Laser Cut Cycle Time Calculator from Perimeter and Pierce Count
Most laser quotes are won or lost on cycle time, and cycle time is more than perimeter divided by cutting speed. This calculator adds pierce time, laser-off traverse and sheet load time so the number matches what the machine actually runs.
Your numbers
Outer profile plus every hole and slot, from the CAD flat pattern.
One per closed contour, plus extra for micro-joints or common-line cuts.
From your machine technology table for this material, thickness and gas.
Acceleration limits mean the head rarely holds the rated speed. 80 to 90 percent is common for mixed geometry.
Rises sharply with thickness, especially oxygen on thick plate.
Distance moved between contours with the laser off.
Well below the datasheet maximum once acceleration on short moves is counted.
Per sheet, including sorting parts when not automated.
Depreciation, power, maintenance, operator and overhead.
Nitrogen often runs 15 to 40 dollars per hour at cutting pressure; oxygen far less.
Your results
Estimate for quoting. Real cycle time depends on nesting, lead-in strategy, head height and machine dynamics. Calibrate the derate against your own CNC run times.
Seconds per part by pierce count
Sweeps Pierces per part from 1 to 80, holding your other inputs fixed.
Link estimating times to your ERP
An optional review of how routing times and quote data are stored in your ERP, and where they could feed estimating automatically.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use the calculator
Pull total cut length and the contour count from the CAD flat pattern or the nesting software report. Take cutting speed and pierce time from your machine technology table for the material, thickness and gas you will use. Set the derate to reflect how much of the part is small holes and tight corners; a plain rectangle with a few large holes can sit near 95 percent, while a perforated or lace-pattern part can fall below 60. Enter your machine rate and gas cost per hour, and the tool returns cycle time, parts per hour and cost per part.
- Use the same units your CAM reports, inches and inches per minute here.
- Count each hole, slot and the outer profile as a pierce.
- Switch the machine rate to a loaded figure that includes the operator.
- Use the chart to see how pierce count moves the time split.
The formula behind it
Part time is the sum of four terms. Cutting time equals cut length divided by the effective speed, which is rated speed times the derate. Pierce time is pierces times seconds per pierce. Traverse time is rapid distance divided by effective rapid speed, plus a fixed lift, lower and settle time per pierce. Load time is sheet load minutes divided by parts per sheet. Cost is total hours multiplied by machine rate plus assist gas. All of this is standard time-study arithmetic, not a proprietary model, so you can reproduce it in a spreadsheet and check it against actual run logs.
Worked example and how to read it
With the defaults, 96 inches at 180 ipm and an 85 percent derate gives about 37.6 seconds of cutting. Fourteen pierces at 0.6 seconds add 8.4 seconds, traverse adds about 10 seconds, and load time adds 5 seconds, for roughly 61 seconds per part. At 162 dollars per hour that is about 2.75 dollars of laser cost. The chart shows that at 80 pierces the pierce and traverse terms can overtake cutting time, which is why perforated parts quote higher than their perimeter suggests.
Common mistakes
The most frequent error is using the datasheet maximum speed for every feature. Another is forgetting that thick oxygen pierces can take several seconds each. Estimators also leave out load and sort time, which can be the largest term on small parts, and forget that common-line cutting cuts both pierce count and perimeter at once.
- Do not quote from maximum rapid speed; use the effective figure.
- Check the derate against actual machine logs every quarter.
- Add secondary costs such as deburring and part marking separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What derate should I use for laser cutting speed?
Start at 85 percent for mixed geometry. Large simple profiles can reach 95 percent, while small holes, tight radii and lace patterns may fall below 60 percent. Compare quoted time with CNC run time on five recent jobs and adjust until they agree within about 10 percent.
Does this include nesting and material cost?
No. It covers machine time and gas only. Use the nest utilization and sheet cost calculator in this set for material, and the quote builder worksheet to combine laser, bending, finishing and material into a price.
How do I get cut length and pierce count?
Most CAD and nesting packages report total cut length and contour count per part or per nest. If not, measure the flat pattern perimeter plus all internal cut lengths and count closed contours. Common-line nests reduce both numbers.
Is oxygen or nitrogen cheaper on thin material?
Nitrogen cuts stainless and aluminum with a clean edge and allows high speed, but gas cost can be several times higher than oxygen. On mild steel thin gauge, nitrogen can win on speed. Run both through the calculator with realistic gas cost per hour.
Netray can connect this kind of cycle time logic to your ERP routings so quotes use your own historical run times. If that is useful, ask for a review of how your estimating data is held today.
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