Targeting high-end manufacturing sectors-such as aerospace, medical devices, new energy, consumer electronics, and electrical control cabinets-we evaluated the actual cutting performance of the TRUMPF TruLaser 2D laser cutting system using three key materials: tungsten, molybdenum, and titanium. Our assessment focused on three aspects: cut quality (including burrs and the morphology of small holes or narrow slots), control of the heat-affected zone, and operational efficiency and stability.
Evaluation criteria include:
**Cut quality** (bottom-edge burrs, surface finish, and the formation/consistency of small holes and narrow slots);
**Heat-affected zone (HAZ) control** (thermal discoloration and the impact of heat input on cut faces and hole walls);
and **Efficiency and stability** (feed rate, parameter window, and process repeatability). **Material performance (Refractory metals-Tungsten/Molybdenum):
** At ≤2 mm, edges are relatively smooth with minimal backside burring; linear and large-radius contours show good consistency.
At 2–3 mm, slight burring appears, primarily on the bottom edge; small holes and narrow slots are more sensitive.
At 3 mm, burrs become more visible as thickness increases; complex contours and hole arrays require closer attention.
**Process characteristics:** These materials are highly sensitive to energy density; it is recommended to moderately reduce feed rates and prioritize nozzle condition, focal position, and gas coaxiality to ensure effective slag removal and stable cut-face quality. **Titanium alloys:** Cut-face and backside quality can be significantly improved by optimizing the combination of power, frequency, feed rate, focal position, and nitrogen parameters. Titanium alloys react vigorously with nitrogen at high temperatures, releasing substantial heat. Therefore, when cutting titanium of varying thicknesses, nitrogen pressure and flow rate require careful control; higher pressure is not necessarily better. For small holes and narrow slots, adopting TRUMPF process strategies is recommended to enhance the consistency of hole walls and lead-in points.
BrightLine fiber paired with TRUMPF TruLaser 2D laser cutting solutions
BrightLine fiber technology optimizes the flow field of the beam-shaping and superposition nozzle, resulting in narrower kerfs, more stable laminar flow, and smoother slag ejection paths.
For titanium alloys, it yields more stable cross-sections at lower feed rates, with cleaner entry edges, reduced dross, and improved consistency in small holes and narrow slots.
For tungsten and molybdenum (3–5 mm), it significantly suppresses burrs at the bottom edge, reduces the incidence of continuous burrs, and produces smoother edges on thick plates.
TRUMPF's TruLaser 2D cutting solutions accommodate a wider range of materials and thicknesses, facilitating the establishment and replication of process parameters across diverse operating conditions.
