Laser cutting of metals: why it pays off
Metal laser cutting uses a focused laser beam to cut sheets, tubes and profiles with high precision. Here’s why it pays off.
Buying metal laser cutting machines is growing across many manufacturing sectors. The shift toward Industry 4.0 calls for automated, efficient processes, and the laser meets those criteria. Choosing laser cutting for metal working also benefits a company’s economics and production capacity. Let’s see why.
Fiber or CO2 laser cutting: which pays off more?
There are several types of metal laser cutting: the most common are fiber laser cutting and CO2 laser cutting. Compared to CO2, fiber laser cutting on metal offers greater efficiency and lower consumption at the same power.
Thanks to a thinner beam, fiber laser cutting is more precise and efficient, including on thick materials. Its shorter wavelength is also absorbed better by the material: this makes it possible to cut reflective metals such as copper and brass too. Some fiber laser systems today cut sheets of 50 mm and above.
What are the advantages of laser cutting for metals?
Compared with other cutting systems, the laser offers concrete advantages. The main ones:
Cut quality
The laser beam ensures high precision even in complex jobs. It heats the material only at the intended point, without altering the surrounding surface: the result is clean cuts that often need no finishing.
Customization
Laser cutting follows the software design faithfully and allows intricate geometries. On both sheets and tubes you get custom profiles with speed and precision.
Production savings
High performance shortens machining times and therefore production costs. No finishing and no tool change during production are needed, which also lowers maintenance costs. The precision of the beam also reduces scrap, the material waste caused by cutting.
Flexibility and integration
Fiber laser cutting systems integrate easily into the production cycle. The flexibility of the machines and the availability of compact models let you adopt the technology without disrupting production.
Process automation
Fiber laser cutting supports the shift toward Industry 4.0 through process automation. Continuous machining, with no tool change, and the time saved on finishing optimize production.
Production speed
The laser’s cutting speed is far higher than traditional systems on tubes and sheets. The advantage is even clearer in custom jobs, easily repeatable even at high volumes.
Buy a laser machine or rely on subcontracting?
Some companies that need to cut metal turn to subcontracting, thinking it’s the easier route. In many cases, though, buying a laser cutting machine is more convenient.
The initial investment is repaid by production efficiency and, compared with traditional systems, maintenance costs are low. Work stays flexible and fast, and the company no longer depends on suppliers or possible delivery delays.
The advantages of Cutlite Penta systems for cutting metals
Laser cutting systems differ in quality and performance. Cutlite Penta designs technologies for fiber laser cutting of tubes and sheets. Among the advantages:
Technology designed in-house
Cutlite Penta machines are designed and built in-house, with a dedicated numerical control to follow every production stage closely. The result is technology developed to measure, at a competitive purchase cost thanks to the absence of middlemen.
Performance
Cutlite Penta builds systems with high performance in power, precision and speed. Several systems use linear motors, for reliable, fast and precise work. The cutting head technology and the ability to work in 3D increase flexibility.
High power
Cutlite Penta was among the first in Europe to develop a fiber laser metal cutting technology at 30 kW, with an IPG source and the Evo 4 cutting head that supports it.
Customization
By designing and producing in-house, we build custom configurations, including on large formats, ready to integrate into the production cycle.
Cut quality on thickness
Cutlite Penta fiber laser metal cutting systems keep good cut quality even on thick material, with clean cuts in complex jobs.
Frequently asked questions
Which pays off more, fiber or CO2 laser cutting?
On metal, fiber laser is more efficient than CO2 at the same power, with a thinner beam and greater precision, and it also cuts reflective metals like copper and brass.
What are the advantages of metal laser cutting?
Cut quality, custom geometries, savings on time and cost, flexibility, process automation and high production speed.
What thicknesses can fiber laser cut?
It depends on power: some high-power systems cut sheets of 50 mm and above.
Buy a laser machine or use subcontracting?
Buying the machine is often worth it: the investment is repaid by efficiency, maintenance costs are low and the company doesn’t depend on outside suppliers.
Discover Cutlite Penta systems for cutting metals
Systems for fiber laser cutting of sheets, tubes and profiles. Tell us what you need to cut and we’ll find the right solution for you.
