Cutting speed
The maximum feed rate that the process can support is reduced by approximately 10 – 15% to avoid any risk of cut extinction, thereby applying high levels of beam energy to the most reflective materials. When in doubt, start at a slower speed than the process you know can support. Allow enough dwell time to ensure that the pierce passes through before moving the beam to start cutting.

Focus position
For laser piercing and cutting, set the focus position as close to the top surface as the quality of the cut allows. This minimizes the amount of surface material that interacts with the beam at the beginning of the process, thereby maximizing the beam's power density and speeding up melting.

Power settings
Using the maximum peak power available for piercing and cutting reduces the time the material is in its most reflective state.

Cutting gas
High pressure oxygen (100-300 psi, depending on thickness) is typically used as the cutting gas when piercing and cutting copper to improve process reliability. When oxygen is used, copper oxide that forms on the surface reduces reflectivity. For brass, nitrogen cutting gas works well.