How the Estimate Works

Every number in the calculator comes from four inputs: a speed table, your machine rate, the assist gas, and a fixed allowance for consumables, labor and setup.

1. Cut speed

Speed is taken from a table of typical fiber laser cut speeds by material and thickness, defined at a 3 kW reference power. The table is interpolated linearly between points. Power scaling factors approximate the effect of different power levels: 1.5 kW ×0.55, 2 kW ×0.75, 3 kW ×1.0, 4 kW ×1.15, 6 kW ×1.45, 8 kW ×1.55, 12 kW ×1.7, 15 kW ×1.78, 20 kW ×1.85, 30 kW ×1.95. The curve flattens at high power because thick-plate piercing and beam quality, not travel speed, set the pace.

2. Machine time and cost

Cutting time (minutes) = cut length (m) ÷ speed (m/min). Machine cost = cutting time × your hourly rate ÷ 60. Your hourly rate should include depreciation, electricity, maintenance and floor space — the cost per hour guide on the main site breaks this down.

3. Piercing

Each pierce adds roughly 0.4 seconds plus 0.18 seconds per millimeter of thickness (so about 2.2 s on 10 mm plate). The calculator multiplies your "pierces per part" input by this allowance. Feature-heavy parts on thick plate are where piercing quietly doubles the cycle time.

4. Assist gas

Gas cost is charged per cutting hour and auto-filled by material and gas choice: oxygen on mild steel is cheap (about $4/hour), high-purity nitrogen for stainless and aluminum is the largest variable (about $18/hour), copper about $22/hour, compressed air near $1.5-3/hour. The rate field is editable — enter your local gas or compressor cost for a tighter estimate.

5. Consumables, labor and setup

Consumables (nozzles, protective lenses, electricity share) are estimated at $3 per cutting hour. Labor is applied at 40% of machine time at $28/hour, reflecting one operator tending several machines. Setup adds $4 per part, divided by batch size.

What is not included

Nesting gaps, head travel between parts, material handling, and post-processing (deburring, passivation) are not included. For a full job quote, add these based on your own shop data.

Want the full picture on laser cutting economics? Read the cost per hour guide on ProLaserCutting.

For manufacturer information on fiber laser sources and sheet-metal cutting systems, see IPG Photonics and Bystronic.