What thickness can a fibre laser cut?

It depends on power and material. Machines of a few kilowatts cut most sheet work up to about 12 mm comfortably; higher-power machines cut thick plate. Aluminium and copper alloys cut thinner than steel at the same power.

Fibre laser or CO2 laser?

Fibre lasers are now standard for metal: faster on thin sheet, better on reflective metals, and cheaper to run. CO2 lasers are still used for non-metals such as wood and acrylic.

What file does a laser cutting shop need?

A DXF or DWG drawing at full scale, plus the material, thickness and quantity.

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Fibre laser cutting machine

Also called: fiber laser, CNC laser cutting machine, laser cutter, sheet metal laser

A fibre laser cutting machine cuts sheet and plate with a focused laser beam moved by CNC, producing accurate profiles straight from a drawing file. It cuts mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass and copper quickly, to about ±0.1 mm.

Quick facts

Laser power: From about 1 kW to 20 kW and more; 3–6 kW is common in job shops
Common bed sizes: 3000 × 1500 mm; 4000 × 2000 and 6000 × 2000 mm for larger sheets
Typical accuracy: About ±0.1 mm
Kerf (cut width): About 0.1–0.3 mm
Assist gases: Oxygen for mild steel; nitrogen for stainless steel and aluminium; air for thin sheet
Input: DXF or DWG drawing

How it works

A fibre laser source sends the beam through a cable to the cutting head, which focuses it to a tiny spot. The beam melts the metal, and a jet of gas blows it out of the cut. The CNC moves the head along the shapes, which are nested on the sheet to waste as little material as possible.

Power and thickness

Higher power cuts thicker plate and cuts thin sheet faster. A few kilowatts covers most job-shop sheet work in the 1–12 mm range; thick plate needs higher power. Maximum thickness also depends on the material: aluminium, brass and copper reflect the beam and cut thinner than steel at the same power.

Assist gas and edge quality

Oxygen on mild steel: fast, with a thin oxide layer on the edge
Nitrogen on stainless steel and aluminium: a clean, bright edge ready for welding or painting
Compressed air: low cost on thin sheet

Advantages

Accurate, repeatable parts with no tooling cost
Fast for thin and medium sheet
Small holes, fine detail and sharp corners
Easy to change design: just change the drawing file

Limits

Very thick plate is often cheaper by plasma or gas
Heat can slightly harden the cut edge of steel
Holes much smaller than the sheet thickness are hard to cut cleanly

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Questions

What thickness can a fibre laser cut?: It depends on power and material. Machines of a few kilowatts cut most sheet work up to about 12 mm comfortably; higher-power machines cut thick plate. Aluminium and copper alloys cut thinner than steel at the same power.
Fibre laser or CO2 laser?: Fibre lasers are now standard for metal: faster on thin sheet, better on reflective metals, and cheaper to run. CO2 lasers are still used for non-metals such as wood and acrylic.
What file does a laser cutting shop need?: A DXF or DWG drawing at full scale, plus the material, thickness and quantity.

The figures on this page are typical values for guidance, written by Diemeco from standard engineering practice. They are not a specification: confirm grades and properties with the relevant standard or the supplier's mill test certificate, and tolerances with your workshop. Last checked 8 October 2026.