Technical Guides
Jun 06, 2026
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Cutting Head Technology: Types for Industrial Applications
Overview of cutting head technologies for laser, plasma, waterjet, and mechanical systems.
The cutting head interfaces between energy source and workpiece, directly affecting quality and precision. Laser heads focus beams through optics with assist gas through coaxial nozzles. Fiber laser heads use lenses optimized for 1070nm wavelength.
Plasma heads contain electrodes, swirl rings, nozzles, and shields. Orifice diameter determines arc constriction and precision. Waterjet heads mix water with abrasive garnet in mixing chambers before accelerating through focusing tubes.
Diamond waterjet orifices last thousands of hours while sapphire needs replacement every 50 to 100 hours. Selecting heads requires matching to material thickness, precision needs, and production volume.
Higher-quality heads cost more initially but reduce consumable consumption and improve consistency, yielding lower per-part costs over time in production environments.
