Before the rise of 10,000-watt laser cutting equipment, laser processing of metal sheets was mainly thin plates (1-15mm), that is, laser cutting equipment of 4KW and below, such as elevator plates, alloy materials, doors and windows, lighting, metal kitchenware, hardware products, etc. However, with the emergence of 10kW laser cutting machines, the thickness of metal cutting has been continuously broken. Fiber laser cutting technology with a power of 10kW and above is achieving a revolutionary breakthrough in the processing of thick metal plates in multiple industrial fields with its high energy density, excellent beam quality and flexible processing capabilities.

This article will deeply explore the application of 10kW laser cutting in engineering machinery, shipbuilding, energy equipment, rail transportation, aerospace and steel structure buildings, and analyze in detail the cuttable thickness range, process parameters and industry cases of different metal materials, providing a comprehensive technical reference for manufacturing users.

Why Choose 10kw+ Fiber Laser Cutting?

Today, as industrial manufacturing moves towards intelligence and efficiency, 10kW+ fiber laser cutting technology is reshaping the pattern of thick metal plate processing with revolutionary advantages.

Higher cutting efficiency

The increase in power has brought reforms to the sheet metal processing industry. In addition to being able to process thicker materials, its efficiency has also made a qualitative leap. Data shows that when processing aluminum alloys, the speed of 12KW laser cutting machines is significantly improved compared to 10KW. Especially when cutting 25mm thick plates, the cutting speed can be increased by 100%. On the other hand, when cutting 5-12mm brass, the cutting speed of the 12KW laser cutting machine is more than 100% higher than that of the 10KW. It can be seen that the increase in laser power is obvious for the increase in cutting speed.

Better cross-sectional quality

The 10,000-watt laser cutting can achieve a smaller taper with high beam quality and intelligent focus control. The cutting taper when cutting 20mm stainless steel is less than 0.5°, and the taper of 40mm carbon steel is less than 1°, which is better than plasma cutting (usually >3°). In addition, when cutting stainless steel with nitrogen, the 12kW laser can make the slag thickness less than 0.1mm, which directly meets the welding requirements.

Lower overall cost

Although the initial investment in laser cutting equipment is high, the long-term cost of 10kW laser has significant advantages. This is due to the fact that fiber laser cutting is superior to traditional cutting methods such as plasma and water jet cutting in terms of energy consumption, consumables, labor costs, and secondary processing costs. Therefore, in the long run, the overall cost of fiber laser cutting is lower.

More process breakthroughs

Compared with low-power laser cutting equipment, 10,000-watt lasers have promoted advanced processing technologies, such as intelligent perforation technology that can penetrate 30mm carbon steel in 3 seconds, laser cutting-beveling-drilling integrated composite processing methods, and thick plate continuous cutting technology.

Application of 10kW laser cutting in different industries and typical materials

In the field of heavy industrial manufacturing, fiber laser cutting machines with a power of 10kW and above are setting off a processing revolution. With its powerful penetration ability and precise control performance, this technology is rewriting traditional processing modes in many industrial fields.

Engineering machinery field
In the manufacturing of heavy equipment such as excavators, cranes, and mining machinery, 10kW lasers perfectly meet the challenges of high-strength steel.

Material	Thickness Range	Potência Laser	Cutting Speed	Assist Gas	Cut Quality
Q690D High-Strength Steel	12-30mm	10-15kW	2-6m/min	O₂	Dross <0.2mm
Hardox450 Wear-Resistant Plate	10-25mm	12kW	1.5-4m/min	N2	Oxide-free
S355 Structural Steel	10-50mm	10-20kW	3-8m/min	O₂	Taper <1°

Construção naval

In the field of shipbuilding, marine A/B grade steel, AH36 high-strength steel, and duplex stainless steel 2205 are commonly used as hull sections, liquefied gas bulkheads, and propeller parts. High-power laser cutting machines can achieve high-precision cutting and obtain smooth cuts.

Material	Thickness Range	Potência Laser	Cutting Speed	Assist Gas	Cut Quality
AH36 High-Strength Steel	15-50mm	12-20kW	1.5-5m/min	O2	HAZ <0.5mm
Duplex Stainless Steel 2205	8-30mm	15kW	2-4m/min	N2	Dross-free
9% Nickel Steel (LNG Tanks)	10-25mm	20kW	1-3m/min	He/N2 Mix	No cold cracks

Rail transit field

In the rail transit industry, 10,000-watt laser cutting machines are usually used to cut alloy materials such as aluminum alloy, stainless steel and titanium alloy to make car bodies, carriages and bogie parts.

Material	Thickness Range	Potência Laser	Cutting Speed	Assist Gas	Cut Quality
5083 Aluminum	6-25mm	10-15kW	3-8m/min	Compressed Air	Burr-free
301L Stainless	8-20mm	12kW	4-10m/min	N2	Oxide-free
TC4 Titanium (Bogies)	5-15mm	15kW	2-5m/min	Ar	No heat cracks

Aeroespacial

In the field of aerospace, titanium alloy, aviation aluminum, and Inconel718 are commonly used metal materials, which are used to make titanium alloy frames and wing ribs of aircraft.

Material	Thickness Range	Potência Laser	Cutting Speed	Assist Gas	Cut Quality
TC4 Titanium	5-20mm	15-20kW	1.5-4m/min	Ar	No α-phase embrittlement
Inconel 718	3-12mm	20kW	0.5-2m/min	N2	Microcrack-free
7075 Aviation Aluminum	5-15mm	12kW	3-6m/min	He	No thermal deformation

Steel structure buildings

The heavy steel structures in the construction industry cannot be separated from the 10,000-watt fiber laser cutting machine, which can achieve efficient processing of ultra-thick steel plates and heterogeneous structures.

Material	Thickness Range	Potência Laser	Cutting Speed	Assist Gas	Cut Quality
Q355B Structural Steel	10-60mm	10-20kW	2-8m/min	O2	Direct weldable
S690QL High-Strength	12-40mm	15kW	1.5-5m/min	N2	No hydrogen embrittlement
Weathering Steel (Bridges)	10-50mm	12-20kW	2-6m/min	O2	No oxide scale

Conclusion

From 40mm high-strength steel for engineering machinery to 20mm titanium alloy for aerospace, 10kW+ fiber laser cutting technology is realizing efficient, high-precision, and low-cost thick plate processing in multiple industries.

In recent years, XT LASER’s 10kW fiber laser cutting machines have been widely used in more industrial fields. With its strong self-developed research and development capabilities and high-quality product quality, it has become a leader in the industry.

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