# Laser Cutting Time per Part Calculator

> Source: https://netray.co/tools/laser-cutting-time-per-part-calculator
> Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems.
> Section: Free Tools

## Short answer

Break a laser job into cutting, piercing and sheet handling time to get a realistic run time and parts per hour.

## Category

manufacturing

## Industry

Sheet Metal Fabrication

## Audience

- Estimator
- Laser programmer
- Production planner

## Tool

**Kind:** calculator

**Currency:** $

**Inputs:**

#### Parts to cut

**Key:** qty

**Type:** number

**Default:** 200

**Min:** 1

**Step:** 1

**Unit:** parts

#### Cut length per part

**Key:** len

**Type:** number

**Default:** 1.8

**Min:** 0

**Step:** 0.1

**Unit:** m

**Help:** Total contour length including holes and slots.

#### Pierces per part

**Key:** pierces

**Type:** number

**Default:** 9

**Min:** 0

**Step:** 1

**Help:** One pierce per contour: outer profile plus each hole or slot.

#### Average cutting feed rate

**Key:** feed

**Type:** number

**Default:** 4

**Min:** 0.1

**Step:** 0.1

**Unit:** m/min

**Help:** Use the blended feed after corner slowdown, not the machine maximum.

#### Pierce time

**Key:** pierce_s

**Type:** number

**Default:** 0.7

**Min:** 0

**Step:** 0.1

**Unit:** s

**Help:** Depends on material, thickness and laser power.

#### Positioning time per pierce

**Key:** move_s

**Type:** number

**Default:** 0.5

**Min:** 0

**Step:** 0.1

**Unit:** s

**Help:** Rapid moves between contours.

#### Sheets in the job

**Key:** sheets

**Type:** number

**Default:** 3

**Min:** 1

**Step:** 1

#### Load and unload per sheet

**Key:** change

**Type:** number

**Default:** 2

**Min:** 0

**Step:** 0.5

**Unit:** min

**Help:** Include pallet change and part sort if not automated.

**Outputs:**

#### Cutting time

**Key:** cut_min

**Expr:** qty * len / feed

**Format:** minutes

#### Pierce and positioning time

**Key:** pierce_min

**Expr:** qty * pierces * (pierce_s + move_s) / 60

**Format:** minutes

#### Sheet handling time

**Key:** handle_min

**Expr:** sheets * change

**Format:** minutes

#### Total job time

**Key:** total

**Expr:** cut_min + pierce_min + handle_min

**Format:** minutes

**Primary:** true

#### Time per part

**Key:** per_part

**Expr:** total * 60 / qty

**Format:** number

**Description:** Seconds per part.

**Primary:** true

#### Parts per hour

**Key:** pph

**Expr:** qty / total * 60

**Format:** integer

#### Pierce share of run time

**Key:** pierce_share

**Expr:** pierce_min / total * 100

**Format:** percent

**Chart:**

#### Total job time vs cutting feed rate

**Type:** line

**X:** feed

**From:** 1

**To:** 12

**Steps:** 24

**Series:**

- total

**Disclaimer:** Use feed rates and pierce times from your own machine cutting chart for the material, gas and thickness. This is an estimating tool, not a CAM simulation.

## Content

**Intro:** Laser quotes often fail on time, not material. This calculator splits a job into cutting, piercing and handling so you can see where the minutes go and what changes when the feed rate or contour count changes.

**Sections:**

#### How to use it

**Body:** Enter the total job quantity, cut length and pierce count for one part, then your average feed rate. Use a blended feed rate rather than the top speed from the cutting chart, since corners, small holes and lead-ins slow the head. Add pierce time and rapid positioning per pierce, then sheet count and handling time. The tool returns total minutes, seconds per part and parts per hour, plus the share of run time spent piercing. Small parts with many holes are often pierce dominated, which changes what you optimise.

#### The method

**Body:** Cutting time is quantity times cut length divided by feed rate. Pierce and positioning time is quantity times pierces times the sum of pierce and move seconds, converted to minutes. Handling time is sheets times load and unload minutes. Total time is the sum of the three. This mirrors how most CAM and nesting packages build a machine time estimate, minus lead-in and corner detail. Compare it with the time your nesting software gives and calibrate your blended feed rate from actual job history.

**Bullets:**

- Cut time = parts x length / feed
- Pierce time = parts x pierces x (pierce + move) / 60
- Handling = sheets x change minutes

#### Reading the result

**Body:** If the pierce share is above about a third of run time, reducing contours through common line cutting, microjoints or fewer small holes may beat a faster feed rate. If handling dominates, consider larger sheets, automation or better nest grouping. The chart shows diminishing returns: doubling the feed rate does not halve the time once piercing and handling are fixed. Record real run times in your ERP routing so next quote starts from actual data.

**Cta:** We can compare estimated laser times against actual shop floor reporting in your ERP, so quotes use measured cycle times rather than guesses.

**Faq:**

#### What feed rate should I enter?

**Answer:** Use an average that includes corner slowdown and small features, usually well below the machine maximum for that material and thickness. Calibrate it by comparing past jobs with the nest report time.

#### Does this include gas and power cost?

**Answer:** No. This tool is for time. Multiply total minutes by your machine rate, which should include power, gas, lens and nozzle wear, depreciation and labour, to build a cost.

#### How do I reduce pierce time?

**Answer:** Use common line cutting, fewer contours, lower power piercing strategies where the machine allows, or consolidate small holes by redesign. Pierce time rises quickly with thickness.

#### Why is parts per hour lower than expected?

**Answer:** Handling, sorting and sheet changes often add more time than operators expect, especially for small parts. Check the handling share and consider automation or tabbed nesting.

## Search terms

laser cutting time calculator, laser cut time estimate, pierce time laser cutting, laser parts per hour, laser cutting cycle time, fiber laser cutting speed estimate, laser run time per sheet

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