Achieving optimal performance in fiber laser cutting requires more than just advanced technology—it involves mastering the technical parameters for fiber laser cutters. Whether you’re using a CNC laser cutter for metal or a laser cutter for sheet metal, knowing the key factors like power, speed, and precision settings is vital for top-quality results. This knowledge is especially critical when working with various metals and materials. By understanding these technical aspects, businesses can boost productivity, reduce waste, and maintain consistent results. Let’s delve into the essential parameters that will help you optimize your cutting processes.
Fiber laser cutting machines have revolutionized industries by offering a cost-effective, precise, and fast way to cut through metal. From CNC fiber laser cutters to laser cutter machines for metal, these tools provide unmatched accuracy and speed, making them ideal for businesses looking to streamline their operations. However, to fully optimize the capabilities of your fiber laser cutter, it’s important to consider several key technical parameters that can impact your results.
One of the most significant parameters is laser power. The power of a fiber laser cutter determines the thickness and type of materials it can cut through. Machines typically come in power ranges from 500W to 4000W or more. Higher-powered lasers can cut through thicker materials at faster speeds, making them suitable for larger projects and industries with heavy-duty cutting needs.
(500W-1000W) is ideal for thin metals like stainless steel or aluminum.
(1500W-2000W) works for medium thicknesses, such as 5mm to 8mm materials.
(3000W-4000W) can handle thicker metals, including 10mm+ steel or high-alloy materials, delivering faster cutting speeds.
The key takeaway here is that laser power directly correlates with the cutting speed and material compatibility, so understanding your needs in terms of thickness and speed is essential when choosing a laser cutter machine for metal.
The cutting speed is another crucial parameter in the performance of fiber laser cutters. It refers to how quickly the laser can move across the material and cut it. Faster cutting speeds generally increase production efficiency but can sometimes compromise the quality of the cut. On the other hand, slower speeds ensure higher precision and better finishes, especially when working with intricate designs or delicate materials.
When choosing a fiber optic laser cutter, it’s important to balance cutting speed with the required precision. If your business prioritizes high-quality, clean edges for sheet metal cutting, a slightly slower cutting speed might be beneficial. For mass production where speed is crucial, a faster cutting speed can be more advantageous.
The cutting thickness is closely related to both laser power and cutting speed. For example, a CNC laser cutter for metal with 1000W power will efficiently cut materials up to 8mm in thickness, while a 2000W machine can handle up to 12mm, and a 4000W cutter can easily cut through 20mm or more. This means that businesses working with thicker metals, such as structural steel, need to choose a machine that can accommodate those needs.
It’s also important to understand that different materials respond differently to laser cutting. Steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and brass each have unique characteristics that affect the cutting process. For instance, aluminum tends to reflect more light, requiring a more powerful laser and specific settings to ensure clean cuts. Additionally, the choice of assist gases such as nitrogen or oxygen can impact cutting quality and speed.
Technical Parameters for Fiber Laser Cutter: | |||||||
| (mm) |
| 3000W | 4000W | 6000W | 8000W | 12000W |
thickness | Speed | Speed | Speed | Speed | Speed | ||
inch | (m/min) | (m/min) | (m/min) | (m/min) | (m/min) | ||
| 1 | 0.04 | 28.0-35.0 | 30.0-38.0 | 35.0-42.0 | 38.0-45.0 | 45.0-60.0 |
2 | 0.08 | 8.0-12.0 | 10.0-16.0 | 20.0-28.0 | 25.0-35.0 | 35.0-48.0 | |
3 | 0.12 | 2.5-4.5 | 3.0-5.0 | 8.0-15.0 | 18.0-25.0 | 25.0-38.0 | |
4 | 0.16 | 1.5-2.3 | 2.5-3.5 | 7.0-12.0 | 15.0-18.0 | 18.0-26.0 | |
5 | 0.20 |
| 1.0-2.2 | 5.0-9.0 | 10.0-12.0 | 12.0-20.0 | |
6 | 0.24 |
|
| 3.0-6.0 | 8.0-9.0 | 9.0-13.0 | |
8 | 0.31 |
|
|
| 5.0-5.5 | 6.0-8.0 | |
10 | 0.39 |
|
|
|
| 5-6.5 | |
12 | 0.47 |
|
|
|
| 4.0-4.6 | |
16 | 0.63 |
|
|
|
|
| |
20 | 0.79 |
|
|
|
|
| |
22 | 0.87 |
|
|
|
|
| |
25 | 0.98 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| 1 | 0.04 | 32.0-40.0 | 35.0-50.0 | 55.0-70.0 | 65.0-75.0 | 70.0-85.0 |
2 | 0.08 | 14.0-18.0 | 16.0-23.0 | 32.0-45.0 | 40.0-50.0 | 45.0-55.0 | |
3 | 0.12 | 8.0-12.0 | 8.0-14.0 | 20.0-28.0 | 27.0-33.0 | 30.0-38.0 | |
4 | 0.16 | 5.5-8.0 | 6.0-10.0 | 13.0-18.0 | 15.0-20.0 | 25.0-30.0 | |
5 | 0.20 | 3.5-5.0 | 4.5-6.0 | 10.0-15.0 | 12.0-16.0 | 16.0-19.0 | |
6 | 0.24 | 2.5-3.0 | 2.8-4.8 | 7.0-10.0 | 9.0-11.0 | 13.0-17.0 | |
8 | 0.31 | 1.2-1.5 | 1.8-3.0 | 4.5-6.0 | 5.5-6.0 | 9.0-11.0 | |
10 | 0.39 | 0.8-1.2 | 0.85-1.8 | 2.0-3.0 | 4.0-4.5 | 6.5-8.0 | |
12 | 0.47 |
| 0.65-1.0 | 1.4-1.8 | 2.5-3.5 | 5.5-6.0 | |
16 | 0.63 |
|
| 0.8-1.0 | 1.3-2.0 | 2.2-2.8 | |
20 | 0.79 |
|
| 0.5 | 0.7-1.0 | 1.5-2.0 | |
25 | 0.98 |
|
|
| 0.5-0.8 | 0.8-1.2 | |
30 | 1.18 |
|
|
| 0.25-0.4 | 0.5-0.8 | |
40 | 1.57 |
|
|
|
|
| |
50 | 1.97 |
|
|
|
|
| |
60 | 2.36 |
|
|
|
|
| |
70 | 2.76 |
|
|
|
|
| |
80 | 3.15 |
|
|
|
|
| |
N2 | 1 | 0.04 | 25.0-38.0 | 30.0-44.0 | 35.0-48.0 | 60.0-70.0 | 66.0-80.0 |
| 2 | 0.08 | 5.5-7.0 | 5.5-7.7 | 6.0-8.25 | 6.8-7.2 | 7.2-7.8 |
3 | 0.12 | 3.6-5.0 | 3.7-5.5 | 4.0-5.5 | 4.8-5.5 | 5.2-5.8 | |
4 | 0.16 | 3.0-4.5 | 3.5-4.6 | 3.5-5.0 | 3.8-4.3 | 4.2-4.6 | |
5 | 0.20 | 2.5-3.3 | 2.5-4.0 | 3.0-4.2 | 3.3-4.3 | 3.8-4.7 | |
6 | 0.24 | 2.3-2.8 | 2.5-3.5 | 2.6-3.5 | 3.0-3.4 | 3.5-4.0 | |
8 | 0.31 | 1.8-2.2 | 2.0-2.8 | 2.0-2.8 | 2.3-3.0 | 2.6-3.3 | |
10 | 0.39 | 1.2-1.6 | 1.2-2.2 | 1.8-2.3 | 2.0-2.5 | 2.5-3.0 | |
12 | 0.47 | 1.0-1.3 | 1.0-1.7 | 1.6-2.1 | 1.7-2.2 | 2.0-2.3 | |
16 | 0.63 | 0.6-0.9 | 0.7-1.0 | 0.7-1.0 | 1.2-1.4 | 1.4-1.6 | |
20 | 0.79 | 0.5-0.8 | 0.6-0.9 | 0.5-0.9 | 1.0-1.1 | 1.2-1.5 (2.1） | |
22 | 0.87 |
| 0.5-0.8 | 0.5-0.7 | 0.9-1.0 | 0.9-1.2 | |
25 | 0.98 |
|
| 0.4-0.6 | 0.6-0.7 | 0.6-0.9 | |
30 | 1.18 |
|
|
| 0.3-0.6 | 0.5-0.8 | |
40 | 1.57 |
|
|
|
| 0.25-0.33 | |
50 | 1.97 |
|
|
|
| 0.18-0.2 | |
60 | 2.36 |
|
|
|
|
| |
70 | 2.76 |
|
|
|
|
| |
80 | 3.15 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| 1 | 0.04 | 31.0-38.5 | 33.0-45.0 | 50.0-65.0 | 63.0-66.0 | 70.0-80.0 |
2 | 0.08 | 12.0-16.5 | 15.0-20.0 | 30.0-40.0 | 40.0-44.0 | 44.0-48.0 | |
3 | 0.12 | 7.0-10.0 | 7.5-12.0 | 18.0-25.0 | 25.0-28.0 | 28.0-35.0 | |
4 | 0.16 | 5.0-7.2 | 5.5-9.0 | 10.0-15.5 | 15.0-18.0 | 20.0-26.0 | |
5 | 0.20 | 1.8-2.4 | 4.0-5.5 | 8.0-13.5 | 12.0-14.0 | 15.0-20.0 | |
6 | 0.24 | 1.0-1.6 | 2.6-4.5 | 6.0-9.0 | 9.0-9.5 | 11.0-13.0 | |
8 | 0.31 | 1.2-2.0 | 1.6-2.8 | 4.0-5.5 | 5.0-5.3 | 7.0-7.5 | |
10 | 0.39 | 0.7-1.0 | 0.7-1.6 | 1.8-2.8 | 3.8-4.0 | 5.0-5.5 | |
12 | 0.47 |
| 0.5-0.9 | 1.2-1.6 | 2.5-2.7 | 3.0-3.5 | |
14 | 0.55 |
|
| 0.8-1.2 | 1.8-1.9 | 2.3-2.8 | |
16 | 0.63 |
|
| 0.6-0.9 | 1.3-1.5 | 2.1-2.5 | |
20 | 0.79 |
|
|
| 0.7-0.8 | 1.4-1.7 | |
25 | 0.98 |
|
|
| 0.5-0.6 | 0.7-1.0 | |
30 | 1.18 |
|
|
|
| 0.5-0.7 | |
35 | 1.38 |
|
|
|
| 0.4-0.5 | |
40 | 1.57 |
|
|
|
| 0.3 | |
50 | 1.97 |
|
|
|
| 0.2 | |
60 | 2.36 |
|
|
|
|
| |
70 | 2.76 |
|
|
|
|
| |
80 | 3.15 |
|
|
|
|
| |
90 | 3.54 |
|
|
|
|
| |
100 | 3.94 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| 1 | 0.04 | 25.0-30.0 | 28.0-32.0 | 35.0-45.0 | 40.0-50.0 | 45.0-55.0 |
2 | 0.08 | 15.0-18.0 | 16.0-20.0 | 20.0-25.0 | 25.0-30.0 | 30.0-35.0 | |
3 | 0.12 | 7.0-8.0 | 10.0-12.0 | 14.0-16.0 | 15.0-23.0 | 20.0-25.0 | |
4 | 0.16 | 5.0-6.0 | 6.0-7.0 | 8.0-10.0 | 12.0-16.0 | 18.0-20.0 | |
5 | 0.20 | 2.5-3.0 | 4.0-5.0 | 5.0-7.0 | 7.0-10 | 14.0-16.0 | |
6 | 0.24 | 1.5-2.0 | 2.5-3.0 | 3.5-4.0 | 5.0-7.0 | 10.0-12.0 | |
8 | 0.31 | 0.5-0.8 | 1.0-1.3 | 1.5-2.0 | 2.5-4.0 | 6.0-8.0 | |
10 | 0.39 |
| 0.8-1.0 | 1.0-1.2 | 2.0-2.5 | 4.0-6.0 | |
12 | 0.47 |
| 0.6-0.8 | 0.6-0.7 | 1.6-2.0 | 2.0-3.0 | |
14 | 0.55 |
| 0.3-0.5 | 0.4-0.6 | 0.8-1.2 | 1.5-2.5 | |
16 | 0.63 |
|
| 0.3-0.4 | 0.8-1.0 | 1.3-2.0 | |
20 | 0.79 |
|
|
| 0.5-0.7 | 0.8-1.2 | |
25 | 0.98 |
|
|
| 0.4-0.5 | 0.5-0.7 | |
30 | 1.18 |
|
|
|
| 0.4-0.5 | |
35 | 1.38 |
|
|
|
| 0.3-0.35 | |
40 | 1.57 |
|
|
|
| 0.25-0.3 | |
50 | 1.97 |
|
|
|
| 0.15-0.2 | |
60 | 2.36 |
|
|
|
|
| |
70 | 2.76 |
|
|
|
|
| |
80 | 3.15 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| 1 | 0.04 | 20.0-28.0 | 25.0-30.0 | 30.0-40.0 | 35.0-45.0 | 38.0-50.0 |
2 | 0.08 | 7.0-13.2 | 12.0-15.0 | 15.0-18.0 | 25.0-27.0 | 30.0-35.0 | |
3 | 0.12 | 5.0-7.2 | 5.5-7.7 | 12.0-14.0 | 15.0-18.0 | 18.0-22.0 | |
4 | 0.16 | 2.5-3.0 | 3.5-5.5 | 8.0-10.0 | 10.0-12.0 | 15.0-18.0 | |
5 | 0.20 | 1.6-2.0 | 2.0-3.5 | 5.0-5.5 | 7.0-9.0 | 12.0-15.0 | |
6 | 0.24 | 0.8-1.2 | 1.4-2.2 | 3.2-3.8 | 6.0-6.5 | 7.0-10.0 | |
8 | 0.31 | 0.3-0.4 | 0.8-1.0 | 1.5-1.8 | 2.5-3.0 | 5.5-6.5 | |
10 | 0.39 |
| 0.4-0.6 | 0.8-1.0 | 1.0-1.5 | 3.5-4.7 | |
12 | 0.47 |
|
| 0.6-0.7 | 0.8-1.2 | 1.8-2.0 | |
15 | 0.59 |
|
|
| 0.6-0.7 | 1.0-1.2 | |
18 | 0.71 |
|
|
|
| 0.5-0.7 | |
20 | 0.79 |
|
|
|
| 0.3-0.5 | |
25 | 0.98 |
|
|
|
|
| |
30 | 1.18 |
|
|
|
|
| |
40 | 1.57 |
|
|
|
|
| |
50 | 1.97 |
|
|
|
|
| |
60 | 2.36 |
|
|
|
|
| |
70 | 2.76 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
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| The above parameters are for reference only. |
Beam quality is often measured by the M² value, which represents how focused the laser beam is. A lower M² value means a better, more focused beam that delivers more precision. This is essential for jobs requiring fine, detailed cuts.
The spot size determines the laser’s ability to focus on the material surface. A smaller spot size is ideal for cutting thin materials with high precision, while a larger spot size is suitable for thicker materials. The spot size plays a pivotal role in the cutting quality, so selecting a fiber laser cutter with the correct beam quality for your needs is crucial.
The work area of a CNC fiber laser cutter directly impacts the maximum size of the material you can cut. Common sizes include 4’x8′ and 5’x10′ work areas, but customized sizes are also available. If your business requires cutting large pieces of sheet metal, a larger work area will be essential.
Moreover, a larger work area provides the flexibility to work on various types of projects, from small-scale custom work to large industrial applications. It allows the machine to handle more diverse jobs without the need for frequent reloading or adjustments.
A robust cooling system is necessary for maintaining the machine’s efficiency and extending its lifespan. Fiber laser cutters generate a significant amount of heat during operation, and a proper cooling system ensures that the laser components do not overheat, thus preventing damage to the machine. Common cooling methods include water cooling, air cooling, and the use of chillers.
Routine maintenance is also crucial for optimal performance. Regular cleaning of the optics, checking the gas pressure, and ensuring that the cutting head is aligned properly will prevent issues that can compromise cutting quality. Investing in high-quality maintenance ensures that your machine remains in top condition and that you get the most value out of your investment.
The use of assist gases plays a significant role in the laser cutting process. These gases (such as oxygen, nitrogen, or compressed air) help to remove molten material from the cut area and prevent oxidation. The type of gas used will affect the cutting quality, speed, and material type being worked on.
For instance, oxygen is often used when cutting steel as it enhances the cutting speed, whereas nitrogen is used for materials like aluminum, as it prevents oxidation and results in clean, smooth cuts. The right combination of assist gas and cutting parameters can make a significant difference in the overall efficiency and quality of the cut.
When choosing the right laser cutter machine for metal, consider your business’s specific needs. Whether you’re in manufacturing, custom metal fabrication, or large-scale industrial production, the right fiber laser cutter can streamline your operations and increase productivity.
If you’re unsure which specifications you need, it’s always helpful to consult an expert like Ascent Laser Pro, who can guide you in selecting the best CNC laser cutter for metal that fits your production requirements. With years of experience in providing high-quality cutting solutions, Ascent Laser Pro ensures that every machine is optimized for your specific needs.
Ready to optimize your cutting processes with the right technical parameters? Ascent Laser Pro provides the expertise and equipment you need to enhance your fiber laser cutting capabilities. Contact us today to learn more about our CNC laser cutters for metal and other advanced solutions. Let us help you take your production to the next level with precision and efficiency. Reach out now for a consultation!
