Laser Applications
Metal Cutting & Fabrication
Explore laser applications for cutting steel, stainless-steel, aluminum, tube, pipe, and other sheet and plate metals.
Related Guides
Assist Gas Guide
Choose between oxygen, nitrogen, and compressed air based on cost, oxidation, speed, and finish.
Fiber Laser Power Guide
Compare how wattage affects thickness range, speed, edge quality, gas use, and machine budget
Find the right metal cutting path for your material, thickness, and production goals.
Fiber laser cutting is the primary choice for shops that need fast, repeatable metal fabrication. These pages explain what affects cut quality, machine power, assist gas, thickness range, and day-to-day production workflow.
Common starting question
Which laser, power level, and setup do I need to cut metal?
Best fit: Fiber laser cutting for metal fabrication and production work.
Common materials: Steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, tube, and sheet metal.
Key variables: Material type, thickness, assist gas, edge quality, and throughput.
Common Applications
Steel Cutting
Learn how laser power, assist gas, material thickness, and edge-quality expectations affect mild steel cutting.
Stainless-Steel Cutting
Compare nitrogen and oxygen cutting, discoloration concerns, protective film, and clean-edge expectations
Sheet Metal Cutting
Review gauge ranges, table size, nesting, repeatability, and fabrication workflow considerations.
Tube & Pipe Laser Cutting
See what changes when cutting round tube, square tube, pipe, and other profiles instead of flat sheet.
Aluminum Laser Cutting
Understand reflectivity, alloy differences, surface finish, power requirements, and cut-quality tradeoffs.
Brass & Copper Laser Cutting
Learn why reflective metals need careful evaluation, higher power expectations, and application testing.
Common Buyer Questions
Q
Can a CO2 Laser Cut Metal?
Yes, but only with the right machine configuration. Standard CO2 lasers are primarily designed for non-metal materials such as wood, acrylic, leather, paper, plastics, and fabric. If metal cutting is the primary application, a dedicated fiber laser cutter is usually the best choice.
HP Series
In addition to an X-Series 155-watt CO2 power source, the HP Series adds the ability to cut sheet metal, up to 18ga stainless-steel.
FC FlexCUT
In addition to an X-Series 155-watt CO2 power source, the HP Series adds the ability to cut sheet metal, up to 18ga stainless-steel.
Q
Can a Laser Cut Metal?
Yes, but it depends on the type of laser. Fiber lasers are the preferred choice for cutting metals like steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and copper. A standard CO2 laser is not designed for metal cutting, although some higher-power or hybrid CO2 systems can cut thin metals with the right setup. For clean, efficient metal cutting, the best choice is usually a fiber laser cutter matched to the metal type, thickness, and production needs.
Related Guides
Assist Gas Guide
Choose between oxygen, nitrogen, and compressed air based on cost, oxidation, speed, and finish.
Fiber Laser Power Guide
Compare how wattage affects thickness range, speed, edge quality, gas use, and machine budget
Laser Applications
Metal Marking & Engraving
Explore laser applications for cutting steel, stainless-steel, aluminum, tube, pipe, and other sheet and plate metals.
Related Guides
Assist Gas Guide
Choose between oxygen, nitrogen, and compressed air based on cost, oxidation, speed, and finish.
Fiber Laser Power Guide
Compare how wattage affects thickness range, speed, edge quality, gas use, and machine budget
Find the right metal cutting path for your material, thickness, and production goals.
Fiber laser cutting is the primary choice for shops that need fast, repeatable metal fabrication. These pages explain what affects cut quality, machine power, assist gas, thickness range, and day-to-day production workflow.
Common starting question
Which laser, power level, and setup do I need to cut metal?
Best fit: Fiber laser cutting for metal fabrication and production work.
Common materials: Steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, tube, and sheet metal.
Key variables: Material type, thickness, assist gas, edge quality, and throughput.
Common Applications
Steel Cutting
Learn how laser power, assist gas, material thickness, and edge-quality expectations affect mild steel cutting.
Stainless-Steel Cutting
Compare nitrogen and oxygen cutting, discoloration concerns, protective film, and clean-edge expectations
Sheet Metal Cutting
Review gauge ranges, table size, nesting, repeatability, and fabrication workflow considerations.
Tube & Pipe Laser Cutting
See what changes when cutting round tube, square tube, pipe, and other profiles instead of flat sheet.
Aluminum Laser Cutting
Understand reflectivity, alloy differences, surface finish, power requirements, and cut-quality tradeoffs.
Brass & Copper Laser Cutting
Learn why reflective metals need careful evaluation, higher power expectations, and application testing.
