Yield New Possibilities

What are the Main Benefits of Laser Cutting?

Using computerised laser cutting equipment, we are able to produce accurate finishes, even for the most intricate designs. We provide the quality of service essential to produce the highest standard of laser cutting. With over three laser cutting machines and 40 years combined experience, our skilled staff will deliver results you’re sure to be pleased with.
Home » Laser Cut Benefits

Before laser, the only way to cut metal or other materials was with a saw ,OXY cut or machining centre. Several metals are too tough to cut, or they are so dense that using a saw is hazardous to the operative and they finish with edges that are unkempt or completed with inaccurate cuts. Laser cutting technology has transformed many industrial processes and businesses. With Laser cutting, it is now simpler to cut materials of all different types as well as far less hazardous for those who work in the trade. As a much more defined way to cut thick or dense material, laser cutting has copious advantages. It has accelerated many industrial processes and has all but eradicated the need for outdated engineering machinery. Replacing plasma cutting, laser cutting is a much more exact and energy efficient technique of cutting materials, from aluminium to steel.

Read More

Advantages Laser Cutting

Laser cutting is a versatile and precise method used to cut various materials with a high-powered laser beam. This technology has revolutionised the manufacturing industry by offering unparalleled accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility. Laser cutting is employed across a wide range of industries, from automotive and aerospace to medical devices and electronics. This article will explore the main advantages of laser cutting, including its cost-effectiveness, material capabilities, speed, and various services it offers. Additionally, we will discuss some of the disadvantages associated with laser cutting.

Affordable Laser Cutting Solutions for the Best Cut

One of the primary advantages of laser cutting is its ability to deliver high-quality cuts at an affordable cost. The precision of laser cutting minimises material waste, which is particularly beneficial for expensive materials. This precision also reduces the need for additional finishing processes, saving both time and money. The consistent quality of cuts ensures that each piece meets the required specifications, reducing the likelihood of costly errors and rework.

Moreover, laser cutting systems have become increasingly cost-effective due to advancements in technology. Modern laser cutters are more efficient, consume less power, and require less maintenance, further driving down the overall cost of operation. For businesses, this translates to more affordable production runs without compromising on quality.

Fibre Laser Cutting vs. Waterjet Cutting

Laser cutting, particularly fibre laser cutting, excels in handling a wide range of materials, especially metals. Fibre lasers are known for their ability to cut through various types of metals, including steel, aluminium, brass, and copper, with high precision and speed. This makes fibre laser cutting ideal for applications requiring intricate designs and tight tolerances.

In contrast, waterjet cutting, another popular cutting method, is highly versatile and can cut a broader range of materials, including non-metals like glass, stone, and composites. However, waterjet cutting is generally slower and less precise than fibre laser cutting, especially when working with metals. While both methods have their strengths, fibre laser cutting is often preferred for its superior speed, precision, and efficiency in metalworking applications.

Sheet Metal Laser Cutting

A significant advantage of laser cutting is the zero handling requirement during the cutting process. This means that the material remains stationary while the laser beam moves to perform the cuts. Zero handling ensures that the material is not subjected to any mechanical stress or distortion, which is particularly important for delicate or thin materials.

This feature is especially beneficial for sheet metal laser cutting. The ability to cut sheet metal with zero handling ensures consistent accuracy and quality across the entire sheet. This is crucial for industries that require high precision and minimal tolerances, such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing.

Utilising Speed and Technique of Laser Cutting

Speed is another critical advantage of laser cutting. Laser cutting is significantly faster than traditional mechanical cutting methods and other thermal cutting techniques, such as plasma cutting. The high speed of laser cutting not only increases productivity but also shortens lead times, enabling businesses to meet tight deadlines and respond quickly to market demands.

The speed advantage of laser cutting is particularly evident when dealing with complex shapes and intricate designs. The laser beam can rapidly follow intricate paths, making it possible to produce detailed and precise parts in a fraction of the time required by other methods. This speed advantage is a significant factor in the widespread adoption of laser cutting in various industries.

Metal Cut to Size For All Business Sizes

Laser cutting services cater to businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large corporations. The ability to cut metal to exact specifications ensures that every project, regardless of scale, receives the precise components it needs. This flexibility is particularly valuable for small businesses that may require custom parts in smaller quantities.

For larger businesses, laser cutting services can handle bulk orders efficiently, ensuring consistent quality and timely delivery. The scalability of laser cutting services makes them suitable for a wide range of applications, from prototyping to full-scale production runs.

Metal Laser Cutting Services

Professional metal laser cutting services offer a variety of options to meet the diverse needs of different industries. These services leverage advanced technology to deliver high-quality, precise cuts for various applications. Whether it’s creating custom designs or fulfilling bulk orders, metal laser cutting services ensure that each project is executed with the highest level of precision and efficiency.

In addition to cutting, many laser cutting service providers offer additional services such as engraving, marking, and assembly. This comprehensive approach allows businesses to streamline their manufacturing processes and reduce the number of suppliers they need to work with, further enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.

Laser Cut Benefits

Using computerised laser cutting equipment, we are able to produce accurate finishes, even for the most intricate designs. We provide the quality of service essential to produce the highest standard of laser cutting. With five laser cutting machines and over 100 years combined experience, our skilled staff will deliver results you’re sure to be pleased with.

Before laser, the only way to cut metal or other materials was with a saw,oxy cut or machine cut . Several metals are too tough to cut, or they are so dense that using a saw is hazardous to the operative and they finish with edges that are unkempt or completed with inaccurate cuts.

Laser cutting technology has transformed many industrial processes and businesses. With Laser cutting, it is now simpler to cut materials of all different types as well as far less hazardous for those who work in the trade. As a much more defined way to cut thick or dense material, laser cutting has copious advantages. It has accelerated many industrial processes and has all but eradicated the need for outdated engineering machinery. Replacing plasma cutting, laser cutting is a much more exact and energy efficient technique of cutting materials, from aluminium to steel.

Programming-design

The Advantages of

Laser cutting

High productivity

High production speeds enable the high productivity of laser cutting processes. The typical travel speeds for production laser cutting processes are up to 10 metres per minute. Thinner metal sheets ranging from 0.1 to 2 mm are typically cut faster while thicker sheets require lower speeds.

Low heat output

An advantage of the high speeds is that it also decreases heat flow into the surrounding material. With this, heat affected zones (HAZs) are slimmer and therefore there is a lower chance of thermal damage to components.

Parts are ready for the next process

Once parts are taken from the sheet after cutting, they are usually perfectly prepared for their next task. Edges are clean and ready for assembly or welding etc.

Excellent edge quality

Look at a laser cutter as a very small cutting tool. Since the laser utilises a highly focused spot, less heat is put into the sheet metal leading to a narrower path of material or HAZ. Narrower HAZs, in turn, lead to cleaner edges and precise cuts to a higher forbearance.

Reduced warping

Given that laser cutting is a noncontact process, there is usually little work piece distortion or warping. This produces a high-quality metal sheet.

No tooling costs

Laser cutting doesn’t require any hard tools. Hence there is no need for tool storage, tool changeover, and tool sharpening. This reduces costly downtime between jobs and inefficiencies in long runs as well.

Inexpensive prototyping

Since there are no retooling costs prototypes can be quickly reprogrammed to easily overcome any potential production problems.

Eliminates scrap

Close nesting of parts allows efficient use of materials and the ability to either reduce or even eliminate scrap.

Automation and customisation benefits

Lastly, laser cutting can easily be repeated and is easy to automate. The process can be simplified by utilising computer-numerically controlled (CNC) manipulators and robots.

Need for Expertise

While laser cutting offers numerous advantages, it does require a high level of expertise to operate the equipment and achieve optimal results. Skilled technicians are essential to ensure precise cuts and to maintain the equipment properly. The need for specialised training and experience can be a barrier for some businesses, particularly smaller ones with limited resources.

However, partnering with professional laser cutting service providers can mitigate this disadvantage. These providers have the necessary expertise and experience to deliver high-quality results, allowing businesses to benefit from laser cutting without the need to invest in extensive training and equipment.

Limitations to Metal Thickness

Laser cutting is highly effective for thin to moderately thick materials, but it does have limitations when it comes to cutting very thick metals. While advances in laser technology have increased the maximum thickness that can be cut, other methods such as waterjet cutting or plasma cutting may be more suitable for extremely thick metal plates.

This limitation means that businesses must carefully consider their material requirements when choosing a cutting method. Alternative methods may be necessary for applications involving very thick metals.

Dangerous Fumes

Laser cutting can produce hazardous fumes, especially when cutting materials that contain harmful substances. These fumes can pose a health risk to operators if not properly managed. Adequate ventilation and safety measures are essential to protect operators and maintain a safe working environment.

To mitigate this risk, many laser cutting systems are equipped with fume extraction and filtration systems that effectively remove and filter out harmful particles and gases. Ensuring that these systems are properly maintained and operated is crucial for maintaining a safe workplace.

Disadvantages of Laser Cutting

Have a project
in mind?

Multiple benefits of laser cutting

Laser cutting has multiple benefits. Our laser cutting reduces turnaround and production costs by consolidating multiple operations into one operation.

The precision levels and edge quality achieved with laser cutting machines are better than traditional cutting methods, as the laser beam will not wear during the laser cutting process.

Laser cutting technology also enables us to cut complex shapes without the need for tooling and at a similar or faster speed than other cutting methods. Try our laser cutting services at Advanced Cutting Technology for your next project together.

trans-600x800.png

Cost-effective Industrial Solutions

Advanced Cutting Technology can reduce welding work, the quantity of parts needed and your costs! Our services open up a whole new window of opportunity for your company and can change the way that you design your parts to reduce your overhead costs. Have your parts self fixture and eliminate assembly errors today.

Our laser cutting services and team of experts allow your business to minimise the amount of manufacturing that is required as well as reduce the quantity of parts required for an assembly within your industry. We can help you with an intelligent design that is moving from prototype to production and can offer suggestions on how you might be able to use Advanced Cutting Technology laser cutting.

We also stock a high volume of laser cutting materials which means we probably have the material you need on hand but it also means that we can offer you a competitive price with faster turnarounds. Using our stock materials is the best option for keeping costs lower. We have everything from flat sheet stock to tube based materials.

Advanced Cutting Technology’s laser software also produces super tight nests so waste material is almost eliminated. Common material jobs are nested and cut together, which increases efficiency, reduces changeover time and keeps costs down!

other

cost benefits of Laser Cutting include:

  • The laser cutting profile programme costs less than 0.5% of the die cost.
  • No die storage or maintenance with laser cutting.
  • Minor design changes for laser cutting cost little compared with the cost of changes to hard dies.
  • Tooling costs are eliminated and close nesting of parts enables more economic use of materials.
  • Laser Cut short runs are “off tool” quality and competitive when all hand operation costs are considered.
  • Without the need to tool up, short lead times as well as short production runs become
  • viable. Even “one off” laser cut jobs are economical.
  • Special materials can be used with laser cutting which are difficult or impossible to cut by other methods.
  • Special service when time is critical.

Final Thoughts on Laser Cutting

Laser cutting offers a multitude of advantages, including high precision, speed, and versatility, making it a valuable tool for modern manufacturing. Its ability to deliver high-quality cuts at an affordable cost, combined with its material capabilities and zero handling requirements, makes it suitable for a wide range of applications.

However, businesses must also consider the disadvantages, such as the need for expertise, limitations to metal thickness, and the potential for dangerous fumes. By understanding these factors, businesses can make informed decisions about incorporating laser cutting into their operations and leverage its benefits to enhance their manufacturing processes. For more detailed information, you can visit the articles on laser cutting ideas and metal laser cutting.