Plasma Cutting vs Laser vs Waterjet
Published on 14 August 2026 by Metal S.r.l.
Comparison of CNC HD plasma, fibre laser and waterjet.
CNC HD plasma
- Thicknesses: 1–50+ mm
- Tolerance: ±0.2–0.5 mm
- Materials: steel, stainless, aluminium
- Speed: high
- Cost: low-medium
Fibre laser
- Thicknesses: 0.5–25 mm
- Tolerance: ±0.05–0.1 mm
- Materials: steel, stainless, aluminium, copper, brass
- Speed: very high on thin
- Cost: medium-high
Waterjet
- Thicknesses: 0.5–200+ mm
- Tolerance: ±0.1–0.2 mm
- Materials: any
- Speed: medium-low
- Cost: medium-high
Which to choose?
| Need | Process |
|---|---|
| Thicknesses > 10 mm | HD Plasma |
| High precision | Fibre laser |
| Heat-sensitive materials | Waterjet |
| Low costs, batches | HD Plasma |
Conclusion
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