High Power Fiber Lasers: How Much Faster Is It?

As laser cutting technology advances, fiber lasers are offering increased power and speed, especially when cutting thicker materials. In this blog, we will compare the cutting performance of 6kW, 12kW, and 20kW nLIGHT® fiber lasers on different material thicknesses. We'll also explore the benefits of nLIGHT® Corona™ technology, which enhances cutting flexibility and performance.

Power and Speed in Fiber Lasers

Higher power fiber lasers enable faster cutting speeds and the ability to handle thicker materials more efficiently. Here’s a comparison of how different power levels affect the cutting speeds for various thicknesses.

6kW nLIGHT® Fiber Laser: Optimized for Thinner Materials

The 6kW fiber laser is great for cutting thinner materials and offers reasonable speeds for medium-thickness metals. However, its cutting speed decreases significantly as material thickness increases.

Speed for Mild Steel:

  • 1/4" thick: Cuts at around 196 inches per minute (IPM).

  • 3/8" thick: Cuts at approximately 70 inches per minute (IPM).

  • 13/16" thick: Cuts at about 15 inches per minute (IPM).

While the 6kW system is perfect for thinner sheets, its efficiency drops as material thickness increases, making it more suited for lighter work.

12kW nLIGHT® Fiber Laser: Versatility and Higher Speeds

The 12kW fiber laser provides significantly faster cutting speeds and can handle a wide range of material thicknesses more efficiently than the 6kW system. It strikes a balance between speed and versatility.

Speed for Mild Steel:

  • 1/4" thick: Cuts at around 551 inches per minute (IPM).

  • 3/8" thick: Cuts at approximately 275 inches per minute (IPM).

  • 13/16" thick: Cuts at around 59 inches per minute (IPM).

  • 1" thick: Cuts at about 33 inches per minute (IPM).

The 12kW laser performs well across a variety of thicknesses, delivering a major boost in cutting speed over the 6kW, particularly for thicker metals.

20kW nLIGHT® Fiber Laser: Ultra High Power and Speed

At the top of the range, the 20kW fiber laser is built for high-speed, high-volume production environments. This system excels at cutting through thicker materials with extreme precision and speed.

Speed for Mild Steel:

  • 1/4" thick: Cuts at up to 708 inches per minute (IPM).

  • 3/8" thick: Cuts at approximately 393 inches per minute (IPM).

  • 13/16" thick: Cuts at around 102 inches per minute (IPM).

  • 1" thick: Cuts at approximately 59 inches per minute (IPM).

For industries dealing with thicker materials and high production volumes, the 20kW system offers the fastest throughput, delivering high precision at remarkable speeds.

Corona Beam Shaping Technology: Taking Fiber Lasers to the Next Level

nLIGHT®’s Corona technology brings an innovative edge to fiber laser cutting by enabling dynamic beam shaping. This allows the laser to adapt its beam profile on-the-fly based on the specific material and thickness being cut. Users can switch from small spot size beams for maximum optical intensity—ideal for cutting thin material and for processing with nitrogen—to large donut-shaped beams used for cutting thick material with CO2-like edge quality.​​

Key Benefits of Corona Technology:

  1. Back-reflection protection: Hardware-based back-reflection protection allows processing of even the most reflective metals with no interruptions or damage to the laser.​​

  2. Innovative all-fiber beam shaping​: All-fiber technology does not use complex, performance-limiting hardware such as free-space ​optics, zoom process heads, and external fiber-to-fiber couplers.​​

  3. Unparalleled serviceability​: Modular design simplifies repairs and​ maximizes uptime. ​​​​​

  4. Optimized tuning of beam ​size and shape: Maintains fiber laser performance, ​stability, efficiency, and reliability with spot sizes and beam shapes from small top-hat to large donut mode.

  5. Rapid beam switching​: Beam adjustments in less than 30ms ​allows for real-time optimization of each ​process step while maintaining full-power operation. ​​

How Much Faster is it Really?

When comparing the cutting speeds of 6kW, 12kW, and 20kW fiber lasers, it becomes evident that higher power levels significantly enhance cutting speed, particularly for thicker materials. See the comparison below. 

20kW laser vs 6kW laser.

  • 3.6 times faster cutting 1/4" mild steel

  • 5.5 times faster cutting 3/8" mild steel

  • 6.5 times faster cutting 13/16" mild steel

Conclusion: Power and Flexibility Are the Future

The differences in cutting speed between 6kW, 12kW, and 20kW fiber lasers demonstrate how increased laser power can drastically improve productivity. When paired with Corona technology, manufacturers gain even more control, precision, and flexibility in their operations.

For companies that rely on high-speed, high-precision cutting, investing in higher power fiber lasers with technologies like Corona beam Shaping offers significant advantages in terms of speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

Fiber Laser MachinesCasey Janesfiber lasers, nlight corona technology, high power lasersComment