Cyclical mechanism of kerf formation under gas-assisted laser cutting of metals

The results of experimental investigation of cutting kerf characteristics of workpieces of electrical steep depending on nozzle pressure pn of inert gas and cutting speed vc are presented. It is demonstrated that the kerf width decreases with increase of vc as vc-1/2 and the period of striations on lateral surface decreases with increase of pn as pn-1/2. The obtained relations are in a good agreement with fulfilled estimations.