Abstract: A laser cutting apparatus includes a table bed having a perforated top surface for positioning a sheet material thereon, a gantry extending across the bed and arranged to travel along the bed, and a carriage arranged to travel along the gantry. The bed has a holding arrangement for holding the sheet material in position on the bed. The carriage has a laser head with a nozzle and is arranged to receive a laser source and direct a laser beam through the nozzle and towards the bed for cutting the sheet material. An enclosure member having a first low pressure chamber therein is arranged about the laser nozzle. The first chamber has a suction opening for entraining substantial by-products produced during cutting of the sheet material into the first chamber and for causing a part of the sheet material under the suction opening to be lifted off the top surface.