Find the power for your plate work
Laser cutting speed and thickness chart
Start with the plate you cut and the thicker jobs you want to bring in-house. Compare speeds by material, thickness and laser power. These are reference speeds in meters per minute. Your results depend on material grade, assist gas and setup.
See the thickest plate listed by power
Carbon steel
30mm1.18"
Thickest plate listed at 6 kW.
Stainless steel
16mm0.63"
Thickest plate listed at 6 kW.
Aluminum
16mm0.63"
Thickest plate listed at 6 kW.
O₂ / N₂ / air
Carbon steel
3 kW: up to 20 mm (0.79 in). 6 kW: up to 30 mm (1.18 in). 12 kW: up to 40 mm (1.57 in). 20 kW: up to 50 mm (1.97 in). 30 kW: up to 50 mm (1.97 in). 40 kW: up to 50 mm (1.97 in).
Compare reference speeds in m/min for your thickness. Multiply by 3.28 for ft/min. A dash means that cut is not recommended at that power.
| 1 mm | 0.039" | 20-25 | 30-35 | 30-45 | 30-55 | 30-55 | 30-55 |
| 2 mm | 0.079" | 17-22 | 30-35 | 30-35 | 30-55 | 30-55 | 30-55 |
| 3 mm | 0.12" | 2.6-3.3 | 15-20 | 20-25 | 20-30 | 30-35 | 30-45 |
| 4 mm | 0.16" | 2.4-3 | 9-13 | 15-20 | 20-25 | 23-28 | 25-35 |
| 5 mm | 0.20" | 2.4-2.8 | 7-9 | 12-15 | 20-22 | 22-26 | 25-28 |
| 6 mm | 0.24" | 2.2-2.6 | 6-8 | 10-13 | 18-20 | 20-23 | 22-24 |
| 8 mm | 0.31" | 1.8-2.1 | 2.2-2.6 | 7-10 | 14-16 | 18-20 | 16-20 |
| 10 mm | 0.39" | 1.4-1.6 | 2-2.4 | 6-6.5 | 9-12 | 14-16 | 14-17 |
| 12 mm | 0.47" | 1-1.2 | 1.6-2 | 1.6-2 | 7-8 | 9-12 | 11-13 |
| 16 mm | 0.63" | 0.6-0.7 | 1-1.2 | 1.5-1.6 | 2-3 | 4-6 | 7.5-8.5 |
| 20 mm | 0.79" | 0.55-0.65 | 0.6-0.7 | 1.3-1.4 | 1.3-1.4 | 4-5 | 5-5.5 |
| 25 mm | 0.98" | - | 0.5-0.6 | 0.7-0.9 | 1-1.2 | 1-1.2 | 3-4 |
| 30 mm | 1.18" | - | 0.25-0.35 | 0.4-0.6 | 0.9-1.1 | 0.9-1.1 | 1-1.5 |
| 40 mm | 1.57" | - | - | 0.2-0.3 | 0.4-0.6 | 0.4-0.6 | 0.6-0.8 |
| 50 mm | 1.97" | - | - | - | 0.3-0.4 | 0.4-0.6 | 0.3-0.5 |
N₂ / air
Stainless steel
3 kW: up to 12 mm (0.47 in). 6 kW: up to 16 mm (0.63 in). 12 kW: up to 30 mm (1.18 in). 20 kW: up to 30 mm (1.18 in). 30 kW: up to 30 mm (1.18 in). 40 kW: up to 30 mm (1.18 in).
Compare reference speeds in m/min for your thickness. Multiply by 3.28 for ft/min. A dash means that cut is not recommended at that power.
| 1 mm | 0.039" | 20-25 | 30-35 | 30-45 | 30-55 | 30-55 | 30-55 |
| 2 mm | 0.079" | 17-22 | 30-35 | 30-35 | 30-55 | 30-55 | 30-55 |
| 3 mm | 0.12" | 6-8 | 15-20 | 20-30 | 20-30 | 30-35 | 30-45 |
| 4 mm | 0.16" | 4-6 | 9-13 | 15-20 | 20-25 | 23-28 | 25-35 |
| 5 mm | 0.20" | 2.5-3.5 | 8-11 | 12-15 | 20-24 | 22-26 | 25-28 |
| 6 mm | 0.24" | 1.8-2.3 | 6-8 | 10-13 | 10-13 | 22-25 | 22-25 |
| 8 mm | 0.31" | 0.9-1.2 | 3-4 | 7-10 | 13-16 | 18-22 | 20-23 |
| 10 mm | 0.39" | 0.4-0.6 | 1.5-2.5 | 6-6.5 | 10-12 | 13-16 | 16-21 |
| 12 mm | 0.47" | 0.1-0.2 | 1-1.4 | 5-5.5 | 8-10 | 10-12 | 12-14 |
| 16 mm | 0.63" | - | 0.6-0.8 | 2-2.3 | 3.2-4 | 5-6 | 9-11 |
| 20 mm | 0.79" | - | - | 1.2-1.4 | 2.5-3 | 3-4 | 4.5-5.5 |
| 25 mm | 0.98" | - | - | 0.7-0.9 | 1.5-2 | 1.5-2 | 3-4 |
| 30 mm | 1.18" | - | - | 0.3-0.5 | 1-1.2 | 1-1.2 | 1.5-2 |
N₂ / air
Aluminum
3 kW: up to 6 mm (0.24 in). 6 kW: up to 16 mm (0.63 in). 12 kW: up to 25 mm (0.98 in). 20 kW: up to 30 mm (1.18 in). 30 kW: up to 30 mm (1.18 in). 40 kW: up to 30 mm (1.18 in).
Compare reference speeds in m/min for your thickness. Multiply by 3.28 for ft/min. A dash means that cut is not recommended at that power.
| 1 mm | 0.039" | 20-25 | 30-35 | 30-45 | 30-55 | 30-55 | 30-55 |
| 2 mm | 0.079" | 14-16 | 30-35 | 30-35 | 30-45 | 30-45 | 30-55 |
| 3 mm | 0.12" | 6-8 | 20-25 | 20-25 | 20-30 | 30-35 | 30-45 |
| 4 mm | 0.16" | 3-5 | 8-13 | 15-17 | 20-25 | 20-25 | 25-35 |
| 6 mm | 0.24" | 1.2-2 | 4-7 | 10-12 | 10-12 | 10-12 | 18-22 |
| 8 mm | 0.31" | - | 2-3.5 | 6-8 | 10-12 | 10-12 | 14-17 |
| 10 mm | 0.39" | - | 1.5-2 | 4-6 | 9-10 | 10-12 | 11-13 |
| 12 mm | 0.47" | - | 1-1.2 | 2-3 | 5-6 | 9-10 | 9-11 |
| 16 mm | 0.63" | - | 0.2-0.4 | 1.3-2 | 3-4 | 5-6 | 5-7 |
| 20 mm | 0.79" | - | - | 0.5-0.7 | 1.5-2 | 3-4 | 3-3.5 |
| 25 mm | 0.98" | - | - | 0.2-0.3 | 1-1.2 | 1.5-2 | 2-3 |
| 30 mm | 1.18" | - | - | - | 0.8-1 | 1-1.2 | 1-1.5 |
Thickness by laser power
- How thick can a 3 kW fiber laser cut?
- On our reference chart, a 3 kW fiber laser cuts carbon steel up to 20 mm (0.79 in), stainless steel up to 12 mm (0.47 in), aluminum up to 6 mm (0.24 in). Real limits depend on material grade, assist gas and set-up.
- How thick can a 6 kW fiber laser cut?
- On our reference chart, a 6 kW fiber laser cuts carbon steel up to 30 mm (1.18 in), stainless steel up to 16 mm (0.63 in), aluminum up to 16 mm (0.63 in). Real limits depend on material grade, assist gas and set-up.
- How thick can a 12 kW fiber laser cut?
- On our reference chart, a 12 kW fiber laser cuts carbon steel up to 40 mm (1.57 in), stainless steel up to 30 mm (1.18 in), aluminum up to 25 mm (0.98 in). Real limits depend on material grade, assist gas and set-up.
- How thick can a 20 kW fiber laser cut?
- On our reference chart, a 20 kW fiber laser cuts carbon steel up to 50 mm (1.97 in), stainless steel up to 30 mm (1.18 in), aluminum up to 30 mm (1.18 in). Real limits depend on material grade, assist gas and set-up.
- How thick can a 30 kW fiber laser cut?
- On our reference chart, a 30 kW fiber laser cuts carbon steel up to 50 mm (1.97 in), stainless steel up to 30 mm (1.18 in), aluminum up to 30 mm (1.18 in). Real limits depend on material grade, assist gas and set-up.
- How thick can a 40 kW fiber laser cut?
- On our reference chart, a 40 kW fiber laser cuts carbon steel up to 50 mm (1.97 in), stainless steel up to 30 mm (1.18 in), aluminum up to 30 mm (1.18 in). Real limits depend on material grade, assist gas and set-up.
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