Current challenges to laser cutting application

Laser cutting applications are widely used in the world industrial field. Especially in Japan, the ratios are exceeding 90% in the whole. Currently, the laser cutting technology for sheet metal cutting was developed instead of punching. Although it becomes the main technology, this technology is still in a middle stage of the development and the technology is still improving rapidly. New challenges are always necessary for mature technology. In industry, nowadays, more high-speed cutting and accuracy are demanded for the technology. Therefore, lots of studies that improvement of beam mode, laser simulation of dross formation and behavior of the assisted jetting gas were accomplished. From the viewpoint of technical development, this paper describes the current situation and recent advanced technical trend of the laser cutting process including some big challenges, such as precision cutting and thick plate cutting.