Cutting Kerf
Cutting kerf is the width of material that is removed during a cutting operation. It is essentially the thickness of the cut line, created by the tool or process doing the cutting, such as a saw blade, laser, plasma torch, or waterjet stream. The kerf includes the portion of the material that turns into chips, dust, or molten material and is no longer part of the finished piece.
Kerf matters because it affects final part dimensions and fit, especially on tight tolerance parts or when nesting multiple parts to reduce scrap. Kerf size varies by cutting method, tool condition, and material thickness, so fabrication drawings and CNC programs often account for it using a kerf allowance or tool offset to ensure the finished parts come out to the correct size.
Kerf matters because it affects final part dimensions and fit, especially on tight tolerance parts or when nesting multiple parts to reduce scrap. Kerf size varies by cutting method, tool condition, and material thickness, so fabrication drawings and CNC programs often account for it using a kerf allowance or tool offset to ensure the finished parts come out to the correct size.
