Buying guide · Glass Cutting Tables · Updated August 2026
Glass Cutting Tables: The Buying Guide
A glass cutting table turns a stock sheet into the sizes your orders need. A wheel scores the surface, then the table supports the sheet while it breaks along the score. Every station after it inherits the result. If the cut is out by a millimetre, the edger, the furnace and the insulating glass line all carry that error to the customer.
This guide explains how these machines are built, which figures decide the purchase, and what to ask before you sign. Every number quoted here comes from the machine data published on GlassMachines.net. No manufacturer here publishes a price, so request pricing for the bed size and options you need.
What a glass cutting table does and where it sits on the line
The cutting table is the first machine that touches the glass in a flat glass plant. Stock sheets arrive from a rack or an automatic loader. The table positions the sheet, scores it to a cutting plan, and hands it to a breakout station. From there the pieces move to edging, washing, drilling, tempering, laminating or the insulating glass line.
The table also decides how much glass you throw away. Optimization software nests the order list on the stock sheet before a single score is made. Many machines also label the pieces as they are cut. The Luoyang DISAI Mechanical Equipment Co., Ltd. DS-CM Series laser-engraves a QR code so each sheet carries a traceable ID, and the ANHUI YINRUI INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. YN Cutting Equipment connects to warehouse and ERP systems.
Two jobs are often pulled forward into this station. The first is Low-E edge deletion, which grinds the coating off the border so the sealant can bond. The second is breaking, which some machines do on the same frame and some do on a separate air-flotation table.
- Before the table: glass storage, harp racks, automatic loaders, optimization software
- At the table: positioning, scoring, optional Low-E edge deletion, optional labelling
- After the table: breakout, edging, washing, drilling, tempering or lamination
Types and configurations
The first split is float glass against laminated glass. Float, or monolithic, tables score one surface and break the sheet. Laminated tables have to cut two panes and deal with the plastic interlayer between them. A third group does both. The VETROMAC S.r.l. LAM Laminated Glass Cutting Module bolts onto a Vetromac float table, and the bridge that cuts float doubles as the positioning stop for laminated. HEGLA ProLam / ProLam Kombi / ProLam Plus Shape adds an automatic traverse breaking device so laminated safety glass and float run on one machine.
The second split is a standalone table against a full line. A standalone table is loaded by hand or by a simple tilting frame. A line links an automatic loader, the cutting bridge and a breakout section under one control. The ANHUI MORNSUN INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. Full Automatic Glass Cutting Line runs loading, cutting and breaking as three stages from one control centre, operated by one person.
The third split is the drive. Belt transmission is the common, low-cost choice and is used across the STRON range. Linear guide rails with direct servo drive replace the belt on the DS-CM Series. Servo linear motors run the bridge and head on the Billco Manufacturing, Inc. Ultra Series, and HEGLA Galactic / Galactic Plus uses contactless linear drives that the catalog states durably reduce wear.
- Float only, laminated only, or a combination machine
- Standalone table or an integrated loading, cutting and breaking line
- Belt transmission, linear guide rails or servo linear motors
- Air cushion, belt bed, or air flotation plus belt
- Single head, or a double head as on the Billco Manufacturing, Inc. Dual-Head Ultra Series
- Special formats: the Billco Manufacturing, Inc. Strip Cutting Machine for narrow strips, and the Ultra-Thin Cutting & Breaking Line for thin glass
How it works, step by step
First, the order list goes into the optimization software, which nests the parts on the stock sheet and produces the cutting plan. CAD and CAM files import directly on machines such as the DS-CM Series.
Second, the sheet is loaded. Loading is manual on entry-level tables and automatic on the rest. Grupo Turomas RUBI Series covers the whole span, from manual loading up to belts, suction cups, arms and fully automatic feeding. The sheet is squared against a ruler or a stop bar before the bridge moves.
Third, the bridge travels and the head scores the glass. The head carries a cutting wheel and a small flow of cutting oil. Cutting pressure is regulated automatically on the RUBI Series, and the wheel self-orients into the direction of travel. Optional work happens in the same pass: the Low-E Deletion + Cutting Machine deletes a 20 to 30 mm coating band at up to 60 m/min while it cuts, and labels or laser marks are applied here.
Fourth, the sheet is broken. Breaking rods lift under the score line and snap the glass. Air-flotation breaking tables cushion the pieces as they separate, which is how the Large-Format Customized Cutting Line handles jumbo panels.
Laminated glass takes two extra steps. The machine scores the top pane, then the bottom pane, then heats the interlayer so it stretches and parts cleanly. The Laminated Glass Cutting Machine works from 2 + 0.38 PVB + 2 mm up to 12 + 2.28 PVB + 12 mm at 100 m/min. The Grupo Turomas LAM 400 warms the butyral interlayer gently on cross cuts. HEGLA AdvaLam adds a film-peeling device that removes overhanging film automatically.
The figures that decide the purchase
Nine numbers separate one table from another. The table below gives the range across the machines listed here.
Read accuracy together with bed size. Precision falls as the bed grows. On the DS-CM Series the 2600 x 2100 mm bed is rated at plus or minus 0.15 mm, while the 5100 x 3300 mm and larger beds are rated at plus or minus 0.25 mm. A quote that gives one accuracy figure for a whole range is worth a question.
Read speed together with the loading cycle. A bridge that runs at 180 m/min is idle while a sheet is loaded. The SC-G High-Accuracy Cutting Line loads in 30 to 50 s. The VETROMAC S.r.l. SA Autonomous CNC Glass Cutting Machine is rated by its catalog at 15 seconds. On the ANHUI MORNSUN INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. Full Automatic Glass Cutting Line the cycle is adjustable from 40 to 90 seconds.
| Figure | Range across the machines listed | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Max sheet size | 2600 x 1850 mm up to 20000 x 3700 mm | Sets the largest panel you can quote |
| Glass thickness | 0.4 mm to 25 mm depending on the machine | Thin electronic glass and 25 mm structural glass need different tables |
| Cutting accuracy | Plus or minus 0.05 mm on thin glass, 0.15 mm typical, 0.25 mm on the largest beds | Decides how much stock the edger must remove |
| Cutting speed | 100 m/min on laminated, 180 to 200 m/min common, up to 310 m/min on linear motors | Only useful once loading keeps up |
| Acceleration | 4 m/s2 on a laminated tool, 13 to 19 m/s2 on float tables | Short cuts are won on acceleration |
| Loading cycle | 15 s to 90 s | The real limit on sheets per hour |
| Installed power | 5 kW to 15 kW | Check the supply voltage and frequency |
| Compressed air | 0.6 to 1.2 MPa, 10 to 40 l/min | Starved air stops breakout and suction cups |
| Work height and weight | 890 to 960 mm or 914 mm, 1200 kg to 4600 kg | Sets floor loading and the link to neighbouring stations |
Choosing by what you produce
Insulating glass units. You need Low-E edge deletion and clean, square pieces. Buy the deletion head with the table, not later. The Low-E Deletion + Cutting Machine deletes and cuts in one station. The Billco Manufacturing, Inc. Wide Belt Series offers auto edge detection with servo-controlled Low-E edge deletion and is built for large glass insulators.
Tempered glass. The furnace punishes a poor edge. The ANHUI YINRUI INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. YN Cutting Equipment states that good breakout edge quality reduces grinding-wheel consumption in the edging step that follows.
Laminated and safety glass. HEGLA EcoLam is the entry point, at cutting lengths of 3,300, 3,700 and 4,600 mm. HEGLA ProLam / ProLam Kombi / ProLam Plus Shape covers 3,700 to 9,300 mm and free shapes. HEGLA AdvaLam automates edge deglazing and film peeling. The Grupo Turomas LAM 400 handles up to 10 + 10 mm.
Shower doors, mirrors and furniture glass. Beds in the 2600 x 1850 mm to 4000 x 2600 mm class are usually enough. A standalone table such as the SC-C CNC Cutting Machine, which draws only 5 to 7 kW, suits a shop that loads by hand.
Appliance and automotive glass. The ANHUI MORNSUN INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. CNC Glass Cutting Machine with Loading Function is aimed at construction, automobile, furniture and home appliance work.
Electronics and display glass. The Ultra-Thin Cutting & Breaking Line floats glass from 0.4 to 2 mm on air and holds plus or minus 0.05 mm.
Jumbo architectural glass. The DS-CM Series reaches 18000 x 3700 mm and the VETROMAC S.r.l. SL CNC Glass Cutting Machine for Lines reaches 9100 x 3300 mm. The Large-Format Customized Cutting Line has been built in a 20 m by 3.7 m configuration on a line of roughly 63 m.
What a quote should include
Ask for the quote to be broken out line by line. A single lump sum hides what is missing. Prices are not published here, so request pricing from the manufacturer against the list below and compare like for like.
- Factory-direct machine price for the exact bed size, listed by model code
- Control system, HMI, optimization and nesting software, and any yearly software fee
- Options priced separately: Low-E edge deletion, labelling, laser marking, wheel changer, second head
- Export crating and freight, with the incoterm, packing dimensions and weights
- Installation: who supplies the crane, the rigging, the air line and the electrical hook-up
- Commissioning and the acceptance test, with the accuracy figure you will measure against
- Operator and maintenance training, where it happens and in which language
- A spare parts list with part numbers, including cutting wheels and belts
- Warranty length, what it covers, and how long spare parts stay available
- Supply voltage and frequency, stated as 380 V / 50 Hz on several machines
Lead times, installation and running costs
Lead time depends on the bed size and the options. A standard table in a stocked size ships far sooner than a customized jumbo line. Ask for a written build schedule and a shipping date, and ask what a change to the bed size does to both.
Plan the floor space early. Line footprints in this data run from 9600 x 2800 x 850 mm on a small automatic line up to 17500 x 4300 x 850 mm on a 5100 x 3300 mm line. You also need clear space at both ends for loading and for offcut removal.
Running cost is low next to the rest of the plant. Installed power sits between 5 and 15 kW. Compressed air is the other utility, at 0.6 to 1.2 MPa. The consumables are cutting wheels, cutting oil, drive belts and, if you delete Low-E, grinding wheels. Ask what a wheel costs and how many linear metres it should cut.
Maintenance features are worth pricing. The VETROMAC S.r.l. SL CNC Glass Cutting Machine for Lines lets the operator replace and align belts from above the table. The Billco Manufacturing, Inc. Wide Belt Series has a self-cleaning belt and offers a four-station automatic wheel changer.
Mistakes buyers make
Five errors come up again and again.
- Buying the bed size for this year order book. Bed size is fixed for the life of the machine. Moving from a 3700 x 2600 mm table to a 6100 x 3300 mm table later means buying a second machine.
- Ignoring the loading system. Two tables with the same 180 m/min bridge give very different output when one loads in 15 seconds and the other in 90. Compare the cycle, not the top speed.
- Treating laminated glass as an afterthought. Retrofitting it is rarely simple. If you expect laminated work, quote a combination machine or a dedicated line from the start.
- Skipping Low-E edge deletion. If you assemble insulating units, the coating has to come off a 20 to 30 mm band before sealing. A separate station adds handling and breakage.
- Accepting one accuracy figure for a whole series. Precision loosens as the bed gets longer. Put the figure for your model in the acceptance test.
Machines on GlassMachines.net
Standalone and mid-size tables. The SC-C CNC Cutting Machine is a plain CNC table for shops that load by hand, holding plus or minus 0.15 mm at 180 m/min on 2 to 19 mm glass while drawing 5 to 7 kW. The VETROMAC S.r.l. SA Autonomous CNC Glass Cutting Machine covers six table sizes up to 6100 x 3300 mm and uses a tilting loading arm the catalog rates at 15 seconds. The Grupo Turomas RUBI Series is the widest ladder here, with 22 models and a step up to linear-motor traction at 310 m/min.
High-volume float lines. The SC-G High-Accuracy Cutting Line is the tightest STRON option at plus or minus 0.13 mm across the full table. The Luoyang DISAI Mechanical Equipment Co., Ltd. DS-CM Series spans ten beds from 2600 x 2100 mm to 18000 x 3700 mm on linear guide rails and direct servo drive. The Billco Manufacturing, Inc. Wide Belt Series runs a single wide belt so no seam passes under the cutting surface, on 0.5 to 19 mm glass at 178 m/min. HEGLA Galactic / Galactic Plus is the linear-drive line.
Laminated lines. HEGLA AdvaLam is the automatic end of the laminated range, with operator-free edge deglazing, a double cutting head and system-controlled removal of offcut strips, in 3,700 and 4,600 mm cutting lengths.
Thin glass. The Ultra-Thin Cutting & Breaking Line cuts and breaks 0.4 to 2 mm glass on air flotation plus belt at plus or minus 0.05 mm, for electronic, display and thin coated work.
Specs to compare, in one list
- Max sheet size
- It is fixed for the life of the machine and sets the largest panel you can quote.
- Cutting accuracy at your bed size
- Accuracy loosens on longer beds, and the error passes to the edger and the furnace.
- Glass thickness range
- A table rated 2 to 19 mm will not take 25 mm structural glass.
- Loading cycle time
- Sheets per hour are set by loading, not by the top speed of the bridge.
- Cutting speed and acceleration
- Short cuts are won on acceleration, so both figures are needed to predict output.
- Drive type
- Belt, linear guide rail and linear motor differ in wear and long-term precision.
- Laminated capability
- Laminated glass needs a second head and interlayer heating, which is hard to add later.
- Low-E edge deletion
- Insulating glass work needs the coating removed from a 20 to 30 mm band before sealing.
- Line footprint and work height
- The machine has to fit the building and match the stations on either side.
Questions buyers ask
How accurate is a glass cutting table?
Most CNC tables in this data are rated at plus or minus 0.15 mm. Tighter figures exist: the SC-G High-Accuracy Cutting Line holds plus or minus 0.13 mm across the full table, and the Ultra-Thin Cutting & Breaking Line holds plus or minus 0.05 mm on thin glass. Accuracy loosens on the largest beds, down to plus or minus 0.25 mm on the longest DS-CM Series models. Ask for the figure of the model, not the series.
Can one machine cut both float and laminated glass?
Yes, if it is built for it. HEGLA ProLam / ProLam Kombi / ProLam Plus Shape carries an integrated automatic traverse breaking device so float and laminated safety glass run on one machine. The VETROMAC S.r.l. LAM Laminated Glass Cutting Module can be combined with a Vetromac float cutting machine. Retrofitting this to a plain float table is not straightforward, so decide before you order.
What glass thickness can a cutting table handle?
It depends on the class. Common architectural tables cover 2 to 19 mm. The DS-CM Series and Grupo Turomas RUBI Series reach 25 mm on the larger beds. The Ultra-Thin Cutting & Breaking Line goes down to 0.4 mm and the Billco Manufacturing, Inc. Wide Belt Series starts at 0.5 mm. Check both ends of the range, because the minimum matters as much as the maximum.
How fast does a glass cutting table cut?
Float cutting speeds in this data run from 180 m/min on belt-driven tables up to 200 m/min on the VETROMAC S.r.l. SA Autonomous CNC Glass Cutting Machine and 310 m/min on the linear-motor tier of the Grupo Turomas RUBI Series. Laminated cutting is slower, around 100 m/min. Those are bridge speeds. Real output also depends on the loading cycle, which ranges from 15 to 90 seconds.
Do I need Low-E edge deletion on the cutting table?
You need it if you make insulating glass units. The coating has to be removed from the border so the sealant bonds to the glass. The Low-E Deletion + Cutting Machine removes a 20 to 30 mm band at up to 60 m/min in the same station as the cut. Other machines offer it as an option, including the Billco Manufacturing, Inc. Ultra Series. Doing it separately adds handling and breakage risk.
What power and air supply does a cutting table need?
The electrical load is modest. Installed power runs from 5 to 7 kW on the SC-C CNC Cutting Machine up to about 15 kW on the largest beds, at 380 V / 50 Hz on most machines. Compressed air matters more than people expect, at 0.6 to 1.2 MPa and 10 to 40 l/min depending on whether the table uses suction cups and an air cushion.
