Tube laser cutting cuts round, square and rectangular tube, pipe and open profiles to length, with holes, slots and shaped ends done in one pass. It replaces sawing, drilling and grinding, so parts fit together accurately for welding. LaserEngraver.co.za is a free quote referral service: you fill in one form with your drawings and quantities, and we pass it to independent engineering works and laser tube cutting shops, who quote you directly. We do not cut, bend or sell anything ourselves, and there is no fee or obligation.
What laser tube cutting is used for
- Furniture frames for tables, chairs, shelving and shop fittings
- Balustrades and handrails with slotted posts and accurate angle cuts
- Brackets, racks and trailer parts in square and rectangular tube
- Gym equipment and gates with tab-and-slot joints that self-locate for welding
- Pipe laser cutting for handrails, conveyor rollers and fish-mouth joints on round pipe
For flat parts in the same project, add metal laser cutting of sheet and plate, and for decorative infills see laser cut screens.
Materials, sizes and machines
A fiber laser tube cutter handles mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium, and some machines take brass and copper. Typical capacity is round tube from about 15 to 220 mm diameter and square tube from about 15 x 15 to 150 x 150 mm, with wall thickness up to around 8 mm in mild steel. Standard stock comes in six metre lengths, so shops nest parts along each length to reduce waste. Angle, channel and some open profiles can be cut on larger machines. Ask the shop for its maximum size and wall thickness before sending drawings. Buyers can read about laser cutting machines.
Laser cutting and bending, prices and lead times
Many engineering works offer laser cutting and bending, plus welding, galvanising and powder coating, so one supplier can deliver finished frames. Pricing depends on the material and wall thickness, the length of cut, the number of features and the quantity. As a guide in 2026, cutting simple parts costs about R15 to R80 per part in volume plus material, with programming or set-up of R350 to R1,200. Lead times are usually three to ten working days, depending on stock and finishing. Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban have the most tube lasers.
Drawings and what to send
The best files are 3D models (STEP or IGES), which most tube software can unfold directly. 2D drawings in DXF or PDF work if they show every view, hole position and end cut. State the tube size and wall thickness, the grade (for example 304 stainless or mild steel), the finished length and the quantity, and say whether the shop should supply the material. Ask whether parts can be marked with part numbers to make assembly easier; small marks can also be done by laser marking.
What to include in your request
- Give tube size and wall thickness
- State the material grade
- Send STEP, DXF or PDF drawings
- Give quantities and finished lengths
- Say if bending or welding is needed
Tube Laser Cutting for different customers
- Gifts and keepsakes: a steel table frame or bench base cut and welded for a home project
- Weddings and events: steel frames for display stands, arches and backdrops at venues and expos
- Schools, clubs and churches: frames for benches, goal posts and gym equipment for schools and sports clubs
- Businesses and brands: furniture frames and reception fittings for offices, cut to an interior design
- Shops, restaurants and venues: shop fittings, clothing rails and shelving frames in square tube
- Factories, engineering and mines: brackets, racks, conveyors and machine frames cut accurately in batches
- Makers and resellers: furniture makers outsourcing frame parts with tab-and-slot joints
- Farms and agri businesses: gates, cattle handling rails and trailer parts cut from tube and pipe
Frequently asked questions
Does LaserEngraver.co.za cut tube itself?
Is tube laser cutting cheaper than sawing and drilling?
Can I supply my own tube?
What file format do shops prefer?
Tube Laser Cutting by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg