What thickness of steel can be cut with a laser?
The thickness of steel – laser cutting is one of the key issues worth understanding if you plan to use this modern metal processing technology. Laser cutting of steel allows for precise shaping with high-quality edges, but before you choose this solution, you should know what thickness of steel can be cut with a laser. Material that is too thick may require more advanced technology, while cutting very thin sheets may lead to suboptimal results. The final outcome and the efficiency of the entire process depend on this choice. Read the entire article to learn what thickness of steel can be laser-cut to achieve the best results. In this article you will learn:
- What thickness of steel can be cut with a laser?
- Laser cutting of different types of metals
- Choosing the right laser for cutting steel
- What thickness of steel can be cut with a laser? – summary
What thickness of steel can be cut with a laser?
What thickness of steel can be cut with a laser? The answer is not straightforward, as it depends on the laser power and the type of material. Our fiber laser Amada 3015AJ can cut carbon steel up to 25 mm thick, stainless steel up to 15 mm, and aluminium up to 12 mm. The maximum cutting thickness for copper is 6 mm, and for brass 8 mm. These are important details to consider when planning laser cutting, as each material requires specific cutting parameters.
Laser cutting of different types of metals
The thickness of steel – laser cutting allows for processing various materials, but each material has its own thickness limits. It is important to note that depending on the metal, a specific maximum thickness can be laser-cut while maintaining high-quality laser cutting. Below are the maximum thicknesses we handle at Metaloplastyka for different metals:
- laser cutting of structural steel – up to 25 mm;
- laser cutting of stainless steel – up to 12 mm;
- laser cutting of brass – up to 8 mm;
- laser cutting of copper – up to 6 mm;
- laser cutting of aluminium – up to 12 mm.
The thickness of steel suitable for laser cutting depends largely on the technology being used and on the properties of the material. Higher-power lasers allow cutting of thicker sheets.
Choosing the right laser for cutting steel
The thickness of steel that can be laser-cut also depends on the laser power. Fiber lasers with 3000 W of power are sufficient for cutting carbon steel up to 25 mm and stainless steel up to 12 mm. For thicker materials, higher-power lasers must be used to cut more demanding metals. Laser cutting is ideal when you need precise edges, which is not always achievable with other cutting technologies, such as plasma.
What thickness of steel can be cut with a laser? – summary
I hope that thanks to this article you now know what thickness of steel can be cut with a laser. Laser cutting of steel is an effective machining method that delivers high-quality results, but the thickness of the material that can be cut depends on several factors, including laser power. Choosing the right technology and cutting parameters allows for achieving precise results on various materials. If high-quality laser cutting is your goal, you should pay attention to the correct laser power and match it to the material specifications.