Laser cutting

Laser Cutting 

• Laser cutting is able to cut faster and with a 

higher quality then competing processes: – Punch, plasma, abrasive waterjet, ultrasonic, 

oxyflame, sawing and milling

• Can be automated 

• 80% industrial lasers in Japan are used for 

metal cutting

Vaporization Cutting

• The focused beam in vaporization cutting first heats up the 

surface to boiling point and generates a keyhole. 

• The keyhole causes a sudden increase in the absorptivity due 

to multiple reflections and the hole deepens quickly. 

• As it deepens so vapor is generated and escapes blowing 

ejecta out of the hole or kerf and stabilizing the molten walls 

of the hole 

• This is the usual method of cutting for pulsed lasers or in the 

cutting of materials which do not melt such as wood, carbon, 

and some plastics.