{
  "schema": "cad-agent-references/1",
  "built": "2026-11-04T22:52:31-08:00",
  "revision": "3a4ec137a2a7cf52fa6072b5bc81b7e320d49701",
  "area": {
    "slug": "laser-cutting",
    "title": "Laser cutting",
    "domain": "manufacturing",
    "scope": "Flat parts cut from plastics and metals."
  },
  "fields": {
    "status": "`source`: read, with a dated `verified` note, and may be cited. `catalogued`: listed from a survey and not yet read; never cite one",
    "kind": "what the source is (research/references/vocab.yaml `kind`); a read source from before schema 2 has none",
    "evidence_class": "its rung on the evidence ladder, lowest first: snippet-only, read, verified-at-source, encoded, measured",
    "confidence": "#143: {level, estimate, sources}, derived from the evidence; `unknown` when the record has no evidence block",
    "licence": "{spdx, class, read, note}: `read: false` means the licence text was not read, only stated by the survey",
    "placed": "the docs/areas.yaml areas the record is listed in (`unplaced` when its areas match none)",
    "placed_note": "its row on the site, which [ref:<id>] in any page links to, is /references/<first placed area>#<id>",
    "vocab": "every coded value is explained in research/references/vocab.yaml"
  },
  "index": "https://cad-agent.valpatel.com/catalog/references/index.json",
  "count": 14,
  "coverage": [
    {
      "id": "ca-6-laser-waterjet-kerf-tolerance-minimum",
      "number": "6",
      "topic": "Laser/waterjet kerf, tolerance, minimum hole and slot",
      "status": "partly",
      "areas": [
        "laser-cutting"
      ],
      "where": "profile:3223 sm-kerf-laser-hubs, :3239 sm-hole-min-laser-sendcutsend, :3250 sm-cut-tolerance-sendcutsend; dfm.py:83 hole, :88 slot kinds",
      "defaults": "Kerf 0.3 mm (waterjet 0.5-1 only in note); SendCutSend min hole 0.5 T laser, 1.778 waterjet; cut tolerance +/-0.127 laser, 0.229 waterjet; Hubs hole >= T",
      "sources": "Hubs, SendCutSend sheet-cutting page, Protolabs, Davis",
      "gap": "No kerf-compensation or joint-fit helper (finger/tab slot widths); waterjet/plasma/router not process profiles; cut taper, HAZ, slot-width and thickness-limit rules absent.",
      "draft_issue": {
        "title": "Add laser/waterjet kerf compensation and process profiles",
        "body": "Kerf and cut tolerance are single numbers, waterjet only in text. Add laser, waterjet and plasma profiles (kerf, taper, HAZ, min hole/slot by thickness) and a kerf-compensated tab/slot helper for press-fit laser joints (Ponoko +/-0.005 in, SSAB plasma kerf).",
        "posted": false
      },
      "placed": [
        "laser-cutting"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "records": [
    {"id":"fictiv-tabs-slots","title":"Tabs and Slots for Sheet Metal Part Design","authors":["David Willson"],"org":"Fictiv","year":2025,"url":"https://www.fictiv.com/articles/sheet-metal-tabs-and-slots-assembly","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised, never copied","areas":["sheet-metal","tabs-and-slots","laser-cutting","fasteners-and-hardware"],"used_for":["research/sheet-metal-guides.md","research/sheet-metal.md"],"verified":"2026-10-31: opened the page (byline David Willson, 2025-11-20). Read tab width and length, slot clearance by process, corner radii, edge distance, tab spacing, distance from the bend tangent and kerf width.","status":"source","kind":"guide","category":"manufacturing-guides","licence":{"spdx":null,"class":"proprietary","read":false,"note":"A publisher's page; its terms were not read. Cited, never copied."},"reuse":{"text":"cite-only","geometry":"none"},"processes":["sheet","joining"],"process_groups":["sheet","inserts"],"evidence":{"numbers":"some","tested":"no","authority":"primary"},"confidence":{"level":"low","estimate":0.4,"sources":1},"summary":"Tab and slot joint self-locates, no jigs; pairs with welding, rivets or bolts for retention.","imported":"737543bbb60367b5","evidence_class":"read","placed":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting","fasteners-and-hardware"],"source_file":"research/references.yaml","extended_in":"research/references/guides-sheet.yaml"},
    {"id":"brass","title":"Brass Alloy C36000 data sheet","authors":[],"org":"Smiths Metal Centres Ltd","year":2023,"url":"https://www.smithmetal.com/pdf/brass/c36000.pdf","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised, never copied","areas":["materials","metals","inserts"],"used_for":["src/cadagent/mechanical/inserts.py"],"verified":"2026-11-01: the 1-page PDF opened (© Smiths Metal Centres 2023): yield strength depends on temper, the range cadagent.mechanical.inserts takes as typical values.","status":"source","evidence_class":"read","confidence":{"level":"unknown","estimate":null,"sources":0},"placed":["laser-cutting"],"source_file":"research/references.yaml"},
    {"id":"mil-hdbk-5j","title":"MIL-HDBK-5J: Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures","authors":[],"org":"US Department of Defense","year":2003,"url":"https://everyspec.com/MIL-HDBK/MIL-HDBK-0001-0099/MIL_HDBK_5J_139/","access":"free","terms":"cited by table and page; never copied (a public, superseded handbook; its successor MMPDS is paid and not used)","areas":["materials","metals","fea"],"used_for":["tests/simulation/test_fea_materials.py","src/cadagent/simulation/fea.py","research/sheet-metal-guides.md","research/process-profiles.yaml","research/process-profiles.md","research/sheet-metal-joining.md","src/cadagent/formulas/_registry.py","src/cadagent/formulas/rivets.py","tests/formulas/test_rivet_formulas.py","src/cadagent/mechanical/rivets.py"],"verified":"2026-10-31: read for #157 (the 31 January 2003 edition): Tables 3.6.2.0(b1), (b2) and (g) (6061), 3.7.6.0(b1) and (d) (7075) and 2.2.1.0(b) (AISI 1025), as cadagent.simulation.fea's metal rows and tests/simulation/test_fea_materials.py record them. The everyspec page resolved again on 2026-11-01. 2026-11-01, for #283: read 1.4.7 and 1.4.7.1 (D is the pin; Fbru between e/D 1.5 and 2.0 by linear interpolation; bearing values apply to t/D 0.25-0.50), Tables 3.5.1.0(b1) (5052-H32, H34: Ftu, Fty, Fsu, Fbru at e/D 1.5 and 2.0) and 2.7.1.0(b) (304 annealed), 8.1.2 and Table 8.1.2(b) (solid-rivet single shear), 8.1.2.1 and Table 8.1.2.1(a) (unit bearing; t/D at least 0.18), 8.1.3 (blind fasteners: care below t/D 0.25) and Table 9.7.1.1(a) (blind rivets whose shanks deform use the nominal hole).","status":"source","evidence_class":"read","confidence":{"level":"unknown","estimate":null,"sources":0},"placed":["laser-cutting"],"source_file":"research/references.yaml"},
    {"id":"sendcutsend-specs","title":"SendCutSend engineering specifications (sendcutsend-specs.json, schema 1.0)","authors":[],"org":"SendCutSend","year":2026,"url":"https://cdn.sendcutsend.com/specs/sendcutsend-specs.json","access":"free","terms":"fetched and cited by SKU and field path with the access date; the file is not redistributed. Treat as live data, not a stable API (it changes).","areas":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting","waterjet","pem-hardware","tolerances"],"used_for":["vendor/text-to-cad/skills/sendcutsend/references/official-sources.md","research/process-profiles.md","research/process-profiles.yaml","research/sheet-metal-guides.md","research/sheet-metal.md","research/sheet-metal-joining.md"],"verified":"2026-10-31: downloaded the JSON (_meta.generated_at 2026-04-29, 178 materials; 57 with bending_specs). Read per SKU: thickness, bend_radius, k_factor, bend_deduction, die_width, min flange before and after bend, bend_relief_depth, corner relief distance, joggle limits, bend angle tolerance, min hole and hole to edge, cut tolerance, tab_slot_tolerance, hardware and countersink distances, Brinell hardness. For research/process-profiles.yaml: downloaded the JSON (_meta.generated_at 2026-04-29, 178 materials). Read bending_specs for the 5052 aluminium (ALU-) and cold-rolled mild steel (CRS-) SKUs: thickness, bend_radius, k_factor, min_flange_length_after_bend, bend_relief_depth. On review, downloaded the same file again (same generated_at): no ALU6061- or ALU7075- SKU has bending_specs, and ALU2024-025 (0.025 in) has bend_radius 0.07 in. shop_tables holds four of its eight bendable 5052 SKUs and six of its seven mild-steel ones.","status":"source","evidence_class":"read","confidence":{"level":"unknown","estimate":null,"sources":0},"placed":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting"],"source_file":"research/references.yaml"},
    {"id":"sendcutsend-sheet-cutting","title":"Sheet Cutting Guidelines","authors":[],"org":"SendCutSend","year":2026,"url":"https://sendcutsend.com/guidelines/sheet-cutting/","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised, never copied","areas":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting"],"used_for":["research/sheet-metal-guides.md","research/process-profiles.yaml","research/process-profiles.md","research/sheet-metal.md"],"verified":"2026-11-01: opened the page (published 2026-06-16, modified 2026-09-29) and the sheet-cutting service page (modified 2026-09-29). Read file rules, the smallest hole by process (laser 50 % of T, waterjet 0.070 in, router 0.125 in), internal corner radii, nesting and common-line gaps (0.006–0.012 in), and the cut tolerances (laser and router ±0.005 in, waterjet ±0.009 in).","status":"source","evidence_class":"read","confidence":{"level":"unknown","estimate":null,"sources":0},"placed":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting"],"source_file":"research/references.yaml"},
    {"id":"hubs-sheet-metal","title":"Sheet metal fabrication: The manufacturing & design guide","authors":[],"org":"Protolabs Network (formerly Hubs)","year":null,"url":"https://www.hubs.com/guides/sheet-metal-fabrication/","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised, never copied; its K-factor chart is not reproduced","areas":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting","waterjet"],"used_for":["vendor/text-to-cad/skills/dfm/references/sheet-metal.md","research/process-profiles.md","research/process-profiles.yaml","research/sheet-metal-guides.md","research/sheet-metal.md"],"verified":"2026-10-31: opened the page and its raw HTML. Read the K-factor definition and chart (air bending, bottoming and coining; soft, medium and hard materials; three R/T bands), the laser corner fillet (T/2), kerf (laser about 0.3 mm, waterjet 0.5-1 mm), hole size and spacing, hole-to-bend distance, bend radius >= T, relief width >= T, and the cutting-tolerance table. No byline or date. For research/process-profiles.yaml: opened the guide; read the design rules (kerf, holes, spacing, edge and bend distances, K-factor range and table, bend relief width, bend height 2T + R, inside radius at least T) and the cutting-process table.","status":"source","evidence_class":"read","confidence":{"level":"unknown","estimate":null,"sources":0},"placed":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting"],"source_file":"research/references.yaml"},
    {"id":"oshcut-material-304","title":"Stainless Steel 304 #1 Finish (material details)","authors":[],"org":"OSH Cut","year":null,"url":"https://www.oshcut.com/materialdetails/stainless-steel-304-1-finish","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised; never copied","areas":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting"],"used_for":["research/sheet-metal.md"],"verified":"2026-10-31: opened the page. Read kerf 0.006 in at every thickness, minimum and recommended hole sizes, channel and wall minimums, and the K-factor note (about 0.4 for soft metals such as aluminium, about 0.45 for steel and stainless).","status":"source","evidence_class":"read","confidence":{"level":"unknown","estimate":null,"sources":0},"placed":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting"],"source_file":"research/references.yaml"},
    {"id":"xometry-design-guide-laser-and-sheet-cutting","kind":"guide","category":"manufacturing-guides","title":"Design Guide: Laser and Sheet Cutting","authors":[],"org":"Xometry","year":null,"url":"https://www.xometry.com/resources/design-guides/design-guide-laser-and-sheet-cutting/","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised, never copied","licence":{"spdx":null,"class":"proprietary","read":false,"note":"A publisher's page; its terms were not read. Cited, never copied."},"reuse":{"text":"cite-only","geometry":"none"},"areas":["laser-cutting","sheet-metal"],"processes":["laser","waterjet","sheet"],"process_groups":["sheet"],"evidence":{"class":"snippet-only","numbers":"unknown","tested":"unknown","authority":"primary"},"confidence":{"level":"low","estimate":0.4,"sources":1},"summary":"Xometry design guide for laser and sheet cutting; title only seen. Note: Title-level read only.","used_for":[],"imported":"0abd49b2adde1d81","status":"catalogued","evidence_class":"snippet-only","placed":["laser-cutting","sheet-metal"],"source_file":"research/references/guides-sheet.yaml"},
    {"id":"sendcutsend-do-i-need-to-compensate-for-kerf-in-my-design","kind":"guide","category":"manufacturing-guides","title":"Do I need to compensate for kerf in my design?","authors":[],"org":"SendCutSend","year":null,"url":"https://sendcutsend.com/faq/do-i-need-to-compensate-for-kerf-in-my-design/","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised, never copied","licence":{"spdx":null,"class":"proprietary","read":false,"note":"A publisher's page; its terms were not read. Cited, never copied."},"reuse":{"text":"cite-only","geometry":"none"},"areas":["laser-cutting","sheet-metal"],"processes":["laser","sheet"],"process_groups":["sheet"],"evidence":{"class":"snippet-only","numbers":"none","tested":"no","authority":"primary"},"confidence":{"level":"low","estimate":0.4,"sources":1},"claims":[{"text":"You don't need to compensate for kerf; we account for it","status":"unconfirmed","evidence":"No second source checked."}],"summary":"No kerf compensation needed in design; the service accounts for kerf on its end. Note: Short FAQ.","used_for":[],"imported":"b1762fd5499865b6","status":"catalogued","evidence_class":"snippet-only","placed":["laser-cutting","sheet-metal"],"source_file":"research/references/guides-sheet.yaml"},
    {"id":"ponoko-manufacturing-standards","kind":"guide","category":"manufacturing-guides","title":"Ponoko manufacturing standards","authors":[],"org":"Ponoko","year":null,"url":"https://help.ponoko.com/en/articles/9358110-ponoko-manufacturing-standards","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised, never copied","licence":{"spdx":null,"class":"proprietary","read":false,"note":"A publisher's page; its terms were not read. Cited, never copied."},"reuse":{"text":"cite-only","geometry":"none"},"areas":["laser-cutting","sheet-metal"],"processes":["laser","sheet","bending"],"process_groups":["sheet"],"evidence":{"class":"snippet-only","numbers":"claimed","tested":"no","authority":"primary"},"confidence":{"level":"low","estimate":0.4,"sources":1},"claims":[{"text":"Machine tolerance +/-0.005 in; single-bend part bend to edge +/-0.015 in","status":"corroborated","evidence":"Clarwe quotes laser cutting +/-0.005 in (0.127 mm); waterjet sources 0.001-0.005 in. Bend-to-edge +/-0.015 in not found; bend-to-hole +/-0.012 in elsewhere."}],"summary":"Laser metal machine tolerance and single-bend tolerance; metals auto-offset for kerf. Note: Rule values came via search summary.","used_for":[],"imported":"09448dc27715ceee","status":"catalogued","evidence_class":"snippet-only","placed":["laser-cutting","sheet-metal"],"source_file":"research/references/guides-sheet.yaml"},
    {"id":"protolabs-design-for-sheet-metal-fabrication-toolkit","kind":"guide","category":"manufacturing-guides","title":"Protolabs Design for Sheet Metal Fabrication Toolkit","authors":[],"org":"Protolabs","year":null,"url":"https://protolabs.com/resources/design-for-sheet-metal-fabrication-toolkit","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised, never copied","licence":{"spdx":null,"class":"proprietary","read":false,"note":"A publisher's page; its terms were not read. Cited, never copied."},"reuse":{"text":"cite-only","geometry":"none"},"areas":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting"],"processes":["bending","laser","sheet"],"process_groups":["sheet"],"evidence":{"class":"snippet-only","numbers":"some","tested":"unknown","authority":"primary"},"confidence":{"level":"low","estimate":0.4,"sources":1},"summary":"Toolkit; flange length and hole-to-bend limits depend on material, thickness and bend radius. Note: Tables not visible in snippet.","used_for":[],"imported":"76cb921dd0ed7736","status":"catalogued","evidence_class":"snippet-only","placed":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting"],"source_file":"research/references/guides-sheet.yaml"},
    {"id":"fabcon-sheet-metal-laser-cutting-tolerances-complete-guide","kind":"guide","category":"manufacturing-guides","title":"Sheet Metal Laser Cutting Tolerances: Complete Guide","authors":[],"org":"Fabcon","year":null,"url":"https://fabcon.com/articles/?p=544","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised, never copied","licence":{"spdx":null,"class":"proprietary","read":false,"note":"A publisher's page; its terms were not read. Cited, never copied."},"reuse":{"text":"cite-only","geometry":"none"},"areas":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting"],"processes":["bending","laser","sheet"],"process_groups":["sheet"],"evidence":{"class":"snippet-only","numbers":"some","tested":"no","authority":"reference"},"confidence":{"level":"low","estimate":0.4,"sources":1},"summary":"Laser cutting tolerances; cites ISO 9013 as the governing standard. Note: Shop blog; figures via summary.","used_for":[],"imported":"01fc1809af0c18ba","status":"catalogued","evidence_class":"snippet-only","placed":["sheet-metal","laser-cutting"],"source_file":"research/references/guides-sheet.yaml"},
    {"id":"sendcutsend-waterjet-cutting-design-guidelines","kind":"guide","category":"manufacturing-guides","title":"Waterjet cutting design guidelines","authors":[],"org":"SendCutSend","year":null,"url":"https://sendcutsend.com/?p=68759","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised, never copied","licence":{"spdx":null,"class":"proprietary","read":false,"note":"A publisher's page; its terms were not read. Cited, never copied."},"reuse":{"text":"cite-only","geometry":"none"},"areas":["laser-cutting","sheet-metal"],"processes":["waterjet","sheet"],"process_groups":["sheet"],"evidence":{"class":"snippet-only","numbers":"some","tested":"unknown","authority":"primary"},"confidence":{"level":"low","estimate":0.4,"sources":1},"summary":"Minimum hole or cutout size for waterjet varies with material thickness and type. Note: Snippet gave no numbers.","used_for":[],"imported":"bf33535322af8469","status":"catalogued","evidence_class":"snippet-only","placed":["laser-cutting","sheet-metal"],"source_file":"research/references/guides-sheet.yaml"},
    {"id":"uc-berkeley-mechanical-engineering-waterjet-omax-abrasive","kind":"paper","category":"manufacturing-guides","title":"Waterjet: Omax Abrasive Jet Machining Protocol (Berkeley)","authors":[],"org":"UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering","year":null,"url":"https://me.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Omax-Abrasive-Jet-Machining-Protocol.pdf","access":"free","terms":"cited and summarised, never copied","licence":{"spdx":null,"class":"proprietary","read":false,"note":"A publisher's page; its terms were not read. Cited, never copied."},"reuse":{"text":"cite-only","geometry":"none"},"areas":["laser-cutting"],"processes":["waterjet"],"process_groups":["sheet"],"evidence":{"class":"snippet-only","numbers":"some","tested":"no","authority":"reference"},"confidence":{"level":"low","estimate":0.4,"sources":1},"claims":[{"text":"Minimum hole diameter 0.06 in (1.5 mm)","status":"unconfirmed","evidence":"No second source checked."}],"summary":"Lab protocol: minimum hole 0.06 in; taper tied to thickness and hardness. Note: Lab-specific, not a general guide.","used_for":[],"imported":"41c5620653fd2541","status":"catalogued","evidence_class":"snippet-only","placed":["laser-cutting"],"source_file":"research/references/guides-sheet.yaml"}
  ]
}