Laser cutting works by directing a high-powered beam of light into a sheet of material to produce a 2-dimensional profile. In the case of common lasers like CO2 and fiber lasers, the beam is generated inside a resonator that amplifies the light energy until it reaches the desired energy level. The beam is then directed using mirrors (in CO2 lasers) or fiber optic cables (in fiber lasers) onto the material surface. The laser melts, burns, or removes the material to create the cut-through.
