Laserpiercingisusedtogenerateastartingpointforlasercutting.Thepiercedholeisnormallylargerthanthekerfwidth,whichmeansthatitcannotlieonthecutline.Anexperimentalprogrammeinvestigatingthepiercingprocessasafunctionoflaserandassistgasparametersispresented.AnNd:YAGfibrelaserwithamaxi