Chapter 4

Criteria for the evaluation of

laser cuts

T195EN04.doc

1.

How is the quality of cut evaluated? ........................... 4-2

2.

Burr formation................................................................ 4-3

3.

Kerf.................................................................................. 4-4

4.

Pittings............................................................................ 4-6

5.

Standard roughness...................................................... 4-7

6.

Groove lag ...................................................................... 4-9

7.

Perpendicularity and slant tolerance......................... 4-10

8.

Evaluation table ........................................................... 4-12

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

4-1

1.
DIN EN ISO 9013:2000

How is the quality of cut evaluated?

The standard DIN EN ISO 9013 is a summary of and also a

substitute for the standards DIN EN ISO 9013:1995-05
"Oxyacetylene (flame) cutting", DIN 2310-4 "Plasma cutting" and
DIN 2310-5 "Laser cutting of metallic materials". In addition, the
content of these standards has been revised.
DIN EN ISO 9013:2000 gives terminological definitions and
describes criteria for evaluating the quality of cutting surfaces,
quality classification and the dimensional tolerance. It applies e. g.
in the case of laser beam cuts for material thickness of between
0.5 mm and 40 mm.

TRUMPF criteria

TRUMPF applies the following criteria for the evaluation of cutting

results which deviate in part from DIN EN ISO 9013:2000:

Burr formation (slag formation or melt drops)

Kerf
Pittings
Groove lag n
Standard roughness Rz5
Perpendicularity and slant tolerance u

A definition and description of the methods used in measuring or

determining the criteria above is provided on the following pages.
The evaluation table at the end of the chapter is intended for use
as a master template, so that data required for the evaluation of
the quality of cut is saved.

4-2

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

T195EN04.doc

2.

Burr formation

Definition

Burr formation can refer to

a highly adherent burr which cannot be removed without
further treatment
or
a slag which is adherent but can be easily removed without
further treatment.

Determining the
burr formation

The burr formation is evaluated visually and described in words.

The dimension of the burr is dependent on the focus position,
amongst other things.

"Bead burr": beadlike or drop-like burr, with a polished metallic

surface; highly adherent burr

Example: mild steel, sheet thickness 15 mm, focus position +5

"Crumble burr": Melt adheres in the form of fine, crumbly burr,

easier to remove than "sharp burr"

Example: mild steel, sheet thickness 15 mm, focus position 1

Fig. 25111

"Sharp burr": Whisker-like, rough and sharp-edged burr; highly

adherent in parts. The underside of the cut surface is rough.

Example: Stainless steel, sheet thickness 8 mm, focus position 4

T195EN04.doc

Fig. 25110

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

Fig. 25112

4-3

"Sharp burr": fine but sharp-edged burr, whisker-like and

adhering to the underside.

Example: stainless steel, sheet thickness 8 mm, focus position 11

3.
Definition

Measuring the kerf

Fig. 25113

Kerf

Laser cutting produces a kerf which is usually narrower at the

bottom of the cut than at the top.
The kerf - also referred to as the kerf breadth - is given in [mm].
The kerf is measured in the slit of a rectangle (see Fig. 25395).

2
1

Slit

Rectangle with slit: measuring the kerf

4-4

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

Workpiece
Fig. 25395

T195EN04.doc

A value is determined with the aid of a feeler gauge: Depth of

penetration s (see Fig. 25396)

Workpiece

Feeler gauge

Sheet thickness = depth of

penetration

Measuring the kerf

Fig. 25396

With material strengths of more than 3 mm, the exact measurement of the kerf is carried out by cutting a rectangle and using the
slide gauge to measure the edge length. The difference to the
programmed length of the rectangle is the kerf.
Example:
Programmed edge length:
Measured edge length:
Determined kerf:

100 mm
99.7 mm
0.3 mm

TRUMPF standard values for kerf width can be found in the data
collection for your machine.
Example: Entries from the data collection for TC L 2530,
TC L 3030, TC L 4030, TC L 6030 with SINUMERIK 840D control
system and TLF 3000 turbo
Material

Sheet thickness
[mm]

Kerf
[mm]

Mild steel (QSt 37-2)

1-3
4-6
-15
20

0.15
0.2 - 0.3
0.35 - 0.4
0.5

Stainless steel
(1.4301), high-pressure
cutting with N2

1-3

0.15

4-8
10 - 12

0.2
0.5

1-3
4-8

0.15
0.2 - 0.3

Aluminium alloys
(AlMg3, AlMgSi1), highpressure cutting with N2

T195EN04.doc

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

4-5

4.
Definition

Pittings

Pittings are erosions of irregular width, depth and form which

interrupt an otherwise regular cutting surface (see Fig. 25397).

3
1

Cutting beam direction

Pittings

Workpiece

Cutting direction

Pitting

Determining

Fig. 25397

When determining the quality of cut, the features of the pittings

present are visually evaluated and described in words. If no pitting
is detectable, this criterion is ignored.
Erosions arising, for example, from changes of direction, are listed
separately.

3
1

Cutting beam direction

Erosions

Workpiece

Cutting direction

Erosions

4-6

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

Fig. 25398

T195EN04.doc

5.
Definition of roughness

Standard roughness

Roughness = groove depth

2
1

Roughness

Workpiece

Kerf

Sketch showing roughness: enlarged top view

Fig. 25246

The standard roughness Rz5 is the arithmetic mean calculated from

the roughness (scallop height) of five consecutive, representative,
individual measured sections. The roughness is stated in [m].
Z l1

l1

Z l2

l2

Z l3

l3

Z l5

Z l4

l4

l5

ln

Zl1 to Zl5

Roughness of individual
sections

l1 to l5

Individual measured
sections

ln

Whole measured section

Schematic diagram: Roughness over five individual measured sections

Measuring the standard

roughness R

Fig. 25454

The standard roughness Rz5 is measured e. g. with a brush

analyzer corresponding to ISO 3274. The measuring itself is
carried out at continuous distances in the cutting direction, in
accordance with ISO 4288.
The point at which the roughness is measured is dependent on the
sheet thickness s and the material type. TRUMPF deviates from
the standard by measuring at positions which visually seem to
demonstrate the highest degree of roughness. The standard
procedure is to use the upper third of the top of the cut as the
measuring point.

T195EN04.doc

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

4-7

The following table shows the Measuring point for the

roughness, which depends on the sheet thickness and material
type. These values are to be regarded as standard values for the
technology in its current state. They were determined on the basis
of a TLF 4000 turbo.

s [mm]
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
10
12
15
20

Measuring
*)
point [mm]
Mild steel
-0.5
-1
-2
-2.6
-3.3
-4
-5.3
-1
-1
-1
-1

Measuring point Measuring point

[mm]
[mm]
Stainless steel
Aluminium
-0.5
-0.5
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2.6
-2.6
-1.6
-3.3
-4
-4
-7
-5.3
-9
-11
-

The maximum roughness creeps from the lower to the upper

side of the sheet in the case of mild steel with a thickness of
> 8 mm. This is not the case with Stainless steel and
aluminium.
Standard values for
roughness Rz

In the following table, maximum values for the standard roughness

are given, for your orientation. These values were determined by
TRUMPF based on a TLF 4000 turbo.
Sheet
thickness
[mm]
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
4
5
6
8
10
12
15
20

Mild steel,
maximum
values Rz [m]
9
8
15
7
17
5
6
6
7
28
23
28
28

Stainless steel,
maximum
values Rz [m]
6
10
10
10
10
13
19
43
38
-

Aluminium,
maximum
values Rz [m]
18
13
17
14
22
20
19
14
46
-

These values are standard values determined on the basis

of the current state of the technology.

*)

The measuring points for mild steel, Stainless steel and aluminium given in the table refer to the top edge of the sheet.
Example: -0.5 means 0.5 mm below the top edge of the sheet (=beam entry side).

4-8

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

T195EN04.doc

Pittings

Pittings must be dealt with separately, as they cannot be calculated

by measuring the roughness. The expansions of the pitting exceed
the range of the measuring device.

6.
Definition

Measuring n

Groove lag

In laser cutting, the edges of the workpiece have a characteristic

grooved pattern. At low cutting speeds, the grooves run almost
parallel to the laser beam. As the cutting speed increases, the
grooves bend away from the direction of cutting.
Groove lag n refers to the greatest distance between two drag lines
in the direction of the cut.

The groove lag is evaluated visually.

The evaluation is carried out on a photo or cut sample with the aid
of a magnifying glass or stereo microscope. A reference line is
used for assistance (see Fig. 25399).

5
n

Reference line

Cutting direction

Workpiece

Drag lines

Groove width

Groove lag

Measuring groove lag

T195EN04.doc

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

Fig. 25399

4-9

7.
Definition

Perpendicularity and slant tolerance

The perpendicularity and slant tolerance u is the distance between

two parallel straight lines between which the cutting surface profile
must lie at the theoretically correct angle - i.e. at 90 in the case of
perpendicular cuts.
The perpendicularity and slant tolerance encompasses the
deviation from both straightness and flatness.
The perpendicularity and slant tolerance are measured in [mm] in
the case of perpendicular cuts or bevel cuts.

Perpendicular cut:

Bevel cut:

s
u

Sheet thickness

Perpendicularity tolerance

Reference area in which the measurement is carried out.

Dimension by which the reference range of the perpendicularity tolerance is

reduced. This dimension varies with the sheet thickness:

Perpendicularity and slant tolerance

4-10

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

Fig. 3800, 11181, 11182, 25243

T195EN04.doc

DIN EN ISO 9013:2000 classifies three ranges for laser cutting:

Range 1 to 3.
Deviating from the standard, TRUMPF defines three ranges from
the following formulas, dependent on the material:
Formula for upper limit
Mild steel (flame
cutting)

u = 0.05 + 0.01s

Stainless steel (laser

fusion cutting)

u = 0.005 + 0.033s

Aluminium (laser
fusion cutting)

u = 0.03 + 0.035s

s = sheet thickness

TRUMPFs values are based on the TC L 3030 and TLF 3800 turbo.
The values are represented in the following diagram:
0,45

Mild steel (St)

Stainless steel (VA)
Aluminium (Alu)

0,4

Upper limit St
Upper limit VA

0,35

Upper limit Alu

u [mm]

0,3

0,25

0,2

0,15

0,1

0,05

0
0

u [mm]

10

15

Edge angle

20

S [mm]

25

Sheet thickness

Edge bevels for mild and stainless steel and aluminium

T195EN04.doc

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

Fig. 25393EN

4-11

8.

Evaluation table

General data

Date:

Person responsible:

Material type:

Cutting speed:

Laser type:

Lens:

Laser power:

Focus position:

Gating frequency:

Nozzle geometry:

Cutting gas pressure:

Nozzle stand-off:

Cutting gas:

Data calculated

Material
thickness
[mm]

Kerf
[mm]

Roughness
[m]

Groove
lag
(yes/no,
minor/
major)

Perpendicularity
tolerance
[mm]

Pittings
(yes/no,
sporadic/
frequent)

Erosion
following
change of
direction
(yes/no)

Actual
radius
after 90
change in
direction
[mm]

Other

Remarks:

4-12

Criteria for the evaluation of laser cuts

T195EN04.doc

From:

Technical information
Laser processing
TLF laser: Basics, installation and use
Edition: 10/2000

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