Technical Glossary
Comprehensive reference of laser cutting terminology, technical definitions, and industry-specific concepts. Essential for understanding technical documentation and communication.
A
Absorptivity The fraction of incident laser energy absorbed by a material. Varies with wavelength, surface condition, and temperature. Critical for process efficiency.
Assist Gas Gas used during laser cutting to remove molten material, provide oxidation (oxygen), or prevent oxidation (nitrogen/argon). Affects cut quality and speed.
Automation Integration of mechanical, electrical, and software systems to reduce human intervention in manufacturing processes. Includes material handling, loading/unloading, and process control.
B
Beam Divergence The angular spread of a laser beam as it propagates. Measured in milliradians (mrad). Lower divergence enables better focusing and longer working distances.
Beam Quality (M²) Measure of how closely a laser beam approximates an ideal Gaussian beam. M² = 1 for perfect Gaussian beam. Lower values indicate better beam quality.
Burr Unwanted material remaining attached to the cut edge. Caused by improper cutting parameters, worn consumables, or material properties.
C
Cutting Head Assembly containing focusing optics, nozzle, and gas delivery system. Directs laser beam and assist gas to the workpiece.
Cutting Speed Rate at which the laser beam moves along the cut path. Measured in mm/min or m/min. Affects productivity and cut quality.
CW (Continuous Wave) Laser operation mode with constant power output. Contrasts with pulsed operation. Most industrial cutting uses CW mode.
D
Depth of Focus Range of distances over which a focused laser beam maintains acceptable beam diameter. Longer depth of focus provides more process tolerance.
Dross Molten material that resolidifies on the bottom edge of a cut. Indicates suboptimal cutting parameters or conditions.
Duty Cycle In pulsed laser operation, the percentage of time the laser is on during each pulse cycle. Affects average power and thermal effects.
E
Edge Quality Measure of cut edge characteristics including roughness, perpendicularity, and dross formation. Classified by ISO 9013 standards.
Electrical Efficiency Ratio of laser output power to electrical input power. Fiber lasers typically 30-45%, CO₂ lasers 8-15%.
Energy Density Laser energy per unit area. Calculated as power divided by (speed × kerf width). Critical parameter for process optimization.
F
Fiber Laser Laser type using optical fiber doped with rare earth elements. Operates at ~1070nm wavelength. High efficiency and beam quality.
Focus Position Distance from focusing lens to the point of minimum beam diameter. Optimized based on material thickness and cutting requirements.
Frequency In pulsed mode, number of pulses per second (Hz). Affects surface finish and thermal effects in thin materials.
G
Gas Pressure Pressure of assist gas delivered through the cutting nozzle. Affects melt ejection, cut quality, and processing speed.
Gaussian Beam Ideal laser beam profile with bell-shaped intensity distribution. Reference for beam quality measurements.
H
HAZ (Heat-Affected Zone) Region adjacent to the cut where material properties are altered by thermal effects. Minimized through parameter optimization.
Hybrid Laser Combination of different laser types or wavelengths in a single system. Provides versatility for different materials and applications.
I
Intensity Power per unit area (W/cm²). Determines material interaction mechanisms: conduction, keyhole, or plasma formation.
ISO 9013 International standard defining quality grades for thermal cutting processes. Specifies tolerances for perpendicularity, roughness, and dross.
J
Jitter Unwanted variation in beam position or timing. Can cause quality issues and reduced precision.
K
Kerf Width of material removed by the laser cutting process. Affects part dimensions and must be compensated in programming.
Keyhole Mode Cutting mechanism where laser creates a vapor-filled cavity through the material thickness. Enables cutting of thick materials.
L
Laser Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Device that produces coherent, monochromatic, collimated light.
Linear Energy Laser energy per unit length of cut (J/mm). Calculated as power divided by cutting speed. Key parameter for process control.
M
M² (Beam Quality Factor) Measure of beam quality. Ratio of actual beam parameter product to that of an ideal Gaussian beam. Lower values indicate better quality.
Melting Phase change from solid to liquid. Primary mechanism in laser cutting of metals.
Modulation Variation of laser power or other parameters during cutting. Used for process optimization and quality improvement.
N
Nozzle Component that directs assist gas flow to the cutting zone. Design affects gas flow pattern and cut quality.
Nitrogen Cutting Cutting process using nitrogen assist gas. Produces oxide-free edges but requires higher power and pressure.
O
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) Metric combining availability, performance, and quality factors. Measures manufacturing productivity.
Optical Density (OD) Logarithmic measure of light attenuation. Used to specify safety eyewear protection levels.
Oxidation Chemical reaction with oxygen. In oxygen cutting, provides additional energy for the cutting process.
P
Parameter Set Collection of cutting variables (power, speed, gas pressure, focus) optimized for specific material and thickness.
Plasma Ionized gas formed at high temperatures. Can interfere with laser cutting if not properly controlled.
Power Density Laser power per unit area at the focus point. Determines material interaction mechanisms and cutting capability.
Pulse Duration Length of time for each laser pulse. Ranges from continuous wave to femtoseconds. Affects thermal effects.
Q
Quality Grade Classification system (ISO 9013) defining cut quality levels based on perpendicularity, roughness, and dross formation.
R
Rayleigh Length Distance over which a focused Gaussian beam remains within √2 of its minimum diameter. Related to depth of focus.
Reflectivity Fraction of incident light reflected by a surface. High reflectivity materials (copper, aluminum) require special considerations.
Roughness (Ra) Average surface roughness measured in micrometers. Key quality parameter for cut edges.
S
Spatter Molten material ejected during cutting. Can contaminate optics and affect cut quality.
Standoff Distance Distance between nozzle tip and workpiece surface. Affects gas flow dynamics and cut quality.
Sublimation Direct transition from solid to vapor phase. Cutting mechanism for some materials like carbon.
T
Thermal Conductivity Material property describing heat transfer rate. Affects cutting parameters and HAZ size.
Threshold Minimum laser intensity required to initiate material removal. Varies with material and wavelength.
Tolerance Allowable deviation from specified dimensions. Determines required cutting precision and quality grade.
U
Uptime Percentage of scheduled time that equipment is operational and productive. Key performance metric.
V
Vaporization Phase change from liquid to vapor. Material removal mechanism in laser cutting.
Vector Cutting Cutting along programmed paths defined by coordinate points. Contrasts with raster scanning.
W
Wavelength Distance between successive peaks of electromagnetic radiation. Determines material absorption characteristics.
Working Distance Distance from final focusing element to workpiece. Affects beam diameter and power density.
X
X-axis Horizontal axis in machine coordinate system. Typically the long axis of the cutting table.
Y
Y-axis Horizontal axis perpendicular to X-axis. Defines the cutting plane coordinate system.
Yield Percentage of parts meeting quality specifications. Key manufacturing performance metric.
Z
Z-axis Vertical axis in machine coordinate system. Controls focus position and standoff distance.
Zone Specific area or region, such as heat-affected zone (HAZ) or cutting zone.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
ANSI - American National Standards Institute ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials CAD - Computer-Aided Design CAM - Computer-Aided Manufacturing CNC - Computer Numerical Control CO₂ - Carbon Dioxide CW - Continuous Wave DOE - Design of Experiments EMC - Electromagnetic Compatibility ESD - Electrostatic Discharge HAZ - Heat-Affected Zone IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission ISO - International Organization for Standardization LASER - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation MTBF - Mean Time Between Failures MTTR - Mean Time To Repair Nd:YAG - Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology OEE - Overall Equipment Effectiveness OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration PPE - Personal Protective Equipment QC - Quality Control ROI - Return on Investment SPC - Statistical Process Control TIG - Tungsten Inert Gas UV - Ultraviolet YAG - Yttrium Aluminum Garnet
Units and Measurements
Power Units:
- W (Watt) - SI unit of power
- kW (Kilowatt) - 1000 watts
- MW (Megawatt) - 1,000,000 watts
Length Units:
- mm (millimeter) - 0.001 meter
- μm (micrometer) - 0.000001 meter
- nm (nanometer) - 0.000000001 meter
Speed Units:
- mm/min - millimeters per minute
- m/min - meters per minute
- ipm - inches per minute
Pressure Units:
- bar - approximately 1 atmosphere
- psi - pounds per square inch
- Pa (Pascal) - SI unit of pressure
Temperature Units:
- °C (Celsius) - Metric temperature scale
- °F (Fahrenheit) - Imperial temperature scale
- K (Kelvin) - Absolute temperature scale
This glossary provides essential terminology for understanding laser cutting technology. For specific technical definitions related to your application, consult relevant industry standards and manufacturer documentation.