Laser Cutting · Thickness & Tolerances · Miami Gardens, FL

Laser Cutting Thickness, Gauge & Tolerances

What thickness can MJM laser cut, and what tolerances do we hold? Material capacity by gauge and inch, plus process tolerances across cutting, forming, machining and inspection — a working reference for engineers and buyers specifying sheet metal parts.

Steel to 1″|Stainless & Aluminum to 5/8″|Copper & Brass to 3/8″|±0.005″ Laser Tolerance|AS9100 · ITAR

Section 01

Maximum Laser Cutting Thickness by Material

MJM Manufacturing’s five Amada laser systems cut a wide range of material thicknesses — from thin 16, 14, and 11 gauge sheet up to 1″ thick mild steel plate. Our laser department is anchored by the Amada Ventis 3015AJ (4kW) with Locus Beam Control (performing equivalent to a traditional 6kW fiber laser), backed by three Amada Ensis 3015AJ (3kW) fiber lasers with variable beam technology, plus an Amada LC2415 A III CO2 laser. All systems run on a 5′ × 10′ bed and hold ±0.005″ cutting tolerance under our AS9100 and ISO 9001 certified quality system.

Material	Max Thickness	Notes
Mild Steel / Hot Rolled Steel	Up to 1.000″ (25 mm)	Includes thick plate cutting
Stainless Steel (304, 316)	Up to 0.625″ (5/8″)	Nitrogen assist for oxide-free edges
Aluminum (5052, 6061, 3003)	Up to 0.625″ (5/8″)	Nitrogen assist for clean edges
Copper	Up to 0.375″ (3/8″)	Fiber laser handles reflective copper
Brass	Up to 0.375″ (3/8″)	Nitrogen assist gas
Galvanized Steel	Per gauge availability	Common gauges through heavy sheet
Titanium	Contact engineering	Cut with appropriate assist gas
Beryllium Copper	Contact engineering	Specialty alloy fabrication

Section 02

Sheet Metal Gauge to Decimal Thickness Chart

Engineers and buyers often specify sheet by gauge. This chart converts common gauges to decimal inches for the materials MJM laser cuts. Gauge thickness differs between steel and aluminum — both are shown.

Gauge	Steel (in)	Aluminum (in)	MJM Laser Cuts
22 ga	0.0299″	0.0253″	Yes
18 ga	0.0478″	0.0403″	Yes
16 ga	0.0598″	0.0508″	Yes
14 ga	0.0747″	0.0641″	Yes
12 ga	0.1046″	0.0808″	Yes
11 ga	0.1196″	0.0907″	Yes
10 ga	0.1345″	0.1019″	Yes
7 ga	0.1793″	0.1443″	Yes
1/4″ Plate	0.250″	0.250″	Yes — steel, stainless, aluminum
3/8″ Plate	0.375″	0.375″	Yes — all common materials
1/2″ Plate	0.500″	0.500″	Yes — steel & stainless
5/8″ Plate	0.625″	0.625″	Max for stainless & aluminum
3/4″ – 1″ Plate	0.750″ – 1.000″	—	Mild / hot rolled steel only

Need a gauge that isn’t on this chart, or stainless and galvanized conversions? Our interactive gauge converter runs 7 through 26 gauge in steel, stainless, aluminum and galvanized, in inches and millimeters — alongside live calculators for bend deduction, flat pattern length, minimum bend radius and material weight.

Section 03

Cutting Capacity by Thickness Range

Thin Gauge Laser Cutting (22 ga – 11 ga)

For thin sheet — 22, 18, 16, 14, and 11 gauge — MJM’s Amada Ensis fiber lasers with variable beam technology produce clean, burr-free edges with minimal heat-affected zone. Thin gauge cutting is the most common request for enclosures, panels, brackets, and electronics chassis. Our nitrogen assist gas (supplied by three CSD 75T Sigma nitrogen generators) delivers oxide-free, dross-free edges on thin stainless steel and aluminum — important for parts that will be welded, anodized, or left as visible finished surfaces.

Medium Plate Laser Cutting (1/4″ – 1/2″)

For 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ plate, the Amada Ventis 4kW (performing like a 6kW with Locus Beam Control) delivers fast, accurate cuts on carbon steel, stainless, and aluminum. This range covers structural brackets, base plates, mounting hardware, and heavy-duty enclosure components.

Thick Plate Laser Cutting (5/8″ – 1″)

MJM cuts mild and hot rolled steel up to a full 1″ (25 mm) thick, and stainless steel and aluminum up to 5/8″ (0.625″) — a heavier capacity than many job shops offer. Thick plate laser cutting suits structural components, heavy brackets, base plates, machine bases, and weldment components. For thick stainless and aluminum we use nitrogen assist for clean edges; thick mild steel is cut with the optimal assist gas for the thickness. If your part exceeds these thicknesses, contact engineering — we can advise on alternatives including waterjet or plasma sourcing partners.

Section 04

Sheet Metal Fabrication Tolerances by Process

Thickness is only half the specification — tolerance is the other half. A part travels through several processes at MJM, and each one carries its own achievable tolerance. The table below lists the typical tolerances we hold by process. Tighter tolerances are achievable on specific features with secondary operations; we confirm critical dimensions at quote time and verify them on our Amada Fabri-Vision optical inspection and Keyence CMM before parts ship.

Process / Feature	Typical Tolerance	Notes
Laser Cutting (profile)	±0.005″	Fiber laser, thin to medium gauge
Laser-Cut Hole Diameter	±0.005″	Ream or machine for tighter fits
Hole / Feature Location	±0.005″ – ±0.010″	Tighter within a single setup
CNC Turret Punch	±0.005″	Punched holes, louvers, forms
Forming — Bend Angle	±0.5°	Air bend; tighter via coining
Forming — Flange / Leg Length	±0.010″	Per bend; stacks across multiple bends
Min Inside Bend Radius	1× material thickness	Prevents cracking on outside radius
CNC Machining (Mazak)	±0.001″ – ±0.005″	For machined features & tight fits
Welded Assemblies	Per AWS; distortion controlled	Fixtured to hold overall dimensions
Hardware Insertion (PEM)	±0.005″ location	Self-clinching studs, nuts, standoffs
Overall Part Envelope	Per drawing / customer spec	Verified on CMM & optical inspection

Values shown are typical achievable tolerances and vary with material, thickness, part geometry, and feature location. Tolerances can stack across multiple bends and operations. Send your drawing with critical dimensions called out and our engineering team will confirm what we can hold before you commit the job.

Section 05

Press Brake Forming Capacity by Thickness

Engineers specifying cut thickness usually need to form it too. MJM’s nine Amada press brakes — anchored by the HRB 2204 (240-ton, 14-foot), with six RG 80 (80-ton CNC) and two EG 4010 (servo-electric) machines — form a wide range of thicknesses and lengths. All use offline CNC programming with 3D bend simulation and springback compensation. See our full precision forming capabilities.

Capability	Spec	Notes
Max Bending Length	14 feet	Amada HRB 2204 — long panels & enclosures
Max Tonnage	240 tons	Heavy plate forming capacity
Bend Angle Tolerance	±0.5°	Standard air bend; tighter via coining
Min Inside Bend Radius	1× material thickness	Prevents cracking on outside radius
Springback	Compensated in programming	CNC offline programming with 3D simulation

Note: bending max material thickness varies with part length and material. Contact our engineering team to confirm formability for heavy-gauge or full-length parts.

Section 06

Laser Cutting Equipment

Amada Ventis 3015AJ (4kW)

Locus Beam Control; performs equivalent to a traditional 6kW fiber laser. 5′ × 10′ bed.

Amada Ensis 3015AJ (3kW) ×3

Variable beam technology optimized for thin-to-thick cutting; production capacity across three systems. 5′ × 10′ beds.

Amada LC2415 A III

CO2 laser for specific material and application requirements. 5′ × 10′ bed.

3× CSD 75T Sigma Nitrogen Generators

Clean nitrogen assist gas for oxide-free, dross-free edges on stainless and aluminum.

See the full equipment list and our main laser cutting services page.

FAQ

Thickness & Tolerance FAQ

What is the thickest steel MJM can laser cut?

MJM Manufacturing laser cuts mild and hot rolled steel up to 1″ (25 mm) thick. Stainless steel and aluminum are cut up to 5/8″ (0.625″), and copper and brass up to 3/8″ (0.375″).

What tolerance does MJM hold on laser cutting?

Laser-cut profiles are typically held to ±0.005″. Forming holds ±0.5° on bend angle and ±0.010″ on flange length, and machined features can hold tighter. Critical dimensions are confirmed at quote time and verified on CMM and optical inspection before shipping.

Can MJM laser cut 16 gauge steel?

Yes. 16 gauge steel (0.0598″) is a common thin-gauge thickness MJM cuts daily on our Amada fiber lasers with clean, burr-free edges.

Can MJM laser cut 1/2 inch steel?

Yes. MJM cuts 1/2″ (0.500″) steel and stainless steel. Mild steel can be cut up to a full 1″ thick.

What bend tolerance can MJM hold?

Standard air-bend tolerance is ±0.5° on angle and ±0.010″ on flange length, with tighter angles achievable via coining. All forming uses offline CNC programming with 3D bend simulation and springback compensation. Note that tolerances can stack across multiple bends.

What gauge sheet metal does MJM laser cut?

MJM cuts the full range of common sheet gauges — from thin 22 and 18 gauge through 16, 14, 12, 11, 10, and 7 gauge, and up into plate thicknesses of 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″, and (in mild steel) up to 1″. To convert any gauge to decimal inches or millimeters, use our gauge converter.

What if my part is thicker than 1 inch?

Contact our engineering team at sales@mjmmfg.com. For material thicker than our laser capacity, we can advise on alternative processes or trusted sourcing partners.

How do I get a quote by thickness and tolerance?

Email your drawings to sales@mjmmfg.com with material, thickness or gauge, quantity, and any critical tolerances called out, or call (305) 620-2020. Our engineering team responds within 24 to 48 hours.