Newbie- How much laser power for 1mm cutting

[rbocaz]

I wonder how much laser power I need for cutting 1 mm of stainless steel.

Thanks

[Rodney Gold]

You will need 500w to 1kw+
Its not the thickkness , its the ability of he laser to focus enough energy on a small enough spot size to thermally shock the SS enough for it to vaporise as the beam hits it and considering spot sizes cant be made infinitely small , you need high power.

[Melody-gweike]

YAG-500 can do that, or plasma machine or CNC router. Cutting SS is too difficult work for laser cutter with Co2 tubes.