Laser cut blanks and HAZ?

[Jason Fry]

Just had a run of blades laser cut. Some 80CRV2, some AEBL, and some Nitro V. Should I grind back the edges a little before heat treatment? Does the laser cut heat zone impact future performance, or is it irrelevant if the blades were cut annealed and then hardenend?

This is my first run with laser after years of waterjet.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Most of the HAZ will be removed in grinding, but it is wise to add a .10" for waste when having blanks cut.
It isn't an issue for future performance because it will be reversed in HT, but it makes grinding slower along the edge.
The steel in the HAZ zone is hardened to some degree and may have the carbon burned out.

 

[DevinT]

You can stress relieve them by wrapping in foil, 1250’f for the carbon and 1350’f for the stainless.

Hoss

 

[DeadboxHero]

Grind it off, that steel in the HAZ is cooked and can lead to cracking issues.

 

[Jason Fry]

So far so good. Did 9 of the 80crv2’s. The small holes required carbide to drill, but the 3/16 drilled right through.

No other HAZ issues, although I did make a 120 pass down the edges prior to HT.