Laser Cutting

How laser cutting works

The laser beam melts the workpiece. The cutting gas blows the molten material and slag out of the kerf.

Sheet metal processing was and remains the most important area of application. When it comes to cutting flat sheets, deep-drawn parts, or profiles, the laser easily holds its own against conventional methods. In addition to sheet metal, the laser cuts a variety of materials such as plastics, glass, ceramics, and semiconductors as well as textiles, wood, and paper.

When the focused laser beam strikes the workpiece, the area it hits becomes so hot that the material melts or vaporizes. Once the laser beam has pierced the workpiece, the cutting process can begin: the laser beam moves along the part contour, melting the material as it goes. A jet of gas is usually used to blow the molten material downward and out of the kerf, producing a narrow gap between the part and sheet skeleton. The gap is scarcely wider than the focused 1 laser beam itself.