Energy characteristics of laser-oxygen cutting of steel by CO2-laser radiation

The energy balance in the laser-oxygen cutting of steel sheets of thickness 5 — 16 mm was investigated. The necessary expenditure of energy and the thermal efficiency of the process were determined for cutting parameters that provided minimal roughness (characteristic height of irregularities) of the cut surface. For the minimal roughness, the ratio between the components of the energy balance equation was determined to be independent of the sheet thickness. We also measured the oxidised iron fraction in the melt being removed.