High speed laser cutting of amorphous metals

Abstract

Laser cutting systems and methods are used to cut amorphous metal materials, such as thin amorphous metal ribbons or foils, with a relatively high speed. Embodiments of laser cutting systems and methods described herein also allow cutting with reduced crystallization, and thus reduced increases in thickness, at the cut edges and with reduced cracks or other cutting defects at the cut edges. A fiber laser, such as an Ytterbium fiber laser, is used to generate a laser beam with a power level greater than about 50 W. The laser beam is focused and directed at the amorphous metal material with a beam spot size of about 30 microns or less. The focused laser beam and the amorphous metal material are moved relative to each other at a speed greater than about 18 inches per second such that the focused laser beam cuts the amorphous metal material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.