Compare industrial laser cutting machines for sheet metal, precision parts, flexible circuits, medical tubing, glass, ceramics and non-metal materials. Selection should combine material and thickness, contour and dimensional tolerance, kerf and heat effect, takt time, assist gas or extraction, safety and automation.
Choose a cutting route by material and quality target
The power figures below describe the current product range; they are not a universal thickness-capacity chart. Cutting thickness, speed, edge quality and heat-affected zone must be validated for the material grade, beam, focus, assist gas, motion system and acceptance criteria.
| Cutting route | Current product range | Selection boundary |
|---|
| Sheet fiber laser cutting | 1500–12000 W | For metal sheet and production cutting; thickness, speed, kerf, dross, gas and edge quality cannot be determined from power alone. |
| Precision and ultrafast cutting | Selected by wavelength and pulse duration | For FPC, metal foils, Nitinol tubing, glass, sapphire, ceramics and microfeatures; validate heat-affected zone, taper, chipping and feature size. |
| CO₂ non-metal cutting | 80–150 W | For compatible organic and non-metal materials; confirm material emissions, charring, fire risk, extraction and prohibited materials. |
| Five-axis and complex-part cutting | Configured to the part and motion system | For complex contours, curved surfaces and multi-angle work; evaluate reach, collisions, calibration, fixtures and offline programming together. |
Boundaries to confirm before selection
- Define material grade, thickness range, part size and contour, minimum feature, hole size, kerf, tolerance, edge roughness and heat-effect limit.
- Metal sheet cutting also requires an oxygen, nitrogen, air or other assist-gas strategy, including gas cost, burr and oxide requirements.
- Ultrafast and precision routes are not selected by average power alone; wavelength, pulse duration, repetition rate, scanning or motion and inspection standards all matter.
- Non-metal materials require checks for fumes, volatile compounds, flammability and material safety; unknown materials should not be cut without review.
From sample cutting to system configuration
Review the laser cutting process guide, then use sample testing and process validation to submit the material, thickness, drawings, quality metrics and takt time. For equipment, fixtures or automation planning, request sample cutting and a configuration review.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose between fiber, ultrafast and CO₂ laser cutting?
Fiber is generally evaluated first for metal sheet. UV or ultrafast systems can be evaluated for microfeatures, heat-sensitive materials and high edge quality. CO₂ can be evaluated for compatible non-metals. The material and acceptance criteria determine the route.
Can laser power directly determine maximum cutting thickness?
No. Thickness capability also depends on material, beam quality, focus, speed, assist gas, nozzle, motion and the required edge quality. It must be verified under defined test conditions.
Which metrics matter in precision cutting?
Common metrics include dimensional tolerance, kerf, taper, burr or chipping, heat-affected zone, roughness, recast layer and downstream assembly or functional requirements.
When is a five-axis or complex-part system needed?
Consider five-axis motion, robotics or dedicated fixtures when parts have curved surfaces, multi-angle contours, reach constraints or multi-operation positioning requirements.
What information is needed for sample cutting?
Provide the material grade and thickness, 2D or 3D drawings, minimum feature, tolerance and edge requirements, takt time, downstream process, assist-gas conditions and acceptance method.
