Solid state lasers are especially suited for fine cutting due to their beam quality and short wave length. The beam can be focused to a very small diameter with extreme precision. This allows for thin cut widths of down to 10 µm (0.0004 in.) with a very small heat affected zone. This is important for closed, thin walled hollow bodies. The parts will not be deformed.

The intense heat at the focal point causes the material to melt and evaporate. With the help of an assist gas, often oxygen, the material is blown through the created hole. By moving the material or the laser, a cut is created. The smallest possible kerf width is dependent on the beam characteristics but also on the thickness of the material.

For cutting of materials such as

• high alloyed steel
• precious and nonferrous metal
• tungsten and molybdenum
• ceramics like aluminum oxide, silicon and boron nitride
• hard metals and polycrystalline diamond