Industry Solutions
Laser Cutting for Structural Steel & Construction
Structural steel fabrication is being transformed by laser cutting technology. What once required manual layout, drill lines, and plasma cutting can now be automated from BIM model to finished component — with tighter tolerances, cleaner edges, and significantly less handling.
Quick Answer
Structural steel laser cutting uses 6–20kW fiber lasers for plate up to 30mm and 3D tube lasers for RHS/CHS/SHS profiles. Key advantage: direct import from BIM (Tekla, SDS/2) eliminates manual layout. Typical ROI: 12–24 months for fabricators processing >200 tons/month. Combined with automated beam coping lines, laser replaces 3–4 conventional processes.
Structural Steel Applications
| Application | Material | Thickness | Power | Replaces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusset plates | S235–S355 | 6–25mm | 6–15kW | Plasma + drill |
| Base/end plates | S275–S355 | 12–30mm | 10–20kW | Flame + drill + mill |
| Tube connections | RHS/CHS S235+ | 3–12mm wall | 4–10kW | Manual cope + weld |
| Beam coping | IPE/HEA/HEB | Web + flange | 6–12kW | Beam line + manual |
| Decorative facades | Corten / S235 | 3–10mm | 4–8kW | Waterjet + plasma |
Deep-Dive Topics
Tube & Pipe Cutting →
3D tube laser cutting for RHS, CHS, and SHS profiles. Cope cuts, miters, and complex joint geometries.
Thick Plate Processing →
Cutting structural plate above 20mm. High-power fiber laser parameters, edge quality, and weld prep integration.
Beam Connection Detailing →
BIM-to-laser workflow for connection plate fabrication. Direct import from Tekla/SDS-2 models.
Disclaimer: Structural steel fabrication must comply with applicable building codes (AISC, EC3, local standards). This guide provides technical laser cutting information, not structural engineering advice.