“Does it cut 10 mm of stainless steel too?” is the number one question in any discussion about fiber lasers. The short answer: it depends on the source power, on the gas and on what you mean by “cuts” (a lot can be cut; cutting economically and cleanly is a different discussion). Below you have the complete map: which materials the technology accepts, the indicative table of thicknesses by power class and the interpretation traps.
What materials the fiber laser cuts
- Carbon steel, the star material: high speeds, cutting with oxygen (economical) or nitrogen/air (clean edge).
- Stainless steel, the field in which the laser has replaced almost everything: a clean edge with nitrogen, no discolouration at correct parameters.
- Aluminium and alloys: reliably cuttable with modern fiber; reflectivity requires a suitable source and head (one more reason to configure with the integrator).
- Copper and brass: possible on modern machines, typically at smaller thicknesses than steel; electrotechnical applications.
- NOT for wood, MDF, acrylic, textiles: those are CO2 applications; fiber is a metal tool.
Indicative table: thicknesses by power class
The values below are indicative, discussion benchmarks, not promises: the practical thickness depends on the platform, the gas, the required edge quality and how “economically” you want to cut. The top ends of the range are anchored in the real specifications of the platforms in the UZINEX catalogue.
| Source | Carbon steel | Stainless steel | Aluminium | User profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5–2 kW | ~ up to 10–12 mm | ~ up to 4–5 mm | ~ up to 3–4 mm | Workshop at the start, thin sheet |
| 3 kW | ~ up to 16 mm | ~ up to 8 mm | ~ up to 6 mm | Usual metal fabrication |
| 6 kW | ~ up to 20–25 mm | ~ up to 12 mm | ~ up to 10 mm | The standard of serious workshops |
| 12 kW | ~ up to 30–35 mm | ~ up to 20 mm | ~ up to 16 mm | Production, large thicknesses |
| 20–30 kW (top of the S range) | up to 40 mm* | up to 25 mm* | up to 20 mm* | Factories, intensive cutting |
| 40–80 kW (HS series) | up to 45 mm* | up to 50 mm* | - | Non-stop production, extreme speeds |
*Values from the real data sheets of the WyCut S Series platforms (1.5–30 kW sources) and WyCut HS Series (40–80 kW). For ultra-thick plates there is the special floor-rail configuration WyCut GR, specified up to 250 mm on carbon steel: a different league, a different kind of project.
How to read such a table correctly
- “Up to” ≠ “comfortable at”. The maximum thickness on the data sheet is cut slowly and with demands on gas and parameters. The healthy rule: choose the source that does its job at 60 to 70% of its maximum capability on your current thickness.
- Gas changes the columns. The same source cuts thicker carbon steel with oxygen than with nitrogen; clean stainless steel requires nitrogen almost always. The gas cost on large thicknesses is part of the decision, detailed in the operating cost guide.
- The edge required decides. A part that gets welded tolerates a different quality from one that goes to the customer painted. Specify your edge standard from the start: it changes both the parameters and the real speed.
- Tubes are another chapter. For profiles and tubes there are dedicated machines, with synchronised chucks and bevel cuts for weld preparation: the tube and profile laser range covers diameters up to 800 mm, with CNC bevel at 45°.
Material + gas: the three standard combinations
The cuttable thickness and the look of the edge depend on the material–gas pair more than on any other parameter. The three combinations that cover 95% of real production:
- Carbon steel + oxygen, the economical combination: the oxygen takes part in the reaction, so large thicknesses become accessible at moderate power; the edge comes out with an oxide layer, perfectly acceptable for parts that get welded or painted. On small thicknesses, many switch to nitrogen or air for a clean edge.
- Stainless steel / aluminium + nitrogen, the quality combination: nitrogen is an inert gas, the edge stays metallic-clean, with no oxide and no discolouration. The price: a noticeably higher gas consumption, which rises with thickness; hence the importance of the gas calculation in the cost guide.
- Thin sheet + compressed air, the pragmatic combination: for small thicknesses, correctly filtered and dried air gives an intermediate edge at a near-zero gas cost; it only requires a seriously sized compressor and air treatment.
The operational conclusion: when you compare machines or read tables, always check with which gas the values are given; the same source “cuts 20 mm” with oxygen and something entirely different with nitrogen.
Tubes and profiles: the wall matters, not the diameter
With tubes, the intuition “the larger the diameter, the harder” is false: the laser cuts the wall, not the diameter. A Ø200 tube with a 3 mm wall is an easy cut; a Ø60 with a 12 mm wall is the real challenge. The dedicated machines in the tube and profile laser range handle diameters up to 800 mm and dozens of profile types, with synchronised chucks and bevel cuts for weld preparation, but sizing always starts from the wall thickness and from your profile types.
The special cases that do NOT fit in the table
- Small holes, the practical rule in the industry: a hole diameter below the sheet thickness becomes demanding; below half the thickness, discuss explicitly with the integrator if your part requires it.
- Highly reflective materials (polished copper, brass): cuttable on modern platforms, but the head configuration and protections matter; not an area to improvise.
- Sandwich sheets / metal-plastic composites, a special case: the non-metallic layer changes the rules; ask for a test on the real material before any promise.
- Edge quality at the thickness limit: the last millimetres of a source's capability come with more pronounced striations and burr; if the part goes straight to the customer, drop a thickness threshold or go up a power class.
- Very thick plates: beyond the range covered by standard flat machines begins the territory of dedicated floor-rail configurations; there the solution is designed for the application, not chosen off the shelf.
How to test before you buy
Tables guide; the trial decides. The correct procedure, which we recommend to every customer: send 3 to 5 representative parts (drawing + material + thickness + which edge you accept), ask for them to be cut on the proposed configuration and evaluate exactly three things: the time per part, the look of the edge on each material and the reported gas consumption. A good trial answers in the same day questions for which you would otherwise collect opinions for months. At UZINEX, the trial is part of the standard configuration process, together with a visit to a similar machine in production where there is a reference close to your application.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cut galvanised or painted sheet?
Yes, with caveats: coatings affect edge quality and generate fumes that require correct extraction. It is the kind of detail that is discussed at configuration, not after installation.
What is the minimum thickness I can cut without deformation?
Fiber excels on thin material: sheets of a few tenths of a millimetre are cut cleanly at high speeds; the key is correct fixturing and dedicated parameters, not power.
Does the table format matter?
Yes, in money: a format that matches your sheet formats reduces scrap. The platforms in the catalogue range from standard 3015 formats to 8025 tables and, on the floor-rail configuration, up to 21000×4000 mm.
Is this table enough for me to choose the machine?
No, and nobody honest will tell you otherwise. The table shows you which league you play in; the final choice is made on your parts, with the times and costs calculated. Send 3 to 5 representative drawings to a UZINEX engineer and you get a reasoned recommendation from the range of fiber lasers, with the financing option put directly into the calculation. And if you want proof that correct sizing holds for years, read the AIRONE Inox case study.
