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A systematic experimental investigation of fiber laser cutting stainless steel in a wide range of material thicknesses is performed. The achievable maximum cutting speed, the resultant thermal efficiency of the process as well as the surface roughness of the cut edges were determined using different optical setups and beam geometries. In order to find out some reasons for characteristic features of the fiber laser cutting process also the cut kerf geometries were analyzed. The systematic investigation clarifies the most promising procedural possibilities for improvements of cutting performance and cut edge quality in fiber laser cutting of stainless steel.
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