How Thick Can You Cut with a Laser Cutter?
When starting a laser cutting project, one of the most important questions you’ll ask is — how thick can you cut with a laser cutter? Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy answer to this. The material thickness a laser cutter can cut through varies widely from home laser cutter to laser cutting machines. Today, we’ll try our best to answer the question of how thick you can cut with a laser cutter, providing an accurate thickness range between different home laser cutters and industrial laser cutting machines.
How Thick Can You Cut with a Laser Cutter?
The thickness a laser cutter can cut depends on the type.
Home laser cutters can typically cut materials up to six millimeters (6mm) on average.
Industrial laser cutting machines can cut anywhere between 20 millimeters (20mm) and 25 millimeters (25mm) in thickness.
Refer to the users manual of your laser cutter before attempting to make any cuts. The capabilities of a laser cutter widely vary, and the numbers above are only estimated averages. Keep reading to learn more about the thickness range for home laser cutters and industrial laser cutting machines, and some of the vital features that empower them to make thick cuts.
How Thick Can You Cut with an Industrial Laser Cutting Machine?
Industrial laser cutting machines can cut anywhere between 20 millimeters (20mm) and 25 millimeters (25mm) in thickness. Depending on the machine’s power, some may cut materials thicker than 25mm.
Industrial laser cutting machines are incredibly powerful, designed to cut through thicker materials at unparalleled speeds. This is because industrial laser cutting machines are primarily utilized for large-scale manufacturing projects. A laser cutting machine can cost up to $10,000 depending on the power and capabilities of the machine, making it a major investment. For this reason, laser cutting machines are typically purchased by large-scale manufacturing companies, not by individuals.
Industrial laser cutting machines use either a CO₂ laser or fiber laser. Each type of laser has its benefits, but machines using CO₂ lasers are generally better at cutting thicker materials than fiber lasers. These machines also typically choose between two assist gases: O₂, which can heat the cutting space for quick cuts, or nitrogen, which prevents oxidation and discoloration.
Our laser cutting machine at BSG utilizes a fiber laser and can adaptably switch from O₂ to nitrogen for an assist gas. We design and manufacture components for commercial and residential clients with superior accuracy. Our reliable technicians deliver precise, high-quality results for every project. Our high-power industrial laser cutting machine can reach thicknesses of 22mm, and cut through tubes as thick as 9.5mm.
Additionally, if you’re looking for thicknesses to be cut above 22mm for your project, our in-house plasma cutting machine can cut through mild steel as thick as 38mm.
Trust a manufacturing team with decades of experience to get the job done right — contact us today to tell us about your project!
An industrial laser cutting machine can be used to:
Create large-scale architectural components
Manufacture automotive parts
Create electronic components of varying sizes
Create functional medical devices
Create prototypes for product development
And much more…
How Thick Can You Cut with a Home Laser Cutter?
Typically, a home laser cutter can cut 6mm thick, depending on the material being cut and the power of the laser.
Home laser cutters use different lasers, the most common being CO₂, fiber, and diode. They are capable of making cuts to less durable materials such as wood, paper, plastic, leather, and acrylic. While not nearly as powerful as industrial laser cutting machines, home laser cutters can excel in very small, residential crafting projects.
It’s important to be mindful of the health risks associated with using laser cutting technology at home. Some of the materials a laser cutter interacts with produce toxic fumes, some materials can even catch on fire. A home laser cutter is also subject to user error.
When considering a large-capacity project, we recommend seeking out a professional laser cutting service. A professional laser cutting team can ensure high-quality, clean cuts with a quick project turnaround. A few examples of residential projects best suited for a professional laser cutting service are:
Custom window frames
Custom gazebos/pergolas
Custom railings
Mass production of custom signage
Any projects involving metal should be cut by a professional laser cutting service.
Laser Cutting Material List
The materials an industrial laser cutting machine can cut are:
Metals (ex. steel, aluminum, carbon, copper, brass, nickel, silver, gold.etc)
Tubes/Pipes
Acrylic
Plastic
Paper
Rubber
A home laser cutter is usually able to cut:
Acrylic
Wood
Cardboard
Paper
Leather
Plastic
Fabric
Rubber
Glass
Some home laser cutters are able to engrave on certain types of metal, but cannot cut through metal
Please refer to your home laser cutter’s manual before attempting to cut any of the above materials. Material compatibility varies from laser cutter to laser cutter.