If you’re a purchasing manager, factory owner, or engineer considering a fiber laser cutting machine, you may wonder what materials can it cut and whether it can handle your required thickness? Here is your answer: a full materials list, thickness chart by power and practical selection advice.
I. Can a Fiber Laser Cut Metals?
Yes. Fiber laser cutting machines excel in cutting metals, including metal sheets and metal tubes. Compared with traditional methods like plasma or mechanical cutting, they offer significant advantages in the following aspects:
- High Precision: Fiber laser cutting machine can deliver a positioning accuracy of ±0.03-0.05 mm, a repeatability of ±0.02-0.03 mm, and a narrow kerf width of 0.08-0.2mm, ensuring clean and burr-free edges and minimizing secondary processing. This means less material waste and reduces your production cost.
- High Speed: Fiber lasers offer high cutting speeds. For example, the cutting speed can reach 20-40 m/min for 1 mm stainless steel, 2-3 times faster than CO2 lasers. In the same time, you can get higher output and handle more orders.
- Low Maintenance: The lifespan of a fiber laser can exceed 100,000 hours under normal operating conditions, significantly reducing operating costs and unexpected downtime.
- Energy Efficiency: Fiber lasers offer high electro-optical conversion efficiency of 30%-45%. This means low electricity costs and low energy consumption for high-volume manufacturing.
Full List of Metal Materials
Different metals have varying requirements for laser cutting due to differences in reflectivity, thermal conductivity, melting point, and other physical properties. Understanding these characteristics helps you select the right laser cutting machine-not only in terms of power and assist gas, but also machine structure, protection design, and environmental control.
1. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is an iron-based alloy steel containing at least 10.5% chromium. The chromium forms an ultra-thin oxide layer on the surface, giving it excellent corrosion resistance and chemical stability. As a result, stainless steel is widely used in kitchenware, medical devices, food machinery, decorative panels, and elevator doors.
From a laser cutting perspective, stainless steel has moderate reflectivity and relatively low thermal conductivity, which allows it to absorb laser energy efficiently, and enabling rapid heating and efficient material removal.
In practical cutting process, fiber laser performs exceptionally well at cutting stainless steel, producing smooth, burr-free edges.
If you want to cut large-sized stainless steel, you can choose a large format fiber laser cutting machine, which can improve your production efficiency. If you have high surface quality requirements, you can choose a full-cover fiber laser cutting machine with an efficient fume extraction system, which minimizes fume and dust spread, ensuring clean and efficient cutting. Nitrogen-assisted cutting is recommended to prevent oxidation without needing secondary processing. An efficient fume extraction system is essential to contain fumes and stabilize airflow and cutting consistency.
2. Carbon Steel
Carbon steel contains 0.05-2.1% carbon, with low reflectivity and high absorptivity of 35%-40%, making it easy to cut. It is widely used in structural components, steel structures, machine bases, truck chassis, storage cabinets, and agricultural equipment.
For thin sheets, nitrogen-assisted laser cutting can handle, ensuring oxidation-free edges. But if you want to cut thick sheets, you may utilize oxygen to enhance cutting speed and choose high-power laser cutting machine to ensure stable penetration and improve productivity.
3. Mild Steel
Mild steel (containing less than 0.25% carbon) is softer and more ductile than carbon steel, with similar absorptivity. It is commonly used in general sheet metal fabrication, ventilation ducts, furniture parts, and architectural panels-applications requiring high formability.
Fiber lasers can produce very smooth edges and rare burrs, with low heat-affected zone. A standard sheet & tube fiber laser cutting machine can meet the basic requirements.
It works well with oxygen or nitrogen assist gas. But if you cut thin metals less than 3 mm, air is more economical.
4. Galvanized Steel
Galvanized steel is carbon steel coated with zinc for corrosion protection. It is suitable for HVAC ducting, structural components, automotive body parts, and sheet metal fabrication–applications requiring weather resistance.
However, the zinc layer absorbs only 20% of laser power and easily vaporizes, producing white fumes and leaving residues. Compared with carbon steel of same thickness, galvanized steel requires 20%-30% more power to penetrate zinc quickly.
If you want to cut galvanized steel sheets or tubes, high-pressure nitrogen or clean air are highly recommended to minimize oxidation and control fumes. Avoid using oxygen, which may creates more zinc oxide fumes. And It’s better to choose an enclosed machine with strong fume and dust extraction system to avoid contaminating equipment.
5. Brass
Brass has high reflectivity of 80%-90% and high thermal conductivity, requiring high laser power. Nevertheless, fiber lasers can cut it precisely with relatively smooth edges. It is widely used in signage, decorative ornaments, electronics, and machinery parts-applications requiring aesthetics and precision.
In practical cutting process, the laser energy may reflect back. If you want to cut brass, you need a high-power laser cutting machine with anti-reflection protection to ensure stable laser output and improve safety.
6. Copper
Copper is one of the most difficult metals to cut because its reflectivity reaches over 95% and it has extremely high thermal conductivity. However, its excellent electrical conductivity makes it essential for electrical components, conductive parts, and precision hardware.
Fiber laser cutting produces a slightly wide kerf but nearly dross-free. If you want to cut copper, nitrogen or compressed air is typically used for stable cutting, and you should choose a cutting head with anti-reflection protection, and prioritize 6kW+ machines.
7. Aluminium
Aluminum is a lightweight silvery-white metal with high reflectivity and extremely high thermal conductivity (melting point 660℃). It is widely used in aerospace structural components, automotive lightweight parts, electronics enclosures, and advertising signage-industries requiring low weight and high heat dissipation.
Thin sheets have smooth and burr-free edges. Medium-thick plates may have bottom dross and oxidation. If you want to cut thin sheets, air-assisted cutting is most economical. If you have higher requirement on cutting quality and efficiency, nitrogen is recommended to prevent oxidation and improve cutting speed.
8. Titanium
Titanium is a silver-grey lightweight metal with high specific strength and excellent corrosion resistance. It has medium reflectivity and low thermal conductivity. It is ideal for high-end industries such as aircraft structural parts and engine components, surgical instruments, chemical corrosion-resistant equipment, and offshore components.
At high temperature, it reacts with oxygen. Inert gas like argon is highly recommended to provide best protection, producing smooth and oxidation-free edges with small heat-affected zone, but it has higher costs. If you are not extremely strict with oxidation requirements, you can use high-purity nitrogen to replace the more expensive argon.
II. Fiber Laser Cutting Thickness Chart by Power
The thickness values listed below represent maximum cutting capacity of normal metals under optimal conditions. It is compatible with most mainstream laser brands on the market.
The red values indicate the extreme thickness limits, which require stringent conditions, high costs, and low efficiency, and are therefore not practical for general use. When your requirement reaches the corresponding sub-extreme thickness, it is recommended to prioritize a laser cutter from the next lower power level.
For other metals, DXTECH can offer free sample cutting tests.
III. Can Fiber Laser Cut Non-metal Materials?
Non-metal materials are not generally recommended for laser cutting because these materials perform poorly at absorbing the wavelength of a fiber laser and may produce other risks. If you need to process these materials, CO2 lasers are preferred. The following materials are more suitable for CO2 laser cutting:
Wood (MDF, plywood, solid wood)
Acrylic (PMMA)
Plastics (ABS, PE, PP – with ventilation)
Leather and fabrics
Rubber
Paper and cardboard
Foam materials (EVA, PU)
Acrylic
CO2 lasers can also cut thin sheet metals like stainless steel and carbon steel but it has higher costs and low efficiency.
IV. What Materials You Should Not cut by A Fiber Laser?
Some materials are not recommended for laser cutting due to safety risks, poor cutting quality, or potential damage to the machine:
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Releases toxic and corrosive chlorine gas, which can damage equipment and harm operators.
PTFE (Teflon): Produces highly toxic fumes when heated.
Polycarbonate (PC): Tends to melt and produce sticky, tar-like residues that contaminate optics.
ABS: Releases toxic fumes, including potentially harmful compounds.
Wood (in uncontrolled conditions): May burn or char excessively.
Glass and acrylic: May crack or melt unevenly (better for engraving).
Stone (marble, granite, ceramic): Difficult to cut and prone to cracking.
V. How to Choose the Right Power Laser Cutting Machine for Your Materials?
Laser cutting machine selection is not only about materials and power, but also about processing scenarios, efficiency requirements, and budget considerations.
Material Type
First, you can refer to the above contents to see if a fiber laser can cut your material.
For metal materials above listed, you can choose fiber laser cutting machines for sheet and tube. For non-metal materials above listed, CO2 laser cutting machines are recommended.
If you want to cut both metals and non-metals, you can choose a dual-purpose machine for both metal and non-metal materials.
Material Thickness
Once you’ve confirmed that a fiber laser works for your material, you should know the thickness of the material you need to cut. The laser power should be selected based on the maximum thickness.
Budget and Production Volume
If you have high production volume and requires high efficiency, it’s better to choose a high-power laser cutting machine, which may improve the cutting speed.
On the other hand, if budget is tight, choose a power that just meets the cutting quality and thickness to avoid the waste of extra power.
FAQ
1. What Should Be Noted When Cutting High-reflectivity Materials (copper, brass, aluminium)?
High-reflectivity materials tend to reflect laser light back into the optical path, which may damage the laser source or cutting head. You should select a cutting head with anti-reflection protection; use higher laser power and appropriately high cutting speeds to reduce reflection time.
2. Why Are There Only Limited Materials To Laser Cut?
Because laser cutting machine has requirements on laser absorptivity. For materials that absorb laser energy poorly, laser cutting machine cannot work well. Others (PVC, PTFE) release toxic fumes or damage optics. Only metals with suitable absorption are practical for fiber lasers.
3. Does High Power Always Mean Better?
No. For thin sheets, excessive power causes over-melting, burrs, and thermal distortion. It also increases machine cost and energy waste. You just choose the power that matches your typical material thickness.
4. What’s the Difference Between Fiber Laser and CO₂ Laser for Metal Cutting?
Fiber laser are more suitable for metals, offering high cutting speed, high precision, and lower operating costs. CO2 laser excels at cutting non-metal materials like wood, acrylic, and stone.
5. What Are the Main Consumables of a Fiber Laser Cutting Machine?
Protective lenses, nozzles, focus lenses, ceramic rings, assist gases (oxygen, nitrogen, air), chiller filters, and lubricants for mechanical components. Regular replacement of these parts can ensure stable operation and improve machine lifespan.
Conclusion
Fiber lasers excel at cutting eight common metals: stainless steel, carbon steel, mild steel, galvanized steel, brass, copper, aluminum, and titanium. They offer high precision, high speed, low maintenance, and energy efficiency. If you want to cut non-metals like wood, acrylic, glass, or stone, use CO2 laser instead. Higher power is not always better, choose the right power that just meet your needs.
If you’re still not sure which machine fits your materials and thickness, or you want to learn more about the actual cutting performance of different power models, please feel free to consult us.
DXTECH has over 17 years of industry experience of developing and manufacturing fiber laser cutting machines, and can provide you with a one-stop solution covering equipment selection, process debugging, and after-sales support. We can help you:
- obtain parameter recommendations according to your material;
- arrange free sample testing;
- get a machine selection recommendations within 24 hours.