Quick Reference Tables for Laser Processing
Curated speed, cost, and parameter tables you can use as a starting pointthen calibrate with your own shop data.
These tables show typical industry values, not guarantees. Always test on your own equipment, record the results, and update your internal standards accordingly.
Cutting Speeds Reference
Comprehensive speed benchmarks for fiber laser cutting across common materials and thicknesses. Includes mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum with power and gas recommendations.
BEST FOR:
Production planning, time estimation, and feasibility checks
Validation & limits: Typical cutting speeds for newer-generation fiber lasers (around 310 kW). Older or less optimized machines may run 1030% slower. Always cut test coupons on your own machine before locking in cycle times.
Assist Gas Costs Reference
Complete guide to assist gas selection and costs. Compare oxygen, nitrogen, and air for different materials and applications with cost optimization strategies.
BEST FOR:
Gas selection, cost reduction, and quality optimization
Validation & limits: Gas prices vary widely by region, supplier, and contract. Treat these ranges as sanity checks and confirm against your actual agreements before updating quotes or budgets.
Material Costs Reference
Current metal material prices and cost calculation guide. Includes steel, stainless steel, aluminum pricing with practical calculation examples and procurement tips.
BEST FOR:
Material budgeting, quote verification, and vendor negotiation
Validation & limits: Prices are updated periodically, but metals can be volatile. Use these values as order-of-magnitude references and always override with your current supplier price lists for live quotes.
Power Consumption Reference
Equipment power usage and electricity cost reference. Compare fiber vs CO2 lasers, calculate annual energy costs, and identify efficiency opportunities.
BEST FOR:
Operating cost analysis, equipment selection, and energy management
Validation & limits: Based on nameplate and measured data from typical installations. Your actual kWh usage depends on duty cycle, auxiliary loads, and maintenance. Validate with your own power meter where possible.
Processing Parameters Reference
Comprehensive parameter tables for fiber laser cutting. Includes power, speed, focus, gas pressure, and nozzle settings for all common materials with troubleshooting guide.
BEST FOR:
Machine setup, quality optimization, and problem solving
Validation & limits: Parameters are intentionally conservative to favor stable cutting over maximum speed. Fine-tune for your specific optics, nozzle, assist gas, and quality requirements during process development.
How to Use Reference Tables
- - Estimate job durations
- - Check material feasibility
- - Plan production schedules
- - Compare equipment options
- - Quick cost lookups
- - Material price verification
- - Gas cost estimation
- - Energy cost factoring
- - Optimize parameters
- - Reduce costs
- - Improve quality
- - Troubleshoot issues
Plan: Use tables to sketch jobs, choose materials, and estimate cycle times before programming.
Calculate: Feed table values into calculators (laser cutting, energy, hourly rate, ROI) to convert speeds and parameters into dollars.
Validate: Run test parts, compare actual times and quality against the table assumptions, and note any gaps.
Refine: Update your internal SOPs and quoting templates with calibrated values for each machine and material so future jobs start from proven data.
Reference Tables vs Calculators
Quick Reference Tables
- +Instant data lookup, no input needed
- +Industry benchmarks and standards
- +Great for learning and reference
- +Covers wide range of scenarios
- !Generic values, not customized
Interactive Calculators
- +Customized calculations for your setup
- +Precise cost breakdowns
- +Factor in all variables
- +Pricing recommendations
- !Requires input time (2-5 minutes)
Think of Reference Tables as the library of raw numbers (mm/min, $/kg, kW, bar) and Calculators as the engines that turn those numbers into time and money. Use Reference Tables for quick lookups and feasibility checks, then feed those values into the calculators for detailed quotes and proposals.
Where each reference table is used
Use this mapping to see which calculators each table is designed to feed, and which inputs typically come from which reference page.
| Reference table | Primary calculators | Typical fields |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting Speeds | Laser Cutting, Energy Cost, Quick Tools (Price per Meter) | Cutting speed (mm/min), thickness ranges, power recommendations |
| Assist Gas Costs | Laser Cutting, Energy Cost | Gas type, pressure ranges, typical $/m9 or $/hour |
| Material Costs | Laser Cutting, Material Utilization, ROI / Cost Center | Material $/kg or $/sheet, density, thickness ranges |
| Power Consumption | Energy Calculator, Hourly Rate, ROI | kW at idle and cutting, duty cycle assumptions, kWh per year |
| Processing Parameters | Laser Cutting, Quick Tools, internal SOPs | Power, speed, focus, gas pressure, nozzle size, troubleshooting notes |
Operational Workflow
- 1. Capture baselines. Start with the relevant quick reference (e.g., cutting speeds + processing parameters) and record the values you plan to use in CAM or job travelers.
- 2. Convert to dollars. Feed material, gas, and power figures into the laser cutting calculator or hourly rate tool so estimates and internal rates share the same assumptions.
- 3. Log learnings. Push the validated inputs and outputs back into your SOPs or quoting templates so future jobs can skip the guesswork.
Reference Data Quality & Sources
Data Sources
- - Major equipment manufacturers (Trumpf, Bystronic, Mazak)
- - Industry associations and standards bodies
- - Real-world production data from fabricators
- - Material supplier published specifications
- - Independent testing and verification
Quality Assurance
- - Cross-referenced with multiple sources
- - Verified against real production data
- - Regular updates to reflect market changes
- - Conservative estimates for reliability
- - Clear indication of typical ranges
Typical ranges & error bands
- - Cutting speeds: typically within 1015% of well-tuned machines
- - Material costs: may vary 1530% by region, supplier, and timing
- - Gas costs: contract-dependenttreat listed ranges as sanity checks only
- - Power consumption: often within 1020% depending on duty cycle and auxiliary loads
- Use these bands to judge whether your own numbers are in a reasonable range. Large deviations may indicate data entry errors, misconfigured equipment, or outdated assumptions.