A metal fabrication company based in France submitted a request for a laser cutting machine dedicated to tubes and structural profiles. The company specializes in structural steelwork and stainless steel fabrication, serving the construction, industrial equipment, and architectural metalwork sectors. Their production involves cutting a wide range of standard profiles to length, preparing joints (miters, copes, slots, and holes), and delivering ready-to-weld components for assembly.
The core technical requirements are:
- Profile types: Round tubes, square tubes, rectangular tubes, angles, HEB and HEM wide-flange beams, and other common structural profiles.
- Maximum section size: Approximately 250 mm in cross-section (diameter for round, side length for square, flange width for H-beams).
- Maximum bar length: 12,000 mm (12 meters).
- Materials: Structural carbon steel S235 and S275; stainless steel 304L and 316L.
- Process objective: Single-setup cutting of profiles to length, with the ability to produce miters, copes, bolt holes, slots, and bevels for weld preparation, eliminating manual layout, band sawing, and drilling.
The customer explicitly requested a recommendation on the most suitable laser power and a commercial offer including the machine price and main technical characteristics.
Proposed Equipment Configuration
Based on the maximum profile section of 250 mm, the 12-meter bar length, the need to process both carbon steel and stainless steel, and the requirement for H-beam and angle cutting, YIHAI LASER recommends a high-capacity CNC laser tube and profile cutting machine with the following configuration:
| Specification | Recommended Configuration | Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment model | YC-T6500 CNC Laser Tube & Profile Cutting Machine | Large-format tube laser with automatic chuck and tailstock for heavy profiles |
| Laser source | IPG YLR-6000 single-mode fiber laser, 6 kW | Optimal balance of cutting speed and edge quality on carbon and stainless steel up to 10–12 mm wall thickness |
| Cutting head | Raytools BM114 3D bevel cutting head | Enables ±45° bevel cutting for weld preparation on structural joints |
| Compatible profile types | Round, square, rectangular tubes; angles; U-channels; HEB/HEM beams; flat bars | Full range of standard structural profiles |
| Maximum profile section (round) | 250 mm diameter | Covers the customer’s maximum requirement |
| Maximum profile section (square/rectangular) | 250 × 250 mm | Covers the maximum specified |
| Maximum bar length | 12,500 mm | Accommodates 12-meter bars with loading margin |
| Chuck type | Heavy-duty pneumatic self-centering 4-jaw chuck | Runout ≤ 0.05 mm; grips round and rectangular sections |
| Tailstock | Pneumatic traveling tailstock with steady rest | Supports long bars, prevents vibration and whip |
| Loading/unloading | Automatic bundle loader and unloading table | Reduces operator handling of 12-meter bars |
| Controller | CypTube CAD/CAM CNC with structural steel profile library | Direct import of STEP, IGES, and Tekla models |
| Assist gas | Oxygen for carbon steel (S235, S275); Nitrogen (99.995%) for stainless steel (304L, 316L) | O₂ for exothermic cut on carbon; N₂ for oxide-free edge on stainless |
| Electrical requirements | 400 V, 3-phase, 50 Hz, 25 kVA | Standard French industrial supply |
| Pneumatic requirements | 6–8 bar, dry, filtered compressed air | For chuck and tailstock actuation |
| Machine weight | Approximately 8,500 kg | Requires reinforced concrete floor |
Laser Power Recommendation
The customer requested a recommendation on the most suitable laser power. YIHAI LASER recommends a 6 kW fiber laser for this application. The justification is as follows:
Carbon steel (S235, S275): With oxygen assist gas, a 6 kW laser cuts wall thicknesses up to 12–15 mm at production speeds. For typical structural profiles—HEB 200 with 15 mm flange thickness, or 200 × 200 × 10 mm square tube—the 6 kW source provides sufficient penetration with a cutting speed of 1.5–2.0 m/min. Higher power (6 kW) would increase speed by 30–50% on thick sections but adds $25,000–$40,000 to the machine cost. For a general fabrication shop processing mixed thicknesses, 6 kW represents the optimal balance of capability and capital cost.
Stainless steel (304L, 316L): With nitrogen assist gas, a 6 kW laser produces a clean, oxide-free, weld-ready edge on wall thicknesses up to 6–8 mm. For 8–10 mm stainless steel, the cutting speed with 6 kW is 1.0–1.5 m/min. If the customer regularly cuts stainless steel profiles above 8 mm wall thickness, a 6 kW source would be justified to maintain productivity and edge quality.
The table below provides representative cutting parameters for the YC-T6500 with a 6 kW fiber laser on the customer’s specified materials.
| Profile Material | Wall Thickness (mm) | Assist Gas | Cutting Speed (m/min) | Pierce Time (s) | Edge Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S235 / S275 carbon steel | 5 | Oxygen, 0.8 bar | 3.5 | 0.5 | Clean, minimal dross |
| S235 / S275 carbon steel | 10 | Oxygen, 1.0 bar | 1.8 | 1.0 | Smooth, slight oxide scale |
| S235 / S275 carbon steel | 15 | Oxygen, 1.2 bar | 1.1 | 1.5 | Acceptable for structural welding |
| 304L / 316L stainless steel | 3 | Nitrogen, 12 bar | 5.5 | 0.4 | Bright, oxide-free, weld-ready |
| 304L / 316L stainless steel | 6 | Nitrogen, 14 bar | 2.2 | 0.8 | Bright, oxide-free |
| 304L / 316L stainless steel | 8 | Nitrogen, 16 bar | 1.4 | 1.2 | Bright, slight yellow tint at corners |
All cutting speeds are for straight linear cuts. Miters and copes will run at 80–90% of the linear speed to maintain edge quality. Pierce times are based on multi-stage piercing with preheat for thicknesses above 6 mm.
Profile Compatibility and H-Beam Cutting
The YC-T6500 is designed to process the full range of standard structural profiles. The 4-jaw self-centering chuck accommodates round, square, and rectangular sections. For open profiles—angles, U-channels, and HEB/HEM beams—the machine can be configured with a profile-specific clamping fixture that stabilizes the web and flanges during cutting. The 3D bevel cutting head tilts to ±45°, enabling single-pass bevel cutting on flange edges for weld preparation, which is a standard requirement in structural steel fabrication.
For HEB and HEM beams up to 250 mm flange width, the machine cuts the profile to length, miters the ends, cuts bolt holes in the flanges, and cuts slots for stiffener plates in a single setup. The CypTube software imports the assembly model directly from the customer’s CAD system (Tekla Structures, SolidWorks, or STEP files), identifies each beam and its connection features, and automatically generates the complete cutting path. This eliminates the manual layout, band sawing, and drilling operations that traditionally consume 60–70% of the total fabrication time on structural beams.
Precision and Repeatability
The YC-T6500 delivers positioning accuracy of ±0.1 mm per meter of travel and a repeatability of ±0.05 mm on the cut profile. The self-centering chuck maintains a runout of ≤ 0.05 mm. For a 12-meter beam, the tailstock steady rest prevents sag and vibration, ensuring that the positional accuracy is maintained along the full length. The laser-cut bolt holes exhibit a diameter tolerance of ±0.1 mm, eliminating the need for reaming or drilling after cutting.
CE Certification and Regulatory Compliance
The YC-T6500 is CE-certified and compliant with the European Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. The machine is supplied with a Declaration of Conformity, enabling direct installation and operation in France without additional certification. The electrical system is configured for 400 V, 3-phase, 50 Hz, the standard French industrial supply. All safety systems—laser enclosure, interlocked access doors, fume extraction—meet EN 60825-1 laser safety requirements for Class 4 laser products.
Warranty, Technical Support, and Spare Parts
YIHAI LASER provides a 2-year warranty on the machine and the IPG fiber laser source. The IPG laser is supported by IPG’s European service center in Germany, ensuring rapid on-site response for any laser-source-related issues. Consumable parts—protective lenses, ceramic rings, nozzle tips—are stocked at YIHAI LASER’s European distributor warehouse and shipped within 48 hours to France. On-site commissioning and operator training (5 days at the customer’s facility in France) are included in the machine price. Training is conducted in French by a YIHAI LASER application engineer.
Summary of Key Specifications
| Requirement | YIHAI LASER Solution |
|---|---|
| Round, square, rectangular tubes, angles, HEB/HEM beams | Compatible with all standard profiles via 4-jaw chuck and optional fixture |
| Maximum section 250 mm | 250 mm diameter (round), 250 × 250 mm (square/rectangular) |
| Maximum bar length 12 meters | 12,500 mm capacity with pneumatic tailstock |
| Carbon steel S235, S275 | 6 kW laser, oxygen assist; cuts 5–15 mm wall thickness |
| Stainless steel 304L, 316L | 6 kW laser, nitrogen assist; bright, weld-ready edge up to 8 mm |
| Bevel cutting for weld preparation | Raytools BM114 3D head, ±45° bevel |
| CAD/CAM integration | CypTube software, direct import of STEP, IGES, Tekla files |
| Laser power recommendation | 6 kW (optimal balance for mixed structural fabrication) |
| CE certification | Yes, compliant with 2006/42/EC and EN 60825-1 |
| Warranty | 2 years on machine and laser source |
| Training and support | 5 days on-site in France, remote support in French |
YIHAI LASER Application Note
YIHAI LASER offers to process a sample structural profile from the customer’s inventory—for example, an HEB 200 beam or a 200 × 200 × 10 mm square tube—at no charge in its application laboratory. The sample would include a straight cut, a miter, bolt holes, and a stiffener slot. A full process report with micrographs, dimensional inspection data, and cycle time estimates would be returned with the quotation. This enables the customer to verify cut quality and productivity against their current fabrication methods before making a purchase decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What laser power is needed to cut structural steel profiles up to 250 mm section?
A 6 kW fiber laser cutter is recommended for cutting structural steel profiles with wall thicknesses up to 15 mm. It cuts 10 mm carbon steel at 1.8 m/min with oxygen assist and 6 mm stainless steel at 2.2 m/min with nitrogen assist. For shops regularly cutting stainless steel above 8 mm wall thickness, a 6 kW source may be justified for higher productivity.
Can a single laser tube cutter process HEB beams, angles, and round tubes?
Yes. The YC-T6500 uses a 4-jaw self-centering chuck that grips round, square, and rectangular sections. Open profiles such as HEB/HEM beams and angles are processed with a profile-specific fixture that stabilizes the web and flanges. The same machine cuts all these profiles in a single setup without hardware changes.
Is the YIHAI LASER tube cutting machine CE-certified for use in France?
Yes. The YC-T6500 is CE-certified and compliant with the European Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and EN 60825-1 laser safety standard. It is supplied with a Declaration of Conformity and configured for the standard French industrial electrical supply (400 V, 3-phase, 50 Hz).
What CAD software is compatible with the YC-T6500 for structural steel profiles?
The CypTube CNC controller directly imports STEP, IGES, and native Tekla Structures files. It automatically identifies each beam, its connection features (miters, bolt holes, stiffener slots), and generates the complete cutting path without manual programming.
Other Case: Tube Laser Cutting System for Stainless Steel T-Joint
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