Laser Cutting Fundamentals

Can a CO₂ Laser Cut Metal?

Yes, a CO₂ laser can cut metal—but only under very limited conditions. For modern industrial metal fabrication, fiber laser cutting machines are significantly more efficient, stable, and cost-effective.

This guide explains what metals a CO₂ laser can (and cannot) cut, realistic thickness limits, and how to choose the right technology for production.

Scope: Metal cutting Focus: CO₂ vs Fiber Includes: Decision tables & FAQ

Can a CO₂ Laser Cut Metal?

Can a CO₂ laser cut metal? Yes—but only under limited conditions, typically thin steel with careful setup. For modern metal fabrication (especially stainless, aluminum, and production throughput), fiber lasers are the industry standard.

  • Best-case: thin mild steel / thin stainless (slow, oxygen assist)
  • Not recommended: aluminum, copper, brass, thicker sheet/plate
  • Production reality: fiber lasers deliver faster cutting, better stability, and lower OPEX
Perforation slag removal: slag control and edge quality in laser cutting

How CO₂ Lasers Interact with Metal

CO₂ lasers operate at a wavelength of approximately 10.6 μm. While that wavelength is highly effective for many non-metal materials (wood, acrylic, plastics), metals reflect a large portion of CO₂ laser energy.

From an engineering perspective, metal cutting with CO₂ lasers typically suffers from:

  • Low absorption efficiency on metal surfaces
  • High reflectivity, especially on aluminum and copper
  • More energy required to start and sustain cutting
  • Larger heat-affected zones (HAZ) compared with fiber in many metal-cutting scenarios

Key takeaway: “Can cut” does not automatically mean “production-viable.” On metal, CO₂ is often inefficient and unstable compared with fiber.

What Metals Can a CO₂ Laser Cut?

Under controlled conditions, a CO₂ laser can cut some metals, primarily:

  • Mild / carbon steel (thin sheet)
  • Stainless steel (very thin)
  • Galvanized steel (thin, with risks)
E-Series laser cutting example

Typical thickness range (realistic)

  • Usually ≤ 1–2 mm
  • Often requires oxygen assist gas
  • Cutting speed is slower than fiber
  • Edge quality may require secondary finishing
Metal CO₂ feasibility Typical thickness Practical notes
Mild / carbon steel Possible Thin sheet (often ≤ 1–2 mm) Slow vs fiber; oxygen assist commonly used
Stainless steel Limited Very thin Edge consistency can be challenging in batches
Galvanized steel Risky Thin only Coating burn-off; fumes and instability risk

Metals Not Suitable for CO₂ Laser Cutting

CO₂ lasers are generally not recommended for highly reflective metals, including:

  • Aluminum
  • Copper
  • Brass
  • Thick galvanized steel

Why?

  • Very high reflectivity at 10.6 μm
  • Unstable cutting process
  • Higher risk to optics and lower repeatability
  • Poor edge consistency for batch production

Factory reality: in modern metal fabrication, CO₂ lasers are rarely chosen for aluminum or copper cutting.

Thickness & Quality Limitations

Even when cutting thin steel, CO₂ laser metal cutting often faces production constraints:

  • Lower cutting speed
  • Potentially more burrs and slag
  • Higher energy consumption and maintenance requirements
  • More variation in edge quality from part to part

If your goal is throughput, repeatability, and cost control, these limitations usually determine the final decision.

CO₂ vs Fiber Laser: Engineering Comparison

For metal cutting, fiber lasers typically outperform CO₂ lasers across key manufacturing metrics.

Aspect CO₂ Laser Fiber Laser
Wavelength 10.6 μm ~1.06 μm
Metal absorption Low High
Cutting speed (metal) Slower Faster
Aluminum / copper Unstable / not recommended Stable (process dependent)
Energy efficiency Lower Higher
Maintenance cost Higher (typical) Lower (typical)
Industrial adoption for metal Declining Industry standard

Cutting metal in production?

Start with a fiber laser configuration matched to your materials, thickness, and throughput target—then validate with sample cutting.

Explore Metal Laser Cutting Machines

When Does a CO₂ Laser Still Make Sense?

CO₂ lasers can still be reasonable in limited scenarios:

  • Workshops primarily cutting non-metal materials (wood/acrylic/plastics)
  • Occasional cutting of very thin steel where speed is not critical
  • Fully depreciated legacy equipment
  • Educational or lab environments

For dedicated metal fabrication—especially aluminum and stainless steel in batch production—fiber laser systems are typically the correct choice.

Best Choice for Metal Cutting Today

If your goal is reliable metal cutting:

  • Carbon steel / stainless steel → fiber laser cutting machine
  • Aluminum / copper / brass → fiber laser cutting machine (recommended)
  • High productivity & batch consistency → fiber laser cutting machine

For most modern metal fabrication shops, fiber laser technology is the correct long-term investment.

Recommended Next Step

If you are evaluating equipment for metal cutting, start with a fiber laser solution designed for your material thickness and production volume.

Need a Recommendation for Your Material & Thickness?

Share your material, thickness range, drawings, and edge-quality targets. We can recommend a fiber laser configuration and provide sample cutting validation.

Get a Fiber Laser Recommendation Explore Metal Laser Cutting Machines →

FAQ

Can a CO₂ laser cut metal?

Yes, but typically only thin steel under limited conditions. It is not suitable for most industrial metal cutting applications.

What thickness of metal can a CO₂ laser cut?

Often up to about 1–2 mm for mild steel or thin stainless, depending on machine power and assist gas.

Can a CO₂ laser cut aluminum?

Generally no. Aluminum reflects CO₂ laser energy strongly, making the process unstable and inefficient.

Is CO₂ or fiber laser better for metal cutting?

Fiber lasers are generally better for metal cutting due to higher absorption, faster speed, and lower operating costs.

Why are fiber lasers preferred for metal cutting?

Fiber lasers operate at a wavelength that metals absorb efficiently, resulting in faster cutting and better stability.

Are CO₂ lasers still used in industry?

Yes, mainly for non-metal materials. Their use for metal cutting continues to decline.

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