Tube Laser Cutting Machine LT240, LT360, LT520
Round tube Ø20-520 mm, square tube to 520 mm, channel and H-beam
A CNC tube laser cutting machine for round, square and rectangular tube and open sections. Self-centring square chucks of 240, 360 or 520 mm hold the tube while a fiber laser cuts holes, slots, notches, mitres and intersections, ready for bending, welding or assembly. 1.5-6 kW on the LT240, up to 12 kW on the larger models.
- Free test cut on your tube
- 3-year machine warranty
- Installed in 80+ countries
- Factory direct since 2005
- Round tube
- Ø20-520 mm
- Square tube
- to 520 × 520 mm
- Length
- 6 / 9 / 12 m
- Laser
- 1.5-12 kW
- Repositioning
- ±0.03 mm
What is a tube laser cutting machine?
A tube laser cutting machine, also called a CNC tube laser cutter, laser tube cutter, pipe laser cutting machine, fiber laser pipe cutting machine or CNC tube fiber laser cutting machine, cuts profiles along the length of a tube instead of across a flat sheet. The chucks rotate and feed the tube while the laser head moves over it, so one program cuts the tube to length and adds every hole, slot and joint. Compared with sawing, drilling and milling tube on separate machines, laser cut tubes come off finished in one pass, with a narrow kerf, a small heat-affected zone and little or no burr on thin walls.
As a metal tube laser cutting machine it cuts carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium and galvanized tube. For cutting steel tubes and steel pipe laser cutting it replaces the saw, the drill and the template, and as a CNC tube cutting machine it repeats the same part from a stored program.
LT series models
| Model | Square chuck | Round tube | Square / rectangular tube, channel, H-beam | Laser power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT240 | 240 × 240 mm | Ø20-240 mm | 240 × 240 mm | 1.5-6 kW |
| LT360 | 360 × 360 mm | Ø20-360 mm | 360 × 360 mm | up to 12 kW, 20 kW on request |
| LT520 | 520 × 520 mm | Ø20-520 mm | 520 × 520 mm | up to 12 kW, 20 kW on request |
All models take tube 6 m, 9 m or 12 m long, with other lengths built to order.
Get the price and a free test cut
The price depends on the model, laser power and tube length. Send your largest tube, thickest wall and a drawing, and we reply with a configuration and quotation.
What it cuts
| Profile | Typical cuts |
|---|---|
| Round tube and pipe (pipe laser cutting) | Holes, slots, intersections (saddle cuts), mitres, cut-to-length |
| Square and rectangular tube | Notches for bending, slots, holes on all four faces, mitres |
| Channel | Holes in web and legs, notches, ends |
| H-beam (to chuck size) | Bolt holes, copes and ends on small sections |
| Angle | Holes in both legs, clipped ends |
For heavy structural sections over 520 mm, see the H-beam laser cutting machine; for round tube laser cutting combined with plate, the HFT laser.
Square and rectangular tube laser cutting
Most LT machines spend their day on square and rectangular tube. As a square tubing laser cutter the LT series cuts holes and slots on all four faces in one clamping, V-notches so the tube can be folded into a frame, tabs and slots for self-locating welded joints, and mitres for picture-frame corners. Rectangular tube laser cutting works the same way up to the chuck size, so a rectangle CNC tube laser job such as a 100 × 50 mm frame member is cut complete and ready for bending or welding.
Tube cutting software
Common parts are drawn from the shape library by typing in sizes. For 3D tube laser work, the part is modelled in SolidWorks, Inventor or another CAD system and imported into CypTube or FSCUT, which unfolds each face, nests parts along the bar and writes the CNC program. This is what makes a CNC laser tube cutting machine quick to change over: a new part is a new file, not a new jig.
Laser power and wall thickness
Maximum production thickness by laser power, from the laser makers’ data. Tube walls are usually well inside these limits; higher power is mainly chosen for speed on thicker walls.
| Laser power | Carbon steel | Stainless steel |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 kW | 12 mm | 5 mm |
| 2 kW | 16 mm | 6 mm |
| 3 kW | 20 mm | 8 mm |
| 4 kW | 22 mm | 10 mm |
| 6 kW | 22 mm | 14 mm |
| 12 kW | 35 mm | 25 mm |
Cutting speeds and gas settings for each thickness are in the fiber laser cutting speed chart.
Specifications
- Models
- LT240, LT360, LT520
- Square chuck
- 240, 360 or 520 mm
- Round tube
- Ø20-240 / 360 / 520 mm
- Square and rectangular tube
- up to 240, 360 or 520 mm
- Channel and H-beam
- up to the square chuck size
- Tube length
- 6 m, 9 m or 12 m, other lengths to order; 6 m bed splits in two for shipping
- Laser power
- LT240 1.5-6 kW; LT360 and LT520 up to 12 kW, 20 kW on request
- Laser source
- Raycus, IPG or Max fiber laser
- Control
- CypCut, CypTube or FSCUT tube system
- Chucks
- self-centring front and rear chucks; square standard, round optional
- Repositioning accuracy
- ±0.03 mm
- Warranty
- 3 years machine, 2 years laser source
Price: USD 12,000 - 90,000 for the machine, depending on model, laser power, tube length and options. Freight and import costs are quoted separately. What sets the price and how to compare quotations.
Built for accurate tube work
- Self-centring front and rear chucks: round and square tube are clamped on centre without changing jaws, so set-up between jobs is quick. Square chucks are standard; round chucks are available for mainly round-tube work.
- 4-axis linkage: tube rotation and the axial movement of the cutting head work together to cut intersections, saddles, slots and holes. Cuts are square to the wall; weld bevels are not cut on this series.
- Shape library, no programming: pick a standard cut, enter the tube and feature sizes and start. For complex parts, CypCut, CypTube or FSCUT imports 3D tube files and nests parts along the bar.
- Gear rack and servo drive: precision gear racks, servo motors and linear guides on both sides, with automatic rack lubrication.
- Fiber laser source: Raycus, IPG or Max, sized to your thickest wall.
- Reinforced bed frame: a stiff welded bed for stable feeding of long and heavy tube.
Tube laser cutting videos
Laser, plasma or saw for tube?
| Tube laser | Plasma tube cutter | Saw and drill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall thickness | Thin to medium; thick with high power | Medium to thick carbon steel | Any |
| Small holes and slots | Best | Limited | Drilling only, no slots |
| Stainless steel | Clean edge | Possible, rougher edge | Yes |
| Weld bevels on pipe | Not on this series | Yes, 5-axis | No |
| Parts per hour on thin tube | Highest | Medium | Low |
A longer comparison is in how to cut steel tubes with plasma or laser. For thick-wall pipe with bevels, see the 5-axis tube plasma cutting machine.
Where it is used
Furniture and fitness equipment
Round and square tube frames with slots and notches.
Agricultural and construction machinery
Frames, booms and guards from rectangular tube.
Steel structures
Tube trusses, handrails, columns and channel members.
Automotive and trailers
Chassis tubes, roll cages and racks.
Storage racks and shelving
Uprights and beams with punched-style hole patterns.
Stainless steel fabrication
Stainless steel tube laser cutting for food, medical and architectural work, with clean edges.
Which model?
| Your tube | Model |
|---|---|
| Up to Ø240 mm or 240 mm square, thin to medium walls | LT240 |
| Up to Ø360 mm or 360 mm square, small channels and H-beams | LT360 |
| Up to Ø520 mm or 520 mm square, heavy sections | LT520 |
| Long or heavy tube, zero tail waste, weld bevels, 6-30 kW | LT3 three-chuck heavy tube laser |
| High volumes of smaller tube, loaded automatically from a bundle | Automatic loading tube laser |
All tube laser models are compared on the tube laser cutting machines page.
Before you order: what to check
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Largest tube or section | Sets the chuck: 240, 360 or 520 mm |
| Thickest wall and material | Sets the laser power |
| Longest tube | 6 m, 9 m or 12 m bed, or other lengths to order |
| Volume | Manual loading, or the automatic loading model |
| Files | 3D tube files speed up programming |
Why buy from PCL
Since 2005
Factory in Jinan, China.
80+ countries
Machines installed worldwide.
3-year warranty
Machine 3 years, laser source 2 years.
Free test cut
On your tube before you order.
On-site installation
With operator training.
Remote support
By WhatsApp and video.
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H-Beam Production LineFrequently asked questions
What is a CNC tube laser cutter?
A CNC fiber laser that cuts round, square and rectangular tube and open sections such as channel and H-beam. The tube turns in the chucks while the laser head cuts holes, slots, notches, mitres and intersections, so parts come off ready for bending or welding.
What sizes do the LT models cut?
LT240: round tube Ø20-240 mm and square tube up to 240 × 240 mm. LT360: Ø20-360 mm and 360 × 360 mm. LT520: Ø20-520 mm and 520 × 520 mm. Channel and H-beam up to the same size as the square chuck.
How long can the tube be?
6 m, 9 m or 12 m beds; other lengths are built to order.
What laser power should I choose?
By the thickest wall and the material. For most tube work 1.5-6 kW is enough; thick-wall structural tube and large sections on the LT360 and LT520 use up to 12 kW, with 20 kW on request. See the thickness table on this page.
Can it cut H-beams and channel?
Yes. Open sections such as channel and H-beam are cut up to the size of the square chuck: 240, 360 or 520 mm depending on the model.
Which laser sources are used?
Raycus, IPG or Max fiber lasers, chosen with you.
Which control and nesting software does it run?
Common cuts such as intersections, slots and holes are picked from a built-in shape library and set by entering the sizes, with no programming. Complex parts are imported as 3D tube files into CypCut, CypTube or FSCUT, which nest them along the bar.
How accurate is it?
Repositioning accuracy is ±0.03 mm. Self-centring chucks hold round and square tube without changing jaws. Square chucks are standard; round chucks are an option.
Manual loading or automatic loading?
This series is loaded by hand or crane. For high volumes of smaller tube, the automatic loading tube laser feeds tubes from a bundle without an operator.
Laser or plasma for tube?
Laser for thin and medium walls, stainless steel and fine features such as small holes and slots. Plasma for thick-wall carbon steel pipe and weld bevels on large pipe.
Is the tube laser cutting machine for sale for export?
Yes. Machines are built in Jinan and shipped to more than 80 countries, with on-site installation and training by our engineers.
What is the warranty?
3 years on the machine and 2 years on the laser source, with on-site installation, training and remote support.
Can I get a test cut?
Yes. Send a drawing or 3D tube file and we cut a sample at our factory in Jinan and send you the video.
Square chucks or round chucks?
Square chucks are standard and clamp round, square and rectangular tube, channel and H-beam. If you cut mostly round tube, round chucks are available as an option.
Can the LT series cut weld bevels?
No. It is a 4-axis machine and cuts square to the wall. For bevelled pipe ends, see the 5-axis tube plasma cutter.
Do I need to write programs?
Not for common cuts. Intersections, slots and holes come from a built-in shape library: enter the sizes and start. 3D tube files are used for complex parts.
Get a quote and a test cut
Send your tube sizes, wall thickness and a drawing. We recommend the model and laser power and can cut a sample.
What happens next
- An engineer checks your sizes and parts.
- You receive the recommended configuration and a quotation.
- If you want, we cut a sample and send you the video.