Air Compressor for Laser Cutting: 16 Bar Screw Compressors
Fibre laser cutting machines that cut with compressed air need about 16 bar at the machine, steady flow and clean, dry air. Karan Micro Industries builds 16 bar rotary screw compressors in Ahmedabad: the KCS-20 and KCS-30 deliver 50 and 83 CFM, supplied with refrigerated dryers, line filters and air receivers.
What air does a fibre laser need?
Fibre lasers that cut with compressed air instead of nitrogen use the air as the assist gas, so it has to arrive at high pressure, in steady volume and free of water and oil, or the lens and the cut edge suffer.
| What the laser needs | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Pressure at the machine | About 16 bar, continuous |
| Air flow | About 1.3 m³/min (46 CFM) up to 4 kW; up to 10.2 m³/min (360 CFM) at 80 kW |
| Reserve on top of the laser's flow | 15–25% |
| Drying | Refrigerated (+2 to +10 °C dew point) up to about 8 kW; desiccant (−20 to −40 °C) from 10 kW |
| Filtration | Several stages, down to 0.01 µm and 0.003 ppm oil |
Karan 16 bar screw compressors
Karan Micro Industries builds rotary screw compressors rated to 16 bar in Ahmedabad. The table lists two sizes; ask for other 16 bar sizes with your enquiry.
| Model | HP | Motor kW | Pressure | Air delivery | ≈ m³/min | Noise | Air outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCS-20 | 20 | 15 | 16 bar (232 PSIG) | 50 CFM | 1.42 | 62 ±2 dB | 3/4" |
| KCS-30 | 30 | 22 | 16 bar (232 PSIG) | 83 CFM | 2.35 | 65 ±2 dB | 1" |
The complete laser air package
- Compressor: a KCS screw sized to your laser's flow plus 15–25% reserve.
- Dryer: a KAD refrigerated dryer, rated to 16 bar, at about +3 °C pressure dew point, for lasers up to about 8 kW.
- Filters: coalescing and activated-carbon line filters after the dryer.
- Receiver: an air receiver fabricated in Karan's own works, close to the laser.
Lasers of 10 kW and above need a desiccant dryer at −20 to −40 °C. Karan supplies refrigerated dryers only, so for these lasers the desiccant dryer must come from a specialist supplier.
How to size it
- Take the air flow and pressure from your laser maker's manual (or the figures above).
- Add 15–25% reserve.
- Enter the total in the size calculator with 15 bar as the machine pressure: it picks the 16 bar model.
- Send the laser model and power with your enquiry; Karan confirms the selection in the quote.
Get a 16 bar laser air quote
Send the laser model and power (kW), the air specification from its manual, daily running hours and your city. Reply with a recommended model and quote within 24 hours on business days.
Request a quoteFrequently Asked Questions
Straight answers from our engineers, last reviewed October 2026. Click a question to see the answer.
Ask our engineers01Which compressor do I need for a fibre laser cutting machine?
A screw compressor that holds about 16 bar at the machine, with a refrigerated dryer and fine filters for lasers up to about 8 kW (GWK laser buying guide). Karan Micro Industries' KCS-20 and KCS-30 deliver 50 and 83 CFM at 16 bar; size to your laser maker's air specification plus 15–25% reserve.
02Can I use my 6–8 bar factory air for laser cutting?
Not for cutting with air: fibre lasers need about 16 bar continuous at the machine (GWK laser buying guide), so standard 7–8 bar plant air is too low. Use a dedicated 16 bar compressor such as Karan Micro Industries' KCS-20 or KCS-30, with its own dryer and filters close to the laser.
03Does a 10 kW laser need a desiccant dryer?
Usually yes: refrigerated drying (+2 to +10 °C dew point) suits lasers up to about 8 kW, while 10 kW and above need a desiccant dryer at −20 to −40 °C (GWK laser buying guide). Karan Micro Industries supplies refrigerated dryers only, so for 10 kW and above the desiccant dryer must come from a specialist supplier.
04How much air does a laser cutting machine use?
The GWK laser buying guide puts it at about 1.3 m³/min (46 CFM) for lasers up to 4 kW, rising to 10.2 m³/min (360 CFM) at 80 kW, plus a 15–25% reserve. Your laser maker's manual gives the exact figure; send it with your enquiry and Karan Micro Industries sizes the compressor to it.
05How fast can Karan deliver a 16 bar screw compressor?
Karan Micro Industries usually delivers screw compressors in 10–14 days, though some orders take longer; the date is confirmed in the quote. It builds the compressors and their air receivers at its own works in Ahmedabad and supplies anywhere in India.