Cost Of Laser Cutting Sheet Metal

Waterjet cost factors operating costs.

Cost of laser cutting sheet metal.

Laser cutting is a subtractive manufacturing technology that uses a high power laser beam to cut flat sheet materials such as sheet metal. Laser cutting costs are calculated by the time a job takes on the laser. This process is carried out on laser cutting machines that consist of a power supply laser system mirrors focusing lens nozzle pressurized gas and a workpiece table. A computer directs this laser to follow the cutting line provided in your digital design.

Since laser cutting requires no tooling and thus saves the total cost and lead time considerably it is ideal for cutting prototypes low volumes short runs or quick turn orders. The high precision laser vaporizes a cut line through the sheet metal leaving a 90 degree high quality cut edge finish. Laser cutting does not cause any deformation mainly because the workpiece needs little heat input and most of it can be cut. Laser cutting and waterjet cutting are both high tech highly accurate forms of sheet metal fabrication.

A variant of plasma cutting also was evaluated the punch plasma combination. We cut most metals including steel stainless steel aluminum copper brass and nickel. Also many are purchased for the same or similar applications creating flat parts out of mild steel sheet metal and light plate in low to medium operations. Laser cutting in the metal fabrication industry is suitable for all different kinds of materials where complex contours demand precise fast and force free processing.

The narrow slit of the laser is created to achieve high precision cutting. However the 200w laser will cut at a higher feed rate. However there is one clear winner when you compare laser cutting vs. The laser most commonly used for sheet metal cutting is a co2 based laser with approximately 1000 2000 watts of power.

Cutting forming welding assembly of possible. The 200w laser is specified to cut the same thicknesses as the 150w laser. 4 laser cutting vs. Here s why laser cutting is more affordable for your project no matter its size or shape.

Metal thicknesses shown are approximate. The time the job takes on a laser is dependent on the type of materials and the thickness of the materials being cut. The production cycle of a sheet metal product involves several phases from the raw material to the product ready for delivery which may include. A model was created to compare the total cost of ownership for laser cutting and plasma cutting equipment.

These are only estimations and do not include material labor costs or setup fees. Sheet metal laser cutting. Laser cutting has become a fundamental manufacturing step in the sheet metal fabrication process as it cuts metal parts amazingly fast and accurate.