How powerful does a laser need to be to cut?

The laser power needed to cut a material depends on the characteristics of the material and the thickness of the piece to be cut. In general, the thicker the material and the harder the material, the more laser power will be needed to cut it.

For most materials, a laser with a power output of at least 100 watts can cut thicknesses up to about 1/8 inch (3 millimeters). To cut thicker thicknesses or harder materials, higher laser power will be required. For example, to cut stainless steel 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) thick, you will need laser power of at least 300 watts.

It is important to note that laser power is not the only factor that affects the cutting ability of the laser. Other factors that can affect the cutting ability of the laser include the wavelength of the laser, the quality of the concentrating lens, and the speed of movement of the laser during cutting.

In general, to cut most materials, you will need a laser power of at least 100 watts. However, the exact laser power needed depends on the characteristics of the material and the thickness of the workpiece to be cut. To achieve the best cutting result, it is important to use a laser suited to the specific needs of your project and to follow appropriate safety precautions when using the laser.

Here is a reformulated table summarizing the minimum recommended laser power recommendations for various materials in the engraving process:

For engraving on black anodized aluminium, white markings with excellent contrast are obtained, working at high speed and low power. This approach allows you to obtain clean and sharp results.

When engraving stainless steel, higher laser power and low frequency are needed. This translates into high power per pulse, with minimum marking speeds of 250 mm/s, to achieve effective, quality engravings.tt