A new approach to automated quality measurement of laser cut in industrial metal cutting processes is presented The paper demonstrates how i s possible to exploit the link between the shape of the erupted sparks from the metallic piece and the final quality of the edges of the laser cut, and propose a solution to automate the qualiw measurement. The analysis of the shape of the sparks is performed by using images from a camera during real time functioning. The trade-off between accuracy and robustness versus complexi@ was considered in order to achieve a prototype solution working in real time.