When selecting a laser cutter for steel plates, the most common factors considered are the laser source power, the working area, cutting accuracy, and the potential for automation. However, the type of cutting table is equally important—it determines how steel plates are loaded and unloaded, access to the cut parts, and the actual productivity of the entire process.
Various cutting tables are used in laser cutting machines for steel plates. The most important ones include: a fixed cutting table, a sliding cutting table, and shuttle tables—each is suitable for a different production model.
Fixed Table — Large Work Surface and Flexible Work Organization
The stationary table remains in the same position at all times. For large machines, such as the STIGAL FIBER Master HD, it can be anchored to the floor, providing a stable base for large work areas and heavy steel plates.
The biggest advantage of a fixed table is the flexible use of the work surface. You can place several plates of steel on a single table at the same time or designate separate zones for different materials, thicknesses, or jobs—the machine can be organized for a specific process, not just for a single plate. In practice, one section of the table can be used for loading, while unloading of finished parts takes place on the other side.
A fixed table works well for cutting large steel plates and in facilities that require a custom layout of the workspace.
Advantages of a fixed table:
- the ability to anchor it to the ground,
- very good stability with large work areas,
- the ability to place several steel plates on a single table,
- the ability to designate separate zones for different materials or orders,
- flexible loading and unloading arrangements,
- a good solution for large-scale production.
Shuttle Tables — High Productivity and Reduced Downtime
Shuttle tables are a solution for production environments where high productivity and optimal utilization of laser operating time are essential. This technology is used, for example, in the STIGAL FIBER Master DT cutting machine, which is equipped with two cutting tables—one is located in the cutting zone, while the other remains outside the machine at the same time.
While laser cutting is in progress on the first table, the operator can remove the finished parts from the second table, clear away scrap, and prepare the next plate of steel. Once the program is complete, the tables switch places—the prepared material enters the cutting zone, and the table with the cut parts exits. Material handling thus takes place simultaneously with cutting, which significantly reduces downtime.
It is important to remember that a machine with shuttle tables is about as long as two cutting tables combined—so it requires more space than a single-table solution, but in return it ensures a much smoother process.
Advantages of shuttle tables:
- the ability to cut and perform loading for the next sheet at the same time,
- the ability to perform unloading of finished parts while the machine is running,
- a significant reduction in downtime,
- very efficient use of laser operating time,
- high productivity,
- a good solution for mass production and multi-shift operations,
- the ability to further integrate with loading and unloading automation.
Rolling table — convenient access to parts after cutting is complete
The outfeed table, used in machines such as the STIGAL FIBER Master ST, extends beyond the machine’s work area once the cutting process is complete. The operator then has easy access to the entire table surface—they can conveniently remove the cut parts, clear away scrap, and prepare the next plate of steel.
This solution improves workplace ergonomics, as parts are unloaded and material is loaded outside the enclosed cutting zone—similar to machines with an enclosed operator safety enclosure, where the operator does not have to work inside the machine.
However, the outfeed table is a single cutting table—once cutting is complete, it must move out; the operator performs unloading and loading of the material, and then the table moves back into the machine. Only then can the next program begin, so it is not possible to cut and prepare the next sheet simultaneously, as is the case with shuttle tables.
Advantages of a portable table:
- easy access to the cut pieces,
- convenient unloading of parts and scrap,
- easier loading of the next sheet,
- good ergonomics for the operator,
- the table moves out of the cutting area,
- A solution suitable for situations where maximum process continuity is not required.
Comparison of Types of Cutting Tables
| Criterion | Fixed table | Shuttle tables | Retractable table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work continuity | depends on the organization of the zones on the table | cutting and material handling in parallel | a break to replace the sheet after each cycle |
| Required space | large work area, can be anchored | about the length of two cutting tables | space in front of the machine for extending the table |
| Ergonomics of use | Good with well-planned zones | very good — operation outside the cutting zone | Very good — full access after exiting |
| Best uses | large formats, large-scale production | mass production and multi-shift operation | compact machines, moderate process continuity |
| Example of a STIGAL machine | FIBER Master HD | FIBER Master DT | FIBER Master ST |
This comparison is general in nature—the actual choice depends on the layout of the facility, the size of the sheets, and the production profile.
How do you choose the right type of cutting table for a laser cutter?
The choice of a cutting table should be based on the actual production process at the facility. A company that processes large sheets on a spacious work surface needs a different solution than a facility that primarily wants to conveniently remove parts from a compact machine. Mass production has yet other requirements, where every minute of downtime affects the unit cost of the part.
A fixed table is ideal for applications where large formats and flexible division of work zones are important. A mobile table is a good choice if your priority is easy access to workpieces and convenient operation of a single-table machine. Shuttle tables are worth considering when productivity, continuous operation, and the ability to cut and handle material simultaneously are the top priorities.
At STIGAL, the selection of a cutting table is part of a broader analysis of the process and the CNC machine’s configuration —it’s not just the CNC cutting machine itself that matters, but also the material flow, the available floor space in the shop, the operators’ work methods, and the planned productivity.
Summary — Which Cutting Table Should You Choose?
The type of cutting table in a laser cutting machine directly affects workflow organization, operator ergonomics, and productivity of the entire cutting process. A fixed table provides great flexibility for large work areas, a sliding table facilitates access to workpieces, and shuttle tables significantly reduce downtime and increase machine utilization.
The right choice should not be based solely on the table’s design, but on an analysis of the entire production process—from the type of material and sheet size to expected productivity and the potential for further automation.
Not sure which cutting table is right for your production?
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Frequently Asked Questions — Cutting Tables in Laser Cutters
Stół wyjezdny jest jednym stołem, który po zakończeniu cięcia wysuwa się poza strefę pracy maszyny. Stoły wymienne to dwa stoły robocze pracujące naprzemiennie — jeden znajduje się w strefie cięcia, a drugi na zewnątrz, gdzie można prowadzić załadunek lub rozładunek.
Stół nieruchomy warto wybrać przy dużych polach roboczych, obróbce wielkogabarytowych arkuszy oraz wtedy, gdy potrzebna jest elastyczna organizacja stref roboczych.
Tak. Stoły wymienne pozwalają przygotowywać kolejny arkusz lub rozładowywać gotowe detale podczas trwającego cięcia, dzięki czemu ograniczają przestoje maszyny.
Stół wyjezdny wymaga przestrzeni przed maszyną na czas wysunięcia stołu. W trakcie cięcia przestrzeń ta pozostaje w dużej mierze wolna, poza podporami, po których porusza się stół.
Dobór powinien uwzględniać wielkość arkuszy, rodzaj detali, oczekiwaną wydajność, dostępną powierzchnię hali oraz sposób organizacji załadunku i rozładunku materiału.
