Laser machining with melt removal through suction

In conventional laser machining processes the melt is removed by an intense gas stream, which ejects the liquid material usually in the direction of the laser beam. A new method is described here, whereby the molten material is sucked into a bore coaxial to the beam and then taken away by a fast horizontal gas jet. The vacuum in the suction bore is obtained by fast expansion of highly compressed air. This design is then used to cut 1.25 mm mild steel under the variation of several parameters. It shows very similar results to conventional cutting processes, only the characteristic appearance of the top and bottom kerf edge being changed upside down.