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Kerf Compensation
Laser kerf is the amount of material that is removed or lost in the cutting process, and, if not compensated for
in the design plans, will result in loose fitting parts.
Kerf Width
Kerf width can vary depending on a number of factors, including the material, the thickness of the material,
the laser module, the beam width and the power, the assist gas, etc.
Follow the steps below to find the exact kerf of a specific material cut with a specific group of technologies,
e.g. 3mm stainless steel cut with a 3kW fiber laser, power set to 85%, nitrogen used as the assist gas, etc.
1. Prepare a sample of the material.
2. Find the cutting parameters.
3. Cut a 30mm x 30mm square.
4. Measure the square with a set of calipers.
The difference between the design and the actual size of the square is the kerf. For example, if the square
measures 29.90mm, then the kerf is 0.10mm.
Kerf Compensation
The kerf compensation function offsets the cutting path by exact half the width of the kerf, in order to
maintain the integrity of the original part size.
Select the contours, and then select the command Compensate in Home.
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