Laser Cutting Speeds Quick Reference
Example fiber laser cutting speed benchmarks under tuned parameters. Always verify against your own machine and cut charts.
Mild Steel (Carbon Steel)
| Thickness | Speed | Laser Power | Assist Gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5mm | 20-25 m/min | 1-2 kW | Oâ‚‚ or Nâ‚‚ |
| 1mm | 15-20 m/min | 2-3 kW | Oâ‚‚ or Nâ‚‚ |
| 2mm | 8-12 m/min | 3-4 kW | Oâ‚‚ |
| 3mm | 4-6 m/min | 4-6 kW | Oâ‚‚ |
| 5mm | 2-3 m/min | 6-8 kW | Oâ‚‚ |
| 6mm | 1.5-2.2 m/min | 6-10 kW | Oâ‚‚ |
| 10mm | 0.8-1.2 m/min | 10-12 kW | Oâ‚‚ |
| 15mm | 0.4-0.6 m/min | 12-15 kW | Oâ‚‚ |
In many setups, Oâ‚‚ (oxygen) cutting can achieve higher speeds but leaves oxidized edges. Nâ‚‚ (nitrogen) is typically used when cleaner, oxide-free edges are required, often at different feed rates. Use these rows as starting points and fine-tune for your own equipment.
Stainless Steel 304/316
| Thickness | Speed | Laser Power | Assist Gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5mm | 15-18 m/min | 1-2 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
| 1mm | 10-14 m/min | 2-3 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
| 2mm | 6-8 m/min | 3-4 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
| 3mm | 3-4 m/min | 4-6 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
| 5mm | 1.5-2 m/min | 6-8 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
| 6mm | 1.2-1.6 m/min | 8-10 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
| 10mm | 0.6-0.8 m/min | 10-12 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
Nitrogen is commonly used for oxide-free edges. Specific assist gas pressures should follow your machine supplier's cut charts and application notes rather than a single generic range.
Aluminum (5052, 6061)
| Thickness | Speed | Laser Power | Assist Gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1mm | 12-16 m/min | 2-3 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
| 2mm | 8-10 m/min | 3-4 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
| 3mm | 5-7 m/min | 4-6 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
| 4mm | 3-4 m/min | 6-8 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
| 5mm | 2-3 m/min | 8-10 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
| 6mm | 1.5-2 m/min | 10-12 kW | Nâ‚‚ |
These benchmarks assume a fiber laser, since high reflectivity makes many aluminum jobs challenging for typical COâ‚‚ systems. Always follow your machine documentation for which aluminum grades and thicknesses are supported.
Units & Conversion Checklist
Feed rates here are shown in meters per minute (m/min) as illustrative production benchmarks. Keep every note in a consistent unit system before driving quotes or machine programs, and confirm final feeds against your own process limits.
Speed conversion
IPM (in/min) = m/min x 39.37
Use this factor when entering feeds into legacy CAM posts.
Material shorthand
Thickness values (t) are in millimeters. Laser power values refer to optical output; actual electrical draw will be higher and depends on machine efficiency. Assist gas notes assume high-purity nitrogen or oxygen at typical cutting pressures for these materials.
Keep your machine's measured kerf width in your CAM profile when matching these feeds; in many fiber setups this is on the order of a small fraction of a millimeter.
Need nozzle, focus, or pierce timing guidance? Review the processing parameters reference for the rest of the stack.
How to Use These Speeds
Turn feed benchmarks into costed quotes by pairing them with our calculators.
- 1. Select a baseline. Match material, thickness, and optical power from the tables above, then note the mid-point of the speed range.
- 2. Convert the feed into machine time. Enter the m/min value in the Price per Meter calculator or plug it directly into the full laser cutting calculator to compute cycle time and machine cost.
- 3. Adjust for quality requirements. Reduce speed as needed for weld-ready or painted edges, and prioritize faster benchmark feeds only where a slight dross line is acceptable. Use trial cuts and inspection to decide how much to change speed for each job.
Important Notes
Baseline parameters for this chart
These tables were compiled from example data for modern fiber lasers across a typical power range, with common spot sizes, nozzle sizes, and high-purity gases. Older COâ‚‚ equipment or setups with poorer alignment, beam quality, or gas purity will often run slower than these benchmarks. Always confirm speeds against your own cut charts and sample cuts.
Focus & pierce settings matter
Focus position and pierce settings strongly affect cut quality, reliability, and speed. Use your machine's parameter library and application notes as a starting point, then log the combinations that work well for your materials and thicknesses so you can reuse them in future nests.
These are Benchmark Values
Actual cutting speeds vary based on equipment brand, beam quality, focus lens, nozzle design, gas purity and pressure, material quality, and desired edge quality. Use these as starting points and optimize for your specific setup.
Power Requirements
Higher power lasers can cut thicker materials and/or cut faster, but the practical limits and benefits depend on your specific machine and optics. In many shops, lower-power sources are used mainly for thin sheet and higher-power sources for thicker plate; follow your machine supplier's material and thickness guidelines instead of relying on a single generic mapping.
Edge Quality Trade-offs
Faster feeds generally increase burr height and discoloration. For parts that require welding, painting, or food-grade finishes, you may need slower feeds, higher assist gas pressure, or a finishing pass; for less demanding parts, you might prioritize shorter machine time. Use test cuts and inspection to find a balance between edge quality and throughput that fits your work.