Glossary Terms for

Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is a non-contact thermal cutting process that uses a focused, high-intensity laser beam to melt, burn, or vaporize material along a programmed cut path. The terms below cover process parameters, equipment, materials, and quality characteristics associated with precision laser cutting services.

Home > Glossary > Laser Cutting

Assist Gas
Pressurized gas (nitrogen, oxygen, or air) directed through the cutting nozzle alongside the laser beam.
CAD/CAM Software
Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing software used to create part geometries and generate machine-ready cutting programs.
CO2 Laser
A gas laser that generates a 10.6-micrometer wavelength beam.
Cutting Head
The component of a laser cutting machine that focuses and directs the laser beam onto the workpiece.
Cutting Speed
The rate at which the laser cutting head traverses the workpiece surface, typically expressed in inches per minute (IPM) or meters per minute.
DXF File (Drawing Exchange Format)
A standard CAD file format used to transfer 2D part geometry from design software to CNC laser cutting machines.
Dross
Solidified molten material that adheres to the bottom edge of a laser-cut part.
Edge Taper
A slight angular deviation from a true 90-degree cut edge caused by the conical shape of the focused laser beam.
Fiber Laser
A solid-state laser that generates a beam through rare-earth-doped optical fiber.
Focal Length
The distance from the focusing lens to the focal point within the cutting head.
Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ)
The area of material adjacent to a laser cut that has undergone microstructural changes due to heat from the cutting process without having melted.
Kerf
The width of material removed by the laser beam during cutting.
Material Nesting
The process of optimally arranging multiple part profiles within a sheet of raw material to maximize yield and minimize scrap.
Mild Steel (A36)
A low-carbon structural steel commonly laser cut in sheet and plate form.
Nitrogen Cutting
Using high-purity nitrogen as the assist gas, which prevents oxidation of the cut edge.
Oxygen Cutting
Using oxygen as the assist gas during laser cutting of mild steel.
Part Program
A machine-specific cutting program generated by CAM software that defines the laser's cutting path, speed, power settings, pierce locations, and other parameters for producing a specific part.
Pierce Delay
The dwell time the laser remains at a single point to fully melt through the material thickness before beginning the cut path.
Piercing
The process by which the laser beam burns through the full thickness of a sheet to initiate a cut path.
Plate Steel
Structural steel in thicknesses typically above 3/16 inch processed by laser cutting.
Positioning Accuracy
The precision with which the laser cutting machine's motion system repositions the cutting head to a programmed location.
Sheet Metal
Flat metal stock typically up to 3/16 inch thick that is a primary input material for laser cutting operations.
Stainless Steel
An iron alloy with 10.5 percent or more chromium that provides corrosion resistance, frequently processed by laser cutting for industrial, architectural, and food-service applications.
Standoff Distance
The controlled gap between the cutting nozzle tip and the workpiece surface, typically maintained at 0.030 to 0.060 inches by a capacitive height sensor.
Tolerance
The permissible dimensional variation of a cut part from its specified nominal value.
Tube / Profile Cutting
Laser cutting of hollow structural sections, round tube, and structural profiles using specialized rotary-axis attachments.
Weld Prep Cutting
The use of laser cutting to produce beveled or otherwise prepared cut edges on structural members and plate, reducing or eliminating manual grinding for weld joint preparation before assembly.
Work Envelope
The maximum size sheet or plate that a laser cutting machine can process in a single setup, determined by the X and Y travel range of the cutting table.

Glossary Term Categories

Laser Cutting
Press Braking
Welding
CNC Shearing
Metal Finishing
CNC Machining
NEMA Enclosures
Weldments, Bollards & Guards

Price Your Project

Receive a free, custom quote for you project. Midwest Metal Fabrications can handle any job, small or large and is ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 Certified.

Receive a Free Quote