Production and Cutting Rates
The maximum cutting rate (production rate) is limited by a number of factors including laser power, material thickness, process type (reactive or inert,) and material properties.
Common industrial systems (1 kW+) will cut carbon steel metal from 0.020–0.5 inch (0.51–13 mm) in thickness. For all intents and purposes, a laser can be up to thirty times faster than standard sawing.
| Workpiece material | Material thickness | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.02 in (0.51 mm) | 0.04 in (1.0 mm) | 0.08 in (2.0 mm) | 0.125 in (3.2 mm) | 0.25 in (6.4 mm) | 0.5 in (13 mm) | |
| Stainless steel | 1000 | 550 | 325 | 185 | 80 | 18 |
| Aluminium | 800 | 350 | 150 | 100 | 40 | 30 |
| Mild steel | − | 210 | 185 | 150 | 100 | 50 |
| Titanium | 300 | 300 | 100 | 80 | 60 | 40 |
| Plywood | − | - | − | - | 180 | 45 |
| Boron / epoxy | − | - | − | 60 | 60 | 25 |
Read more about this topic: Laser Cutting
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