Channel, Angle and I-Beam Laser Cutting
The same 5-axis laser that cuts H-beams also cuts C and U channels up to 1,000 mm, angles up to 800 mm leg length and I-beams, 12 m long. Notches, copes, holes in every leg and flange, miters and part marks are cut in one setup, and the last part is cut to the end of the bar with no offcut.
At a glance
- Channels and I-beams up to 1,000 mm high: every UPN, C and PFC size.
- Angles up to 800 mm leg (1,000 mm on request); most orders are under 300 mm.
- Holes and slots in both legs or flanges, notches, miters and marks from one program.
- Tapered flanges are measured and followed by the 5-axis head.
- No chuck, so no 100–300 mm tail on each bar.
On this page
Channel laser cutting
Channels are used for frames, purlins, stair stringers, racking uprights and vehicle chassis rails. Almost every part needs something more than a square cut: a notch so one channel sits inside another, a mitered corner for a frame, holes in the web for bolting and holes in the flanges for brackets.
On the laser all of it comes from one program. The channel lies on the bed with the web flat or on edge, the machine measures where the section really is, and the head cuts:
- Notches and copes in the flanges, so channels nest into each other or into an H-beam.
- Miters and angled ends for frames, with the bevel for the weld if it is needed.
- Bolt holes and slots in the web and both flanges, including the toe of the flange where drilling is awkward.
- Part numbers and fit-up lines marked on the steel.
For C-channel work this replaces sawing, layout, drilling and grinding with one operation. Older pages on steel channel cutting cover lighter channel on a tube laser; this page is about structural sizes on the beam machine.
Angle laser cutting
Angles carry most of the bolting in transmission towers, bracing, crane booms and steel frames, so the hole pattern is the main job. The laser cuts holes and slots in both legs without turning the bar, plus the clipped corners, notches and cut-to-length ends that tower and frame drawings call for.
The standard machine takes equal and unequal angles up to 800 mm leg length, and 1,000 mm can be built to order. In practice most angle orders are under 300 mm, which the machine handles with room to spare. For plasma and laser on lighter angle iron, see cutting angle iron with plasma or laser.
I-beam cutting
IPE beams in Europe and S-beams in the US are cut exactly like H-beams: cope, weld access hole, bevel, holes and marks in one setup. S-beams and older IPN sections have tapered flanges. The machine probes the real flange position before cutting and the TCP head keeps the cut square to the surface, so the taper does not need special handling. The process is described step by step in weld access holes and beam coping.
If you are comparing laser with plasma for I-beams, why use CNC plasma for I-beams sets out the plasma side; the comparison table on the machine page puts laser, plasma and a saw-drill line side by side.
Section range
| Section | Largest standard size | Fits the machine |
|---|---|---|
| UPN channel (EU) | UPN 400, 400 mm high | Yes, all sizes |
| C-channel (US) | C15, 381 mm high | Yes, all sizes |
| PFC channel (UK) | 430 × 100 mm | Yes, all sizes |
| IPE beam (EU) | IPE 600, 600 mm high (IPE 750 also fits) | Yes, all sizes |
| S-beam (US) | S24, about 610 mm high | Yes, all sizes |
| Angles | leg length | Up to 800 mm standard, 1,000 mm on request |
| Welded or special channels | — | Up to 1,000 mm high |
Dimensions and weights of every UPN, IPE and HE size are in the steel beam size chart, and the lookup box there checks a size against the machine in one step.
Laser compared with punching, drilling and sawing
| Laser | Angle / channel punching line | Saw and drill line | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hole shapes | Any: round, slotted, square, custom | Limited to the punch tools fitted | Round only |
| Notches and copes | Yes, any profile | Simple notches with a notching unit | Needs a separate coper |
| Miters and bevels | Yes, up to ±45° | No | Miter saw only, no weld bevel |
| Changeover between parts | Program only | Tool changes | Drill changes |
| Best suited to | Mixed parts, frames, structures | High volumes of simple tower angles | Plain beams with round holes |
Questions
Can one machine cut channels, angles and I-beams?
Yes. The PCL H-beam laser takes H-beams, I-beams and channels up to 1,000 mm high and angles up to 800 mm leg length on the same bed, 12 m long. Only the part program and the section data change between them.
What is the largest channel the machine can cut?
Channels up to 1,000 mm high. That covers every UPN size (the largest is UPN 400), every American C-channel and every UK parallel flange channel, with plenty of margin.
What is the largest angle?
Angles up to 800 mm leg length as standard, and up to 1,000 mm on request. Most angle work we see is under 300 mm, for towers, frames and bracing.
Can the laser replace an angle punching and drilling line?
For mixed work, often yes: the laser cuts round and slotted holes in both legs, notches, miters and part marks from one program, with no punch tooling to change. A dedicated punching line is still faster for very high volumes of one simple hole pattern.
Do tapered flanges on channels and I-beams cause problems?
No. The machine measures the real position of the section before cutting, and the 5-axis head follows the flange, so tapered-flange channels and S-beams are cut the same way as parallel-flange sections.
How thick can the laser cut channel and angle legs?
Up to 40 mm in carbon steel on the 20 kW configuration. Channel and angle legs are almost always well under that. 12 kW and 30 kW configurations are also available.
Send your channel or angle drawing
Machine specifications, power options and project videos: H-beam laser cutting machine.
