Reducing the melting and sublimation of the galvanized sheets zinc layer during the laser beam cutting

The presented research is dealing with principles and technology of the laser cutting. The properties of the CO₂ laser beam, input parameters of the laser cutting, assist gasses, interaction with the cut material and the cutting process stability are described. Influence of the heat from the laser beam on degradation of the zinc surface layer, which serves as the anti-corrosive protection of the lower carbon steel, is considered in this paper. In the experimental part of this research, the two most important laser cutting parameters were experimentally changed, namely the type of the assist gas - O₂ and N₂ and the cutting speed.