What is AR500 Steel?
AR500 is a high-strength, abrasion-resistant steel alloy known for its extreme durability and hardness. Rated between 460 and 544 on the Brinell Hardness Scale, this steel is designed to withstand severe wear and impact conditions. You’ll often find AR500 used in applications like mining equipment, armor plating, and heavy machinery—anywhere toughness and longevity are required.
Cutting Abrasion-Resistant Steel
Because of its hardness, AR500 isn’t something you can cut with just any tool. Specialized equipment is required to make clean, precise cuts without compromising the steel’s structural integrity. Here are a few common methods:
Fiber Laser Cutting
Best for: High-precision cuts for AR500, commonly up to 0.500” thick
How it works: A focused beam of high-intensity light cuts through the metal. Oxygen or nitrogen blows the molten metal away, protecting the lens and giving a cleaner cut.
Plasma Cutting
Best for: Quick, rough cuts in medium-thick AR500 plates
How it works: Superheated gas (plasma) melts through the material to make cuts. It is a fast cut but not the most precise method—ideal for non-critical cuts.
Waterjet Cutting
Best for: Cold cutting with no thermal distortion
How it works: A high-pressure stream of water mixed with abrasive particles cuts through the steel. Perfect when you need to cut without a heat-affected zone.
Why Use a Fiber Laser to Cut AR500?
When precision, speed, and material strength matter, fiber laser cutting stands out as the best option for AR500 steel. Here’s why:
Precision Cutting
Fiber lasers produce extremely narrow beams and hold tight tolerances, making them ideal for detailed shapes, small holes, and complex shapes. If your part requires accuracy, a fiber laser is the way to go.
High Cutting Speed
Fiber lasers can cut much faster than CO2 lasers, waterjets, and even plasma when dealing with thinner material. Faster pierce times and reduced job completion times make fiber lasers perfect for production runs.
Minimal Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ)
One of the key challenges of cutting AR500 is avoiding heat distortion. Fiber lasers generate a smaller HAZ than other cutting methods, preserving the steel’s hardness and minimizing the risk of warping or micro-cracking.
Industry Applications For AR500 Laser Cutting
Laser-cut AR500 is used across many demanding industries, including:
- Defense and Security – Armor plating, ballistic panels
- Mining and Construction – Wear plates, loader buckets, chute liners
- Agriculture – Harrow disks, tillage tools
- Manufacturing – Heavy-duty machine parts
- Target Shooting – Reactive targets and backstops
Laser-Cut AR500 Targets – Made In-House For Angry Hornet Targets
We use the same high-precision fiber laser cutting process to manufacture AR500 steel targets for our sister company, Angry Hornet, a steel target retailer.
Every target from gongs to torsos is cut in-house from AR500 steel. Our fiber laser produces clean edges, tight tolerances, and consistent part quality.
- Minimal HAZ: Maintaining the steel’s strength and hardness
- Clean, accurate cuts: Make targets safe and easy to handle
- Repeatable quality: Giving you the same target every time
From start to finish, we control the entire process. That means increased durability, better performance, and fast turnaround times—even on custom shapes.
Key Considerations When Cutting AR500 with a Laser
Before cutting, here are a few factors to keep in mind:
Material Thickness
Fiber lasers work best on thinner AR500 plates—typically 1/2″ or less. For thicker plates, waterjet may be more effective.
Part Geometry
Tight contours, holes, and fine features benefit most from laser precision. If your part has intricate cuts, a fiber laser is likely the best choice.
Edge Quality
Need a clean, burr-free edge? Fiber laser cuts leave smooth finishes that often require little to no post-processing.
Heat Sensitivity
Because AR500 is heat-treated for hardness, too much heat can weaken it. Fiber lasers minimize this risk with a smaller HAZ.
Cut AR500 Steel with McKiney Manufacturing
Need to manufacture bulletproof armor, wear-resistant machine parts, or construction equipment? McKiney Manufacturing stands by, ready to get started on your high-volume run of AR500 steel parts. Based out of Nebraska, we serve many steel manufacturers in Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, and throughout the Front Range, but we also have clients all over the USA.
Contact us today for a consultation or custom quote. To ensure your projects keep moving forward, we always respond to all of our inquiries within one business day.
