Process Date: July 2001

A close-up of laser-cut Kevlar® fabric shows the clean edges produced by the laser.
Commonly used to produce protective apparel, sporting equipment, and automotive parts, this high strength fabric is used in applications where puncture and abrasion  resistance are required. In this instance, the fabric makes up the intermediate layer of a bulletproof vest.

A 50-watt Synrad laser was used to cut the 0.02"-thick Kevlar at a speed of 4" per second. Unlike many mechanical cutting tools, the laser produces smooth, clean cuts with no frayed edges. Additionally, the non-contact process results in no tool wear, eliminating potential downtime for cleaning and resharpening blades.