%0 Journal Article %A Powell, J. %A Ivarson, A. %A Ohlsson, L. %A Magnusson, C. %D 2000 %I Begell House %N 2 %P 12 %R 10.1615/HighTempMatProc.v4.i2.30 %T Conductive Losses Experienced during CO2 Laser Cutting %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/57d172397126f956,62f034a03f1fc107,36bd517e6f90890c.html %V 4 %X This paper begins by describing laser cutting in terms of a single energy balance. Analysis of this energy balance reveals that the efficiency of laser cutting decreases as the material thickness is increased. This point is demonstrated by the following experimental programme which investigates thermal losses by conduction from the cut zone. It is also shown that the magnitude of these conductive losses can exceed the laser output power if a laser-oxygen jet is used to cut steels. %8 2000-06-01