12kW Fiber Laser Cutting Chart: Thickness and Speed

In short: A 12kW fiber laser cutting chart gives cutting speed by thickness, material and assist gas.

Two published charts agree within about 12 % on the 12 rows we compared, and a third matches one of them exactly on 6 of 9 shared rows. Published maximum thickness differs more: 25 mm to 40 mm for carbon steel. These are manufacturer-published figures, not our test results.

How to read a 12kW cutting chart

A cutting chart is a table of recommended settings published by a builder or dealer. Each row repeats the same columns, and the speed means nothing without the rest of the row:

Thickness (mm) and speed (m/min). The straight-line cutting feed at the stated settings.
Laser power (W). In chart A below, nitrogen and air rows use the full 12,000 W. Its oxygen rows for 10 to 16 mm carbon steel use only 6,000 to 9,500 W, and full power from 20 mm up (source 1).
Gas and pressure (bar). Chart A lists oxygen at 0.6 to 1.5 bar for carbon steel, and nitrogen or air at 5 to 18 bar depending on the metal (source 1).
Nozzle (mm). Chart A explains the letters: S is a single nozzle, E and SP are double-layer nozzles for high-speed oxygen cutting, and B is a wide nozzle for thick stainless steel on nitrogen (source 1).
Focus (mm) and cutting height (mm). Chart A: 0 means the focus is on the surface, minus means inside the material (nitrogen cutting of stainless steel and aluminium), plus means above the surface (oxygen cutting of carbon steel), and the thicker the metal, the deeper the offset (source 1).

The 12 kW tables in chart A were made with a 100 µm fiber core, 100 mm collimation and 200 mm focus (source 1). A different cutting head or laser source changes the settings, so a chart for another setup is a starting point only.

Three published charts, side by side

We opened three public 12kW charts on 3 November 2026. Chart A is from SBM Laser, a seller and service company for laser cutting machines (source 1). Chart B is from AccTek Group, a laser cutting machine builder (source 2). Chart C is from GWEIKE (gwklaser.com), a laser machine company that says its figures were validated on its own M-Series machines (source 3); it lists fewer rows. Every figure below is theirs, labelled manufacturer-published, not our test. Speeds are in m/min, as published, with ranges where the source gives a range.

Material and gas	Thickness	Chart A speed	Chart B speed	Chart C speed	Gap A vs B
Carbon steel, N₂ or air	3 mm	30–38	28–33	28–33	+11 %
Carbon steel, N₂ or air	6 mm	10–13	10–13	10–13	0 %
Carbon steel, N₂ or air	10 mm	5–6.5	6.0–6.5	not listed	−8 %
Carbon steel, O₂	10 mm	2.3 (at 6,000 W)	2.0–2.3	2.0–2.3	+7 %
Carbon steel, O₂	20 mm	1.4 (at 12,000 W)	1.3–1.4	1.5–1.6	+4 %
Carbon steel, O₂	30 mm	0.8	0.7–0.8	not listed	+7 %
Stainless steel, N₂	3 mm	33	30–35	30–35	+2 %
Stainless steel, N₂	10 mm	7.5	6.5–7.5	6.5–7.5	+7 %
Stainless steel, N₂	20 mm	1.45	1.2–1.4	1.2–1.4	+12 %
Aluminium, N₂	3 mm	25	20–25	25–30	+11 %
Aluminium, N₂	10 mm	5	4.0–6.0	6–7	0 %
Aluminium, N₂	20 mm	1.0	0.8–1.2	not listed	0 %

Manufacturer-published, not our test. Chart A: SBM Laser, 12 kW tables (source 1). Chart B: AccTek Group, 12kW cutting capacity table (source 2); for oxygen rows, chart B’s rows labelled “negative focal” are used (focus +6 to +12 mm), taking for 30 mm the row with the same 1.5 mm nozzle and 0.8 bar as chart A. Chart C: GWEIKE parameter guide, 12 KW columns (source 3). Gap = chart A minus chart B, relative to chart B, using the midpoint of any range (our calculation). Rows were picked to cover three thicknesses per material, not to show the biggest or smallest gaps.

Charts A and B agree closely: all 12 rows are within about 12 %. Chart C matches chart B exactly on 6 of the 9 rows they share. The three that differ, 20 mm oxygen and 3 mm and 10 mm aluminium, are 15 % to 30 % higher in chart C (our calculation). None of the pages says why.

The settings behind the speeds are mostly the same too. For 10 mm stainless steel on nitrogen, charts A and B both list 5 bar, a 5 mm nozzle and a focus of −1 mm. We think the charts probably share an origin, so treat them as one body of data, not as three independent confirmations. That is our inference, not something any page states.

Settings that go with the speeds

Material, thickness and gas	Power (W)	Pressure (bar)	Nozzle (mm)	Focus (mm)	Height (mm)
Carbon steel 10 mm, N₂ or air	12,000	13	4.0S	−3	0.5
Carbon steel 10 mm, O₂	6,000	0.6	1.2E	+6	0.8
Carbon steel 20 mm, O₂	12,000	0.6	1.6E	+8	0.8
Carbon steel 30 mm, O₂	12,000	0.8	1.5SP	+12	0.5
Stainless steel 10 mm, N₂	12,000	5	5.0B	−1	0.5
Stainless steel 20 mm, N₂	12,000	6	7.0B	−11	0.3
Aluminium 10 mm, N₂	12,000	14	5.0B	−5	0.5
Aluminium 20 mm, N₂	12,000	16	7.0B	−5	0.3

Manufacturer-published, not our test. All rows from chart A (SBM Laser, source 1), 100 µm fiber core, 100 mm collimation, 200 mm focus.

Maximum thickness versus quality thickness

Search for “12kW laser cutting thickness” and you get one number. Published figures for the same power class are different kinds of number, and they do not agree:

Source	Carbon steel	Stainless steel	Aluminium	What kind of number
Chart A, last rows (source 1)	40 mm at 0.3 m/min (oxygen)	40 mm at 0.15 m/min (nitrogen)	40 mm at 0.3 m/min (nitrogen)	Parameter rows at the end of the chart. 0.3 m/min is 300 mm per minute
Chart B, last rows (source 2)	40 mm at 0.25–0.3 m/min (oxygen)	40 mm at 0.15–0.2 m/min (nitrogen)	40 mm at 0.15–0.2 m/min (nitrogen)	Parameter rows at the end of the chart
Chart C, power selection table (source 3)	40 mm	40 mm	40 mm	Maximum for 12 KW; no speed or edge class stated
A machine builder’s 12kW page (source 5)	up to 40 mm	up to 40 mm	up to 30 mm	Maker’s claim; the same page markets 12kW as an upgrade for 1–16 mm sheet
A machine builder’s datasheet, 12,000 W source (source 4)	25 mm	30 mm	30 mm	“Max. cutting sheet thickness” for one XXL-format machine, valid only for a well-maintained system and laser-grade material (its footnote)
A machine seller’s thickness chart (source 6)	35 mm with oxygen; “optimal” 12–25 mm	30 mm with nitrogen; “optimal” 6–16 mm (material not stated)	not stated	“Max cutting thickness” and “optimal cutting range” in a power table; page dated 11 June 2026

Manufacturer-published, not our test. Sources 1–3 and 5–6 are chart, page or table statements by builders or sellers; source 4 is a builder’s technical data sheet for one machine model.

Read it this way. A maximum thickness is the thickest plate the machine separates at all, usually slowly and without a stated edge class. A quality thickness is the thickness at which the edge meets a stated class at a speed you can run in production. Source 6 is the only one that prints both for 12 kW, and its “optimal” range stops at 25 mm for oxygen cutting of carbon steel, against a 35 mm maximum. For carbon steel the published maxima run from 25 mm to 40 mm, which shows how much the word “maximum” can stretch. ISO 9013 classifies laser cuts from 0.5 to 32 mm (source 8), so above 32 mm its classes do not apply, and the edge you accept has to be agreed on a test cut.

What changes the numbers

Assist gas. In chart A, 10 mm carbon steel runs at 5–6.5 m/min on nitrogen or air and at 2.3 m/min on oxygen, roughly 2.5 times slower (our calculation from the midpoint). The same page says oxygen gives a cleaner edge on medium and thick carbon steel (3 mm and up), and that at 12–20 kW nitrogen or air is effective up to 10–20 mm (source 1). Nitrogen and air run at 12 bar or more on carbon steel in the charts, so gas supply matters: see nitrogen generator vs bulk nitrogen and our guide to assist gas.
The oxygen method. Chart B lists two oxygen methods for 20 mm carbon steel: 1.3–1.4 m/min with the method it labels “negative focal” (focus +8 mm, 0.6 bar), and 2.0–2.3 m/min with the one it labels “positive focal” (focus −12 mm, 1.2 bar), both with a 1.6 mm nozzle (source 2). Same gas, same thickness, about 1.6 times the speed (our calculation). The page does not say how the edges compare.
Nozzle and focus. For stainless steel on nitrogen, chart A moves from a 2.0 mm single nozzle at 3 mm to a 7.0 mm wide nozzle at 20 mm, and the focus sinks from 0 to −11 mm (source 1). Both feed straight into speed and edge quality; our article on nozzles and protective windows covers how wear changes the cut.
Material and condition. Chart A states that real parameters depend on metal quality, steel grade, gas purity, optics condition and cutting head model, and should be adjusted on test cuts (source 1). Chart C asks for fine-tuning of ±10 % for alloy, surface condition and ambient temperature (source 3). Charts A and B name no steel grade.
Edge-quality target. None of the charts says which ISO 9013 class its speeds reach. A faster setting that leaves dross or taper is not comparable with a slower clean one. See dross and burr troubleshooting.
Power and cooling. AccTek says a 12kW machine draws roughly 58–60 kW in total: about 36 kW for the laser generator, about 14.9 kW for the chiller, plus drivers and a draught fan (source 2). Plan the supply with our power requirements guide, and the cooling with the chiller guide.
Part geometry. A chart gives the speed of a straight cut. Corners, small holes and piercing thick plate take longer, so multiplying chart speed by cut length overstates what a real nest delivers.

12kW compared with 20kW, from one builder’s tables

To compare power classes without mixing sources, we put AccTek’s 12kW table (source 2) next to its own 20kW table (source 7). Same publisher, same layout, speeds in m/min:

Material, gas and thickness	12kW	20kW
Carbon steel 10 mm, N₂ or air	6.0–6.5	9.0–12.0
Carbon steel 20 mm, O₂ (“negative focal” rows)	1.3–1.4	1.3–1.4
Stainless steel 10 mm, N₂	6.5–7.5	10–12
Stainless steel 20 mm, N₂	1.2–1.4	3.0–3.2
Aluminium 10 mm, N₂	4.0–6.0	9.0–10.0
Aluminium 20 mm, N₂	0.8–1.2	1.5–2.0

Manufacturer-published, not our test. AccTek Group 12kW and 20kW cutting capacity tables (sources 2 and 7), same nozzle and pressure on the oxygen row.

In these tables, nitrogen and air cutting is between about 1.6 and 2.4 times faster at 20 kW (our calculation from the midpoints), while 20 mm oxygen cutting of carbon steel is the same. We do not know why from the page, so ask the supplier for the chart of the exact source and head in your offer. For the full 20 kW tables see our 20kW fiber laser cutting chart, and for the next step up the 30kW fiber laser cutting capacity page. To decide between power classes by your own thickness mix, read how to choose laser power.

How to use a chart when you compare quotations

Ask for the supplier’s chart for the exact laser source, cutting head and gas supply in the offer, with the fiber core, collimation and focal length stated.
Ask what edge class each speed achieves, and under what conditions: gas purity, steel grade, sheet condition.
Compare like with like: same material, thickness, gas, pressure and nozzle type, and check whether each speed uses the full laser power.
Ask separately for the quality thickness and the maximum thickness for each material.
Ask for a test cut on your own material at your thickness, measured against your drawing.

We publish no cutting figures for our own machines until documented test results exist, and the cutting capability page says so. If your work is above 20 mm, also read thick-plate cutting.

Frequently asked questions

What thickness can a 12kW fiber laser cut?

Published maximum figures for 12kW run from 25 mm to 40 mm for carbon steel, and from 30 mm to 40 mm for stainless steel and for aluminium, with speeds of 0.15–0.3 m/min at the top in the charts. Quality cutting is a lower number: ask for the thickness at which your edge class holds.

How fast does a 12kW fiber laser cut 10 mm steel?

Two published charts show 5–6.5 m/min for 10 mm carbon steel with nitrogen or air at full power, and three show 2.0–2.3 m/min with oxygen. One chart says oxygen leaves the cleaner edge. These are makers’ figures, not our tests.

Is oxygen or nitrogen better for 12kW cutting?

It depends on thickness and the edge you need. One chart says oxygen gives a cleaner edge on carbon steel from 3 mm, while nitrogen or air is effective up to 10–20 mm at 12–20 kW. Nitrogen and air need high pressure and more gas.

Can a 12kW laser cut 25 mm steel?

Published charts list 25 mm carbon steel with oxygen at 0.7–1.3 m/min depending on the method. One builder’s datasheet gives 25 mm as the maximum for steel on its 12,000 W source. So it is possible but slow: ask which edge class applies.

Are these Halcyon Laser’s cutting speeds?

No. They come from other companies’ published charts. We publish no cutting figures for our machines until documented test results exist. Send a drawing through the test cut page and we tell you whether a test cut can be arranged.

Next step

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Sources

SBM Laser (SBMachines, a seller and service company for laser cutting machines), “Fiber Laser Cutting Parameters”, 12 kW tables and notes: reference recommendations, page undated — sbmlaser.com (accessed 2026-11-03)
AccTek Group (laser cutting machine builder), “12kW Laser Cutting Machines”: 12kW cutting capacity table and power consumption, page undated — www.acctekgroup.com (accessed 2026-11-03)
GWEIKE (gwklaser.com, laser machine company), “Fiber Laser Cutting Parameters: Complete Guide 500W–60KW”: 12 KW columns and power selection table; figures validated on its own M-Series machines, page undated — www.gwklaser.com (accessed 2026-11-03)
Bystronic, “Laser ByStar Fiber 6225/8025”, technical data table for the 12,000 W source (PDF from the maker’s site, printed 3.11.2026, no edition date; maker’s own figures for one XXL-format machine) — btp.bystronic.com (accessed 2026-11-03)
Bodor, “Explore the Benefits of Bodor 12kW High-power Laser Cutting”: maximum thickness statement and 1–16 mm positioning; maker’s own claim, page undated — www.bodor.com (accessed 2026-11-03)
Jinan Hongniu Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. (Hongniu Laser, laser cutting machine company), “Fiber Laser Cutting Thickness Chart: From 3000W to 80000W”, post date 11 June 2026 — www.hncnclaser.com (accessed 2026-11-03)
AccTek Group, “20kW Laser Cutting Machines”: 20kW cutting capacity table, page undated — www.acctekgroup.com (accessed 2026-11-03)
ISO 9013:2017, Thermal cutting: classification of thermal cuts (catalogue entry via Standard Norge): laser cuts from 0,5 mm to 32 mm — online.standard.no (accessed 2026-11-03)

12kW fiber laser cutting chart: thickness, speed and parameters