Based on experimental investigations in 1985 researchers identified a remote cutting process with CO2 lasers using no assist gas in order to conduct emergency restoration work in the gas industry. The task was to clean the head of out-of-control gas wells. A couple of years later another remote cutting process using solid state lasers was developed.
This paper deals with the detailed characterization of both processes. Similarities between both techniques will be identified. Furthermore, own experimental results on remote cutting of high tensile steel are presented. Different process areas with completely different cutting results can be generated by just adapting the laser parameters. Gained results will be related to other cutting processes considering general aspects like cutting speed and cutting quality as well as energetic aspects.