What materials can be laser cut, and are there thickness limits?

We routinely laser cut carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. With our advanced fiber lasers, we can cut up to 1" carbon steel, 1" stainless, and 3/4" aluminum. Our upcoming 30kW system will expand these capabilities to even thicker materials.

How tight of a tolerance can laser cutting actually hold?

Modern fiber lasers can hold tolerances as tight as ±0.005" to ±0.010" depending on the material thickness and part geometry. Thicker materials may have slightly wider tolerances due to the nature of the cutting beam.

Is laser cutting more expensive than plasma or punching for small runs?

Actually, laser cutting is highly cost-effective for small runs because there are zero tooling costs. You simply load the CAD file and cut. Punching requires specific tooling setups, making it better suited for higher volumes.

How do I prepare a design file for laser cutting?

Provide a clean 2D vector file (like DXF or DWG) with all text converted to paths and all lines connected. Ensure the file is drawn at a 1:1 scale and clearly indicate the material type and thickness required.

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LASER CUTTING

How laser cutting works, what it's good for, and how to get the most out of it.

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Have a project that needs precision laser cutting? See what our Precision Laser Cutting team can do, or keep exploring related articles below. Precision Laser Cutting

Laser Cutting vs. Other Cutting Methods: How to Choose

When deciding how to cut your metal parts, you typically weigh laser cutting against plasma cutting and CNC punching. Each method has its strengths, and the right choice depends on your material thickness, tolerance requirements, edge quality, and turnaround time.

Evaluating Material Thickness

Laser cutting excels with thin to medium gauge metals, offering unmatched precision and speed. For incredibly thick plates (over 1 inch), high-definition plasma cutting might be more economical, though our new 30kW fiber laser pushes the boundaries of what lasers can handle.

Tolerance and Edge Quality

If your project demands tight tolerances and clean, burr-free edges that require little to no secondary finishing, laser cutting is the superior choice. Plasma cutting can leave a slight bevel and dross, while CNC punching may leave nibble marks on contoured edges.

Production Volume and Speed

For prototypes and low-to-medium volume runs, laser cutting is incredibly fast because it requires no custom tooling. For extremely high-volume runs with standardized hole patterns or louvers, CNC punching can sometimes outpace a laser due to its ability to create features in a single stroke.