Early days of laser cutting

摘要

Abstract: May 1967 marks the 30th anniversary of gas assisted laser cutting. This paper looks back at these first experiments, made using a 300 W pulsed slow flow CO$-2$/ laser, and a pressure chamber to combine the focused laser beam with an oxygen gas jet. The results of this early work and the conclusions to the original publication on the subject will be discussed in terms of how laser cutting has developed over 30 years into an advanced and profitable manufacturing technique.!2