In today’s manufacturing landscape, laser cutting has developed into an important cornerstone in various industries like automotive, aerospace, construction, electronics, and custom-made metal fabrication. It’s fast, precise, efficient and highly adaptable. But here’s a question many buyers often ask: what kind of laser can cut metal best?
In this article, we will walk you through the working principles of metal laser cutting and introduce the major types of lasers used in metalworking, so you can make an informed decision for your business.
I. How Laser Cutting Works on Metal
Laser cutting works by focusing high-energy laser beams onto metal surface. This energy melts, burns or vaporizes the metal, while assist gas, usually oxygen, nitrogen, or air, blows away the molten materials to create a clean cut.
Key variables that affect the cutting results are laser wavelength, laser beam quality, power output, as well as type and thickness of metal.
Not every laser type is equally effective on different metals. Some are fit for thin sheet metal, and others excel at thick plate. Now, let’s explore some frequently-used lasers that actually get the job done.
II. What Kind of Laser Can Cut Metal Best?
There are 4 main types of lasers commonly used for cutting metals. Each has distinct features depending on the type of metals and requirements of your work.
1. CO₂ Lasers
* Wavelength: 10.6 μm
* Range of cutting: Carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum
* Best for: Thicker metals and non-metals
CO₂ lasers are one of the earliest types used in industries. They usually produce long-wavelength infrared beams, which are absorbed more efficiently by non-metals but can also cut thicker metal plates.
- Pros
* Suit for carbon steel over 20mm
* As established technology and need relatively low upfront costs
- Cons
* Not effective on highly-reflective metals like stainless steel, copper and brass
* Require high energy consumption and constant maintenance or repair
CO₂ lasers is regarded as a good choice if you cut both metals and non-metals. But, when it comes to most modern metal fabrication, the newer technologies will offer better results.
2. Fiber Lasers
* Wavelength: 1.06 μm
* Range of cutting: Stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, titanium
* Best for: Thin to medium (thickness) and highly-reflective metals
At present, fiber laser machines are the most popular choice for metal cutting users. Its shorter wavelength will be absorbed more efficiently by metals, making it ideal for working with highly-reflective metals that CO₂ lasers struggle with.
- Pros
* Fast cutting speed and high energy efficiency
* Superior effects while cutting thin metals
* Lower maintenance and less operating costs
- Cons
* May require higher laser power when cutting relatively thick metal (20mm+)
* Not fit for non-metallic materials
If you desire to cut a large amount of metals at high precision and speed, fiber lasers are likely the best choice for you.
3. Nd:YAG Lasers
* Wavelength: 1.06 μm
* Range of cutting: Stainless steel, titanium
* Best for: Precision micro-cutting in aerospace
Nd:YAG (Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) lasers generally work at wavelength as same as fiber lasers but adopt different gain medium. Generally speaking, they’re applied in the pulsed mode for micro-welding or engraving and are less common in large-scale metal cutting.
- Pros
* Fit for highly detailed, precision works
* Its pulsed operation supports special processing demands
- Cons
* Lower speed and shorter service life
* Require higher maintenance costs; largely phased out by fiber lasers
Unless you involves high-precision aerospace or medical parts, fiber lasers are likely more cost-effective than Nd:YAG lasers.
4. Disk Lasers
* Wavelength: 1.03 μm
* Range of cutting: Steel, aluminum, copper, titanium
* Best for: High-power, high-precision cutting
Disk lasers are a new form of solid-state laser that emits excellent beams, even at high power. They can maintain performance while cutting thick metals at fast speed, which making them ideally fit for advanced metal manufacturing.
- Pros
* Superior stability of laser beams and high in cutting precision
* Excellent for thick metals and multi-shift high-mix production
- Cons
* Higher upfront costs
* Used mainly in high-end or special applications
III. How to Choose Right Lasers for Metal Cutting
When deciding what kind of laser can cut metal best for your production, please consider these 5 key factors below,
1. Type of Metal
Different metals absorb different degrees of wavelengths. Highly-reflective metals incl. copper and brass may be cut poorly by using CO₂ lasers but perform exceptionally with fiber or disk lasers.
2. Metal Thickness
When cutting relatively thick metal or steel, CO₂ lasers still outperform fiber lasers. But for that below 20mm, fiber lasers are much faster.
3. Demands on Cutting Precision
Do you need tight tolerance or clean cuts with intricate design? It is fiber and disk lasers that can offer better laser beams because they result in smoother cuts and need less post-processing.
4. Production Volume
If you’re running high-volume batch, fiber lasers can offer exceptional cutting speed and uptime, which brings about the lower costs per part.
5. Purchasing Budget
CO₂ lasers require lower initial costs but need the higher energy and maintenance expenses. Fiber lasers require a larger upfront but deliver lower total costs of ownership with the passage of time.
IV. Future Trends in Metal Cutting by Laser
As technology advances, laser metal cutting industry continues to evolve. Here are some key trends that are likely to shape the future:
1. Higher-Power Fiber Lasers
Cutting laser power is growing quickly. Laser systems within 12kW-80kW range now cut increasingly thick plate faster and with more efficiency than ever before.
Metal Thickness by Using Fiber Lasers
| Laser power | 12kW | 20kW | 30kW | 40kW | 60kW | 80kW |
| Stainless steel | 30mm | 60mm | 80mm | 90mm | 100mm | 200mm |
| Carbon steel | 40mm | 50mm | 60mm | 70mm | 90mm | 120mm |
| Brass | 16mm | 20mm | 30mm | 30mm | 50mm | 80mm |
| AL alloy | 30mm | 40mm | 60mm | 70mm | 80mm | 80mm |
Tips: These data are from SENFENG’s technical specification. In view of updates, they are for reference only. In kind prevail!
2. Automation & AI Integration
Modern laser cutting machines are now integrated with industrial robots, smart nesting software and AI-driven controls for fully-automated production lines.
3. Eco-friendly Operations
Next-gen lasers are promising to consume less energy and reduce waste, supporting sustainability goals while improving profitability.
V. Final Conclusion
So, what kind of laser can cut metal best? The answer depends on your working demands and actual applications.
* CO₂ lasers are still relevant for thicker metals like carbon steel and mixed-material usage.
* Fiber lasers dominate in cutting speed, cost efficiency and high ability to cut highly-reflective metals.
* Disk lasers are ideal for high-power, high-precision tasks.
* Nd:YAG lasers serve a shrinking niche for micro-scale or aerospace and medical parts.
In a word, if you need to cut both metal and non-metal materials, CO₂ lasers may be your best bet. But if your focus is only on metal, fiber lasers are often the most reliable and cost-effective solution.
Still unsure which laser is right for your work shop? Contact SENFENG instantly for professional guidance on how to choose the best laser systems for your actual needs.
