⚡ Quick Reference: Power for Steel Thickness
6mm: 3-4 kW | 12mm: 6 kW | 20mm: 10 kW | 30mm: 15-20 kW
Determine the optimal laser power for your cutting requirements. Get recommendations based on material, thickness, and production volume.
Enter requirements to get power recommendation.
| Power | Mild Steel | Stainless | Aluminum | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kW | 12 mm | 10 mm | 8 mm | $45-75k |
| 6 kW | 20 mm | 16 mm | 15 mm | $90-150k |
| 10 kW | 30 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | $150-250k |
| 15 kW | 40 mm | 35 mm | 35 mm | $225-375k |
| 20 kW | 50 mm | 45 mm | 40 mm | $300-500k |
Thickness values are quality-cut limits. Costs are estimates for complete systems and vary by brand and features.
For 20mm mild steel: Minimum: 6kW (slow, at edge of capability). Recommended: 8-10kW (reliable cutting at production speeds). High-performance: 12-15kW (fast cutting, production-focused). Higher power also provides margin for thicker materials and faster processing of thinner gauges. For stainless or aluminum of same thickness, add 20-30% more power.
Not necessarily. Higher power means: Greater capability (thicker materials). Faster cutting on all thicknesses. Higher capital cost ($15-25k per kW). More power consumption. Enhanced safety requirements. Choose power based on your ACTUAL needs. A 6kW laser cutting primarily 6mm steel is more cost-effective than a 12kW laser doing the same work. But if you need capacity for growth, buy ahead.
Typical maximum cutting capabilities for 6kW fiber laser: Mild steel: 20-22mm. Stainless steel: 16-18mm. Aluminum: 15-16mm. Copper: 8-10mm. These are quality-cut limits. The laser can pierce thicker material but edge quality and speed suffer significantly. For production cutting, reduce these values by 20-30%.
Fiber lasers are more efficient at cutting metals. A 6kW fiber ≈ 8-10kW CO₂ for metal cutting capability. This is due to higher absorption of the 1μm wavelength. However, CO₂ is still preferred for cutting thick acrylic, wood, and other organics where the 10.6μm wavelength is absorbed better. For metals, fiber is the current standard.
Interactive wizard to determine ideal laser type (CO2/Fiber) for your needs
Match your part sizes to optimal cutting bed dimensions
Choose optimal gas type, pressure, and purity for your application
Calculate material utilization and optimize sheet layout
Determine laser safety class and required protective measures
Calculate power density (W/cm²) for optimal cutting performance