What metal thickness can be cut — a per-material table
Short answer
The usable thickness for metal cutting depends on the alloy, equipment, part geometry and required edge quality. This Craftarea guide compares material-specific considerations for steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper and brass. Provide the exact grade and thickness with the drawing so the applicable process and production limits can be confirmed for your part.
What metal thickness can be cut — a per-material table is available through Craftarea in Tbilisi. Thickness is the first question every metal cutting buyer asks, and it decides three things at once: whether the part can be cut, how long it takes, and what the edge looks like. This page puts the real ceiling for every material we handle into one table: mild and carbon steel (what Georgians colloquially call rkina), stainless steel (inox, nerzhaveika), aluminum, brass and copper. The numbers come from our fiber laser's actual working envelope, not a blanket marketing claim — when a part exceeds our ceiling we say so and route it to a vetted partner workshop. Specify the required tolerance in the drawing; achievable tolerance and edge finishing are confirmed for the material, thickness and geometry.
Key facts
- Mild / carbon steel
- up to 10mm
- Stainless steel (inox)
- up to 6mm
- Aluminum
- up to 5mm
- Brass and copper
- thickness confirmed for the alloy and surface
- Positional tolerance
- Tolerance by specification
- Minimum hole diameter
- Confirmed for the drawing and material
- Minimum order
- 1 piece
- Quote turnaround
- Timing by agreement
What metal thickness can be cut, and why does the ceiling differ by material?
Metal cutting capability depends on alloy, thickness, geometry, assist gas and machine settings. The steel, stainless and aluminium sizes in the table also need checking against the actual drawing. Copper and brass thickness is confirmed separately for the material grade and surface.
- Metal and litoni are the same word in Georgian; rkina is the colloquial term for ferrous metal
- Inox = nerzhaveika = stainless steel — one material, three names
- Black metal (shavi litoni) = carbon steel
Why is 3mm the most commonly ordered thickness?
A 3mm sheet can be used for nameplates, sign letters, brackets and other parts when the selected material and construction suit the job. That dimension does not produce the same result on every metal: holes, geometry, flatness and edge finishing need separate review. A 3mm copper or brass sheet also requires compatibility confirmation.
5mm and 10mm metal cutting — where is the real limit?
Mild and carbon steel cut up to 10mm on our machine — the thickest material in the range. Stainless stops at 6mm: it conducts heat less readily than mild steel and forms chromium oxide along the kerf, so above 6mm edge quality is no longer reliable on our setup. 5mm is comfortable on both: on steel there is still plenty of headroom below the ceiling, while on stainless we are close to the limit and the thermal tint along the edge is more visible. In both cases that tint is a normal thermal effect and can be covered by polishing or paint when required. Anything past 10mm steel or 6mm stainless is not declined — it is routed to a partner workshop.
- Mild steel / carbon steel — up to 10mm in-house
- Stainless steel (inox) — up to 6mm in-house
- Aluminum — up to 5mm; copper/brass: thickness confirmed for the alloy and surface
Is cutting 1mm thin metal difficult?
Sheet at 1mm and thinner is easy for the machine and awkward for the fixturing. Thin metal warps readily under thermal stress if it is not held flat on the cutting bed. That is why 1mm parts get extra clamping and a reduced cut speed, so the sheet cools while still lying flat. This gauge is typical for engraved keychains, metal business cards, thin nameplates and decorative inserts, where weight and flexibility matter more than rigidity. On thin copper and brass, when the ornament is very fine, we recommend engraving instead of cutting — the drawing comes out cleaner and the part is not structurally weakened.
What happens if your metal is thicker than our technical ceiling?
If the material or drawing exceeds our equipment capability, select the appropriate process and provider before ordering. Plasma, waterjet, bending, milling and lathe work are not performed in our workshop. Confirm copper and brass cutting thickness separately.
- Plasma cutting — not in-house
- Waterjet cutting — not in-house
- Press-brake bending — not in-house
- CNC milling and lathe work — not in-house
Thickness ceiling, tolerance and minimum hole size by material
| Material | Max thickness (mm) | Tolerance (±mm) | Min. hole diameter | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild / carbon steel (rkina) | 10 | 0.1 | Confirmed for the drawing and material | Highest ceiling; edge darkens near the upper limit |
| Stainless steel (inox, nerzhaveika) | 6 | 0.1 | Confirmed for the drawing and material | Low thermal conductivity and chromium oxide cap the ceiling |
| Aluminum | 5 | 0.1 | Confirmed for the drawing and material | High reflectivity keeps the ceiling below steel |
| Brass and copper | Thickness confirmed for the alloy and surface | Confirmed against drawing requirements | Confirmed for the drawing and material | Decorative gauges; engraving beats cutting for fine ornament |
| Above our ceiling | by request | — | — | Vetted partner workshop (plasma/waterjet — not in-house) |
How It Works
- 1
Measure the thickness
Measure the sheet with calipers, or read the thickness in millimetres from your supplier's invoice or material spec sheet.
- 2
Check it against the table
Use the table to start the review. Send the material grade, thickness and drawing; copper and brass each need separate confirmation.
- 3
Send the file
Send a vector drawing (DXF, DWG, AI or vector PDF) and state the material, thickness and quantity. Minimum order is one piece.
- 4
Timing by agreement
If the thickness exceeds our ceiling, the same reply includes a referral to a partner workshop. Timing is agreed after the project review. Send the metal grade, thickness, drawing, finishing and quantity, required date and collection or delivery location.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mm of metal can a laser cut?
Can 3mm be cut on every material?
Can 10mm metal be cut?
Is cutting 5mm steel difficult?
Is cutting 1mm metal difficult?
What is the thickness difference between stainless and mild steel?
What is the smallest hole that can be cut in a part?
If my metal is thicker than your ceiling, can nothing be done?
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