in perfect alignment  

(note: beam alignment mistakes and tolerances are more forgiving when processing non-metal material)    

• The laser table must be perfectly level with the laser head  

(note: Table leveling mistakes and tolerances are more forgiving when processing non-metal material)   

• The optimum focus point needs to be found  

(note: focus mistakes and tolerances are more forgiving when processing non-metal material) 

• Optimum power, speed and oxygen pressure settings needs to be found  

(note: setting mistakes and tolerances are more forgiving when processing non-metal material this may also be time consuming) 

• Prevent the sheet metal from moving while being processed 
• Setting the cutting blades layout in such a way that no cut lines comes in contact with them 

Here are some limitations when processing metal using oxygen with your HP as mentioned earlier in this document. The differences between a CO₂ steel cutter and an HP unit is what is going to create those limitations.  

• The thickness and type of metal is limited to only stainless and mild steel with a maximum gauge of 22. The size and amount of time that you can effectively process metal is also limited (only small jobs in size and duration are achievable).  
• The edge quality is limited due to head and cone not being a metal cutting live focus head.  

Risk when processing metal using oxygen with your HP 

• Damaging or shortening the life of the laser tube is possible in the event of the operator using the wrong power, speed, pressure settings, type of metal, gauge of metal, or focus height. (note: Maintaining the machine’s optics cleanliness is even more so important while processing metal, if not done properly this may also damage or shorten the life of the laser tube) 
• Wasting material while researching power settings.