Lasers, Optics & Photonics Manufacturing worked example

Laser Energy Cost at 54% beam-on utilization share: a worked example

This worked example runs the laser energy cost numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 54% beam-on utilization share instead of the typical 75%. Calculate electrical energy cost for running laser systems by combining laser operating hours, power consumption (wall-plug), electricity rate, and chiller or auxiliary energy overhead.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Planned laser operating hours: 176 hours (held at the documented default)
  • System power draw (all-in): 2.1 $ / hr (held at the documented default)
  • Beam-on utilization share: 54 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 75)
  • Fixed monthly energy overhead: 180 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Variable energy cost = operating hours x power cost per hour x beam-on utilization share.
  • Total laser energy cost works out to 380 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Energy cost per operating hour works out to 2.16 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Variable energy cost (beam-on) works out to 200 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed monthly energy overhead works out to 180 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where beam-on utilization share sits at 75% and the headline result is 457 $, this scenario comes in 16.98% below the baseline at 380 $.
  • Use it when setting a machine hourly rate, comparing laser process energy economics, or quantifying the energy slice of a cutting or marking job. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Total laser energy cost: 380 $ (headline result)
  • Energy cost per operating hour: 2.16 $ / piece
  • Variable energy cost (beam-on): 200 $
  • Fixed monthly energy overhead: 180 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Laser Energy Cost calculator, set beam-on utilization share to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.