Laser Cutting (Fiber)

Fiber laser cutting profiles sheet metal with a focused, high-power laser for fast, clean edges and tight feature detail, especially in thin to medium gauges.

Overview

Fiber laser cutting uses a solid‑state fiber laser to melt and eject material (typically with nitrogen or oxygen assist gas) and produce 2D profiles in sheet and plate. It excels at high speed, small kerf, sharp detail, and repeatability on thin to mid‑thickness metals, making it a go-to for brackets, panels, and nested production runs.

Choose it when you need accurate holes/slots, minimal post-processing, and efficient part nesting from sheet. Typical limits are thickness capability (varies by power and alloy), heat-affected zone (HAZ), and edge condition requirements—some alloys can show micro-burr or dross if parameters aren’t tuned. Expect best results on conductive, reflective metals (stainless, aluminum, copper alloys) where fiber often outperforms older laser sources, with the tradeoff that very thick plate or “no-HAZ” requirements may push you to other cutting methods.

Common Materials

  • Stainless Steel 304
  • Stainless Steel 316
  • Mild Steel A36
  • Aluminum 5052
  • Aluminum 6061
  • Brass C260

Tolerances

±0.003"

Applications

  • Electrical enclosures and panels
  • Mounting brackets and gussets
  • Machine guards and covers
  • Chassis plates and baseplates
  • Gaskets and shim profiles
  • Sheet metal prototypes with tight hole patterns

When to Choose Laser Cutting (Fiber)

Choose fiber laser cutting for flat patterns that need clean edges, tight feature detail, and good repeatability from thin to medium sheet and plate. It’s a strong fit for prototypes through production when nesting efficiency and quick turnaround matter. Plan on secondary ops (deburr, form, tap) when edge feel, bend quality, or threaded features drive requirements.

vs Laser Cutting (CO2)

Pick fiber laser cutting when you need higher throughput on thin-to-mid thickness metal and better performance on reflective materials like aluminum and copper alloys. Fiber typically delivers finer detail and lower operating cost, which helps on nested production runs.

vs Plasma Cutting

Pick fiber laser cutting when you need tighter tolerances, smaller kerf, and cleaner edges with less dross on thin and medium thickness. Plasma is usually a better fit for rougher features or thicker plate where precision and edge finish are less critical.

vs Waterjet Cutting

Pick fiber laser cutting when speed, cost per part, and high-volume nesting drive the job and a small HAZ is acceptable. Waterjet is the better fit when you must avoid any thermal effects or you’re cutting heat-sensitive materials and thick stacks.

vs Shearing

Pick fiber laser cutting when the part needs internal cutouts, complex perimeters, slots, or accurate hole patterns. Shearing is limited to straight cuts and is mainly useful for blanking rectangles quickly before downstream operations.

Design Considerations

  • Keep minimum hole diameter at or above material thickness for consistent roundness and easier deburring
  • Avoid tiny webs and needle-like features; keep narrow tabs/bridges ≥ 1.5× thickness to reduce heat distortion
  • Call out critical edge condition (no burr, max burr height, cosmetic side) and identify the show surface for assist-gas selection
  • Use inside corner radii where possible; sharp internal corners may need lead-ins/micro-tabs or create corner overburn
  • Add small part retention strategy (micro-tabs or common-line cutting rules) to prevent tip-up in dense nests
  • Specify thickness, alloy/temper, and finish clearly; many quote issues come from missing material callouts or mixed specs