Stainless steel sheet of 0.2mm thickness was cut with a Nd: YAG laser, and the effects of laser process parameters on kerf widths and surface roughness were studied systematically. The results showed that the kerf quality could be improved with the increase of the repetition rates, power density and pulse width and with the decrease of scanning speed. The formulas that describe the theoretical maximum cutting speed and surface roughness with pulsed laser cutting were deduced, which could explain the experimental results very well. Finally, the method of controlling kerf quality in precision laser cutting was suggested.

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