5-Axis & 3D Laser Cutting Machines
When parts aren't flat, you need 5-axis capability. From hot-stamped auto body panels to aerospace composites, 3D laser cutting opens possibilities that 2D machines can't touch.
Platform Options
- Gantry 5-Axis: Highest precision, limited work envelope
- Robot (6-Axis): Large reach, lower precision, flexible
- Hybrid: Robot on linear track for best of both
Typical Applications
Automotive
The largest application by volume. Hot-stamped ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS) parts—B-pillars, door rings, bumper beams—require laser trimming after forming. Traditional die trimming is impractical at these hardness levels.
- Hot-formed structural parts (1500+ MPa steel)
- Hydroformed tubes
- Aluminum body panels
- Prototype parts and low-volume production
Aerospace
- Engine component trimming (Inconel, Ti)
- Composite structure trimming
- Formed sheet metal parts
Other Industries
- Medical implants and devices
- Agricultural equipment
- Heavy machinery components
- Architectural formed metal
Gantry 5-Axis Systems
Purpose-built 5-axis machines with a cutting head that can tilt ±90° or more. The beam is typically delivered through a hollow wrist for consistent beam quality at all angles.
Advantages
- Highest positioning accuracy (±0.05mm achievable)
- Fastest dynamics on small features
- Consistent beam delivery at all angles
- Enclosed for safety and environment control
Limitations
- Fixed work envelope (typically 2-4m range)
- Higher capital cost than robots
- Less flexible for varied part sizes
Key Players
- TRUMPF: TruLaser Cell series
- Prima Power: Rapido, Laser Genius
- BLM: LT-FREE (hybrid tube/sheet)
- Jenoptik: JENOPTIK-VOTAN series
3D/5-Axis Systems
Robot-Based 3D Cutting
Industrial robots (typically 6-axis) with fiber laser cutting heads. Common robot brands: FANUC, KUKA, ABB, Yaskawa.
Advantages
- Large work envelope (2-3m reach)
- Flexible—same robot can weld, cut, handle parts
- Lower capital cost than gantry systems
- Easy to reposition for different applications
Limitations
- Lower accuracy than gantry (±0.1-0.2mm typical)
- Path accuracy degrades at full reach
- More complex offline programming
- Beam delivery challenges for high power
Fixturing: The Hidden Challenge
3D cutting is only as good as your part holding. Unlike flat sheet work, formed parts need custom fixtures:
- Match the part geometry precisely
- Provide consistent clamping forces
- Allow beam access from all angles
- Accommodate part-to-part variation
Budget 20-40% of system cost for initial fixturing. Production cells often have multiple fixture stations on rotary tables.
Programming Considerations
5-axis programming is fundamentally different from 2D nesting:
- CAD-to-CAM: Import 3D models, define cut paths
- Collision detection: Simulate tool/part/fixture interaction
- Compensation: Account for spring-back and thermal distortion
- Path optimization: Minimize idle moves, manage acceleration
Investment Levels
| Configuration | Typical Investment |
|---|---|
| Robot cell (basic) | $250-400K |
| Robot cell (production) | $400-700K |
| Gantry 5-axis (compact) | $500-800K |
| Gantry 5-axis (production) | $800K-1.5M+ |
Explore 3D Cutting
Browse our database for 3D and robotic laser cutting systems.