In this process, the idea is to use the laser to vaporize the material with as little melting as possible. In the kerf, the material vapor creates high pressure that expels the molten material from the top and bottom of the kerf.
The process gas – nitrogen, argon, or helium – serves solely to shield the cut surfaces from the environment. It ensures that the edges remain oxide free. For this reason, a gas pressure of 1 to 3 bar is sufficient.
More energy is needed to vaporize metal than to melt it. For this reason, sublimation cutting requires high laser power and is slower than other cutting processes. However, it produces high-quality cuts.
