Laser Pipe Cutting In Furniture Industry

In recent years, the demand for metal structural components in the furniture industry has grown rapidly. With modern home design trends leaning toward simplicity and industrial aesthetics, steel tubes — known for their high strength, clean form, and stylish appearance — have become an indispensable material in contemporary furniture manufacturing. Whether for tables, chairs, bed frames, shelves, or sofa structures, tubular components offer superior stability and design versatility.

However, as furniture designs become increasingly complex, traditional cutting methods (such as sawing, punching, or plasma cutting) have revealed numerous limitations — including slow speed, insufficient precision, severe thermal deformation, excessive burrs, and poor assembly accuracy. These issues not only affect the appearance quality of furniture but also significantly increase the cost of subsequent grinding and welding operations.

To address these challenges, more and more furniture manufacturers are turning to Laser Tube Cutting Machines. With their advantages of high precision, high speed, and non-contact processing, laser cutting systems are becoming the mainstream trend in furniture manufacturing. They can perfectly handle various tube types (round, square, or special-shaped) and complete multiple processes — such as cutting, drilling, and beveling — in a single operation, greatly improving production efficiency and quality consistency.

Main Applications of Steel Tubes in Furniture Manufacturing

Common Metal Components in Furniture

Chairs: Legs, backrest frames, and support rods (typically small-diameter round or square tubes)

Tables / Dining Tables: Legs, crossbars, and support frames (usually medium-diameter tubes)

Sofas / Sofa Frames: Internal supports and connectors (small or square tubes)

Bed Frames: Legs, beams, and guardrails (medium to large tubes)

Shelves / Racks: Columns, beams, and supports (mostly rectangular or square tubes with higher load-bearing requirements)

Cabinets / Stands: Handles, support rods, and frame structures

Handrails / Railings: Primarily round tubes, requiring smooth grip and uniform appearance

Since these parts vary in material, appearance, and load-bearing requirements, the dimensions and wall thicknesses of the tubes also differ accordingly.

Common Tube Types and Typical Size Ranges (More Accurate Classification)

Materials:

Carbon Steel (Cold/Hot Rolled): Low cost, high strength, commonly used with powder coating or paint finishes.

Stainless Steel (201 / 304 / 316): Ideal for environments requiring corrosion resistance or aesthetic appeal (outdoor or kitchen use).

Aluminum Alloy (e.g., 6061, 6063): Lightweight and corrosion-resistant, used in high-end or lightweight furniture.

Tube Shapes:

Round Tubes (most common)

Square / Rectangular Tubes (frequently used for structural and load-bearing parts)

Flat / Oval / Custom-Shaped Tubes (for decorative or specific structural designs)

Typical Outer Diameters (based on furniture applications):

Small furniture / fine details: Ø10–Ø20 mm

Chair legs / small household pieces: Ø16–Ø25 mm (very common)

Table legs / bed frames / medium load parts: Ø25–Ø38 mm

Heavy-duty / industrial-style furniture: Ø38–Ø76 mm

Large load-bearing structures / industrial racks: Ø76–Ø120 mm (less common in household furniture)

Common Square / Rectangular Tube Sizes (mm):
20×20, 25×25, 30×30, 40×40, 50×50, 60×40, 80×40, etc. — widely used in display racks, shelves, bed frames, and table frames.

Processing Requirements for Furniture Tubes

High Dimensional and Positional Accuracy: Welding holes, cutting angles, and end positions must maintain tight tolerances (±0.1–0.5 mm depending on part and process).

Clean, Burr-Free Edges: Reduces grinding and assembly work, ensuring uniform surface finishing.

High Assembly Efficiency: Holes, chamfers, and positioning features must be precise for fast assembly and production line compatibility.

Surface Treatment Compatibility: Cut and welded areas must be suitable for powder coating, electroplating, or brushed polishing without visible flaws.

Advantages of Laser Tube Cutting in Furniture Manufacturing

High Precision and Consistency

Laser tube cutting offers exceptional cutting accuracy, typically within ±0.05 mm, which is crucial for meeting tight assembly tolerances in modern furniture.
Unlike mechanical sawing or drilling, the laser beam produces clean, narrow cuts with perfectly perpendicular edges, ensuring precise fits for chair frames, table legs, and bed structures.
This precision not only guarantees product consistency across batches but also reduces manual rework and improves welding alignment — essential for structures requiring both strength and aesthetics.

High Speed and Productivity

Modern laser tube cutting machines integrate multiple functions — cutting, drilling, slotting, beveling, engraving, and even marking — into a single automated workflow.
This eliminates multiple setups and material transfers, drastically shortening production cycles.
For example, processes that once required separate cutting and drilling can now be completed in a single laser operation. As a result, manufacturers achieve higher output, shorter delivery times, and greater flexibility — even for customized furniture orders.

Flexible Adaptability to Different Tube Shapes and Structures

Furniture manufacturing involves diverse materials and profiles — round, square, rectangular, and decorative shapes.
Laser tube cutting systems can easily accommodate these variations through CNC programming.
Operators can quickly switch between tube geometries without changing mechanical tools, enabling seamless transitions between different product lines (chairs, tables, racks, bed frames, etc.).
This flexibility is especially valuable for OEM and custom furniture manufacturers who typically handle diverse, small-batch production.

Superior Edge Quality and Minimal Post-Processing

Laser cutting produces smooth, burr-free edges with minimal heat-affected zones, preventing deformation even in thin-walled tubes.
This ensures ideal surfaces for subsequent welding, polishing, or powder coating.
In the furniture industry, surface finish directly affects appearance and perceived quality, and laser cutting significantly reduces the need for grinding or deburring — saving time and labor while maintaining a premium finish.

Suitable for Large-Scale and Automated Production

Laser tube cutting machines can be seamlessly integrated with automated feeding, unloading, and sorting systems to support continuous production.
When combined with robotic arms or welding stations, they can form a fully automated production line — from cutting to welding and final assembly.
This integration not only boosts efficiency but also ensures consistent quality across mass production, aligning with the industry’s shift toward smart manufacturing and digital factories.

ZS Laser Tube Cutting Solutions for the Furniture Industry

Wide Application Range

ZS Laser tube cutting machines can process metal tubes from 20 mm to 240 mm in diameter, covering nearly all sizes used in the furniture industry.
Whether small tubes for chairs and shelves or large tubes for bed frames, display racks, and industrial-style furniture, ZS Laser machines easily meet diverse design and production needs.

Multiple Configurations Available

To suit different production scales and models, ZS Laser offers flexible equipment configurations:

Single- or Double-Chuck Designs for varying workpiece lengths and efficiency requirements.

Automatic or Semi-Automatic Feeding Systems for seamless integration with production lines and high-volume processing.

Multiple Chuck Specifications (120 mm / 170 mm / 240 mm / full-stroke chuck) for precise clamping of different tube diameters and shapes.

High Precision and Speed

Equipped with top-brand fiber lasers and high-performance cutting heads, ZS Laser machines utilize precision servo control for stable, high-speed cutting.
The unique front-moving chuck design enables “zero tailing” cutting, minimizing material waste.
While maintaining high accuracy, cutting speeds can reach tens of meters per minute, delivering efficient, high-quality performance for furniture manufacturers.

 User-Friendly Design

ZS Laser tube cutting machines balance industrial performance with operator convenience:

Smart Interface: Intuitive and easy to learn, reducing training time.

Simple Maintenance: Automatic lubrication recovery and modular maintenance design save downtime.

Higher Productivity: The “pre-loading system” allows the next tube to be prepared while the current one is being processed, ensuring seamless operation.

Safe and Reliable: Multiple safety systems ensure the protection of both operators and equipment.

Technical Support and Services

ZS Laser not only delivers high-performance machines but also creates long-term value for customers through:

Free Sample Cutting Tests to evaluate performance;

Professional Process Consulting for optimal cutting parameters based on furniture structure;

Comprehensive After-Sales Support, including installation training, remote technical guidance, and fast-response service to ensure stable operation.

Case Study: Steel Tube Cutting for Furniture Structures

Customer Background

A well-known domestic furniture manufacturer specializing in metal furniture frames — including tables, chairs, sofa supports, bed frames, and storage racks — exporting to multiple countries and regions.
As demand increased, the company faced challenges with traditional cutting methods: low precision, low efficiency, and high labor costs.
Frequent tooling changes and manual adjustments during mixed-size tube production became major bottlenecks.

Customer Requirements

Batch cutting of multiple tube sizes (square and round)

Fast cutting speed and high dimensional accuracy

Consistent fit at welding joints for structural strength and visual appeal

Rapid switching between different tube specifications to maintain production continuity

ZS Laser Solution

ZS Laser provided a fully automated laser tube cutting system, featuring:

Customized automatic loading/unloading platform + dual-chuck laser cutting machine for unmanned continuous processing

Smart control with multi-size cutting programs for easy switching between tube types

High-precision system with top-brand fiber lasers and servo controls ensuring accuracy and consistency

Process optimization for pre-drilled screw holes to improve assembly precision and efficiency

Project Results

Cutting precision improved by 30%: Smooth, accurate cuts with minimal deviation

Production efficiency increased by 60%: Multi-size auto-switching reduced downtime and manual work

Positive customer feedback: Stable machine performance, cutting quality suitable for high-end furniture assembly, and significant overall line efficiency improvement

Conclusion & Call to Action

Laser tube cutting technology is driving the furniture manufacturing industry’s transformation toward smart and automated production.
With its unmatched precision, efficiency, and flexibility, the Laser Tube Cutting Machine has become an essential tool for producing metal furniture structures.

For furniture manufacturers seeking higher productivity, consistent quality, and innovative designs, laser tube cutting is not just a tool for competitiveness — it is a key step toward intelligent manufacturing.

ZS Laser brings extensive industry experience and strong customization capabilities, offering complete tube cutting solutions for diameters from 20 mm to 240 mm.

Whether for mass production, special-shaped tubes, or automated feeding systems, we deliver efficient, stable, and intelligent solutions tailored to your needs.

Contact us today to receive:

Free sample cutting tests

One-on-one customized consultation

Make your furniture production faster, more precise, and smarter with ZS Laser.