How to Inspect The Quality of Laser Cutting Machines?

Updated on 2023-08-30 by 3 Min Read

How to Inspect The Quality of Laser Cutting Machines?

1. Roughness

Laser cutting cross section will form a vertical lines, the depth of the texture of the cut surface of the roughness of the cut surface, the more shallow lines, the more smooth cut section. Roughness not only affects the appearance of the edges, but also affect the friction characteristics, in most cases, it is necessary to minimize the roughness, so the more shallow texture, the higher the quality of the cut.

2. Verticality

If the sheet thickness exceeds 10mm, the verticality of cutting edge is very important. Away from the focus, the laser beam becomes divergent, according to the location of the focus, cutting to the top or bottom of the variable width. Cutting edge off the vertical line of a few millimeters, the edge of the more vertical, the higher the quality of cutting.

3. Cutting width

Kerf width generally does not affect the cutting quality, only in the internal components formed special precision contour, cutting width is important. This is because the cutting width determines the contour of the minimum, when the plate thickness increases, the cutting width also increases. So want to guarantee the same high precision, no matter how much the width of the cut, the workpiece in the laser cutting machine processing area should be constant.

4. Lines

High speed cutting thick plate, the molten metal will not appear in the vertical laser beam below the incision, but will be sprayed out at the laser beam side. As a result, the curved lines are formed on the cutting edge, and the lines are closely followed by the laser beam. In order to correct the problem, the feed rate can be reduced at the end of the cutting process.

5. Burr

Burr formation is a very important factor to determine the quality of laser cutting, because the removal of burr need extra work, so the amount of burr is serious and how much is able to directly determine the quality of cutting.

6. Material Deposition

Laser cutting machine before the beginning of melting and perforation of the workpiece surface with a layer of oil on the surface of a special liquid. Gasification and all kinds of materials, the material does not need to use the wind to blow the cut, but the upward or downward discharge also can form the deposition on the surface.

7. Sag and Corrosion

Sag and corrosion have adverse effects on the surface of the cutting edge, affecting the appearance. They appear in the error of the cut which is generally supposed to be avoided.

8. Heat Affected Zone

In laser cutting, the area near the notch is heated. At the same time, the structure of the metal changes. For example, some of the metals can be hardened. The heat affected zone refers to the depth of the area that is changed by the internal structure.

9. Deformation

If the cutting makes the component heat, it will deform. This is particularly important in fine processing, because the profile and connecting pieces are usually only a few millimeters wide. Control of laser power and the use of short laser pulses can reduce the parts to become hot, to avoid deformation.

Further Reading

What Is CNC (Computer Numerical Control)?

2016-02-04Prev Post

How to Fix Type Data Error Limit Exceeded on Laser Cutter?

2016-04-24Next Post

Related Articles

Start a Metal Fabrication Business with a Fiber Laser Cutter
2026-05-197 Min Read

Start a Metal Fabrication Business with a Fiber Laser Cutter

A fiber laser cutting business can generate $5,000 to $25,000 per month by serving local machine shops, contractors, and direct-to-consumer metal product buyers. Startup costs range from $15,000 for an entry-level 1kW system to $80,000+ for a high-power industrial setup. Operators typically reach break-even within 4 to 8 months by combining subcontract cutting services with finished metal product sales at 40 to 60% profit margins.

Top 20 Laser Cutting Products to Sell on Amazon & Shopify
2026-04-077 Min Read

Top 20 Laser Cutting Products to Sell on Amazon & Shopify

Discover 20 high-demand laser cutting products with profit margins of 60-85%. Includes material costs, pricing data, and selling strategies for Amazon and Shopify sellers.

Laser-Cut Jewelry Business: Etsy Startup to Wholesale Guide
2026-06-056 Min Read

Laser-Cut Jewelry Business: Etsy Startup to Wholesale Guide

A laser-cut jewelry business uses CO2 or fiber laser machines to cut, engrave, and personalize earrings, pendants, bracelets, and rings from materials like acrylic, wood, stainless steel, and leather. With material costs under $2 per pair of earrings and retail prices of $12–$28, profit margins of 70–85% are typical. Most sellers start on Etsy with an investment of $2,500–$8,000 and scale to $2,000–$10,000 per month in revenue within the first year.

CO2 Laser Cutting Parameters: Power, Thickness, and Speed
2025-09-263 Min Read

CO2 Laser Cutting Parameters: Power, Thickness, and Speed

CO2 lasers can cut materials of varying thicknesses at various speeds with powers ranging from 40W to 300W. Here's a breakdown of cutting parameters, covering power, speed, thickness, and kerf for laser cutting a variety of non-metallic materials, including wood, plastic, acrylic, foam, paper, fabric, and leather.

Laser Cutting MDF vs Plywood: Which Board Is Better?
2026-08-145 Min Read

Laser Cutting MDF vs Plywood: Which Board Is Better?

MDF and plywood are the two boards every CO2 laser owner reaches for first, and the forums are full of the same argument about which one deserves the bed. Both cut well on the right settings, and both have a failure mode the other does not: MDF chars dark and fumes hard, while plywood hides glue lines and voids that no parameter file can predict. This guide settles the choice by project, with the char, glue, smoke, and settings differences that actually decide it.

Laser Cutting 101: Everything You Need to Know
2026-04-014 Min Read

Laser Cutting 101: Everything You Need to Know

Laser cutting is an advanced technology and process with a learning curve but is fun to play with, however, newbies need to learn the basics to step into laser. This article is a beginner's guide, taking you through everything about laser cutting, what it is, the advantages and benefits, FAQs and how to buy your own laser cutter.