Glossary
Kerf
Width beam removes
Kerf is the width of material the beam vaporizes as it cuts — typically 0.1–0.2mm on a desktop laser, wider at the top of the cut than the bottom because the beam is a cone, not a cylinder.
Kerf is why finger joints cut to nominal size rattle: every mating surface lost half a kerf. Measure yours with a test comb and calipers, then compensate in your design software.
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