When it comes to manufacturing, selecting a reliable laser cutting service provider is crucial for achieving exceptional results. These high-powered machines can handle thicker materials, including sheet metal and plastics, producing parts swiftly and accurately. Utilizing a laser cutting machine is a cost-effective solution employed across various industries.
However, most manufacturers lack the funds or resources to purchase and maintain advanced laser cutting machines in -house. For this reason, they partner with a laser cutting company to streamline the manufacturing process.
A laser cutting service provider can create custom sheet metal parts (or parts from other materials) with relative ease, producing exceptional custom parts at a low cost to the manufacturer. However, when it comes to laser cutting or laser cutter service providers, there are a range of factors to consider before forming a beneficial outsourcing partnership.
So, if your manufacturing processes could benefit from laser cutting services, but you’re not sure what outsourcing laser metal cutting entails, this guide is for you. Read on to discover everything you need about how an expert and established laser cutting service provider can improve your operations from the inside out.
Table of Contents
How Does Laser Cutting Work?
Laser Cutting Materials
What Processes Can a Laser Cutting Service Provider Handle?
Questions to Consider before Choosing a Laser Cutting Services Provider
Discover the Most Reliable and Effective Laser Cutting Services
What is Laser Cutting?
Laser cutting is a manufacturing process that uses the heat and intensity of a high -energy laser beam to cut through sheet material. It can effectively cut materials like stainless steel and mild steel and many materials that are often difficult to fabricate with a more traditional cutting process.
How Does Laser Cutting Work?
Older metal cutting machines physically cut through the sheet metal to create the desired metal parts. However, a laser cutting machine works differently than this typical metal-on-metal method or other manufacturing processes that result in cut materials.
Instead, advanced laser cutting machines use a focused laser beam to heat and vaporize the sheet metal to craft the desired metal parts (or parts from different materials as needed.) Since the high-powered lasers are so precise, with no excess waste left behind, all cut parts and cut materials have a clean edge and no unintended alterations. Therefore, manufacturers can create custom laser cut parts with ease and high precision, regardless of the design or order size.
How Technology Plays a Role in the Laser Cutting Process
Technology is the backbone of modern laser cutters, and the best laser cutting service providers have multiple tools to ensure that in-person or online laser cutting orders are carried out to perfection.
The process starts with a design file or computer-aided design (CAD) file with the exact sheet metal fabrication specifications. (Your laser cutting services provider will let your organization know what file formats they can accept, and how to send them, such as via an online platform.)
Once the CAD files have been reviewed and accepted, the instructions for the laser cut parts are transmitted to the computer numerical control (CNC) metal laser cutting machine. The CNC aspect of advanced laser cutters means there is little to no human involvement in custom laser cutting. Additionally, the metal parts can be replicated to exact specifications again and again, no matter how intricate the design.
Laser Cutting Materials – What Materials Can be Fabricated with Laser Cutters?
The sky is the limit when it comes to the types of laser cut parts that can be created. One of the most attractive aspects of a laser cutting service provider is that they can provide exceptional and cost-effective laser metal cutting for a wide range of raw materials.
Metal cutting and sheet metal fabrication are the most common laser cutting processes. Furthermore, laser cutting machines are often utilized for stainless steel and other sheet metal materials in virtually every manufacturing industry. However, laser cutters can also address other thin or thick materials, like laser cut acrylic, plastic, or even wood.
Keep in mind that while laser cutters can handle most sheet metal products and other materials, they may not be optimal for all raw materials that a manufacturer may require. For example, a laser cutter is often not used for carbon fiber simply because the laser cutter will likely burn the epoxy before the laser beam can cut through the fibers, resulting in a burned cut line.
What Processes Can a Laser Cutting Service Provider Handle?
Online laser cutting specifics will typically be detailed on your laser cutting service provider’s website. However, a laser cutter can handle many projects besides straightforward metal cutting requirements.
Metal Engraving
Many laser cutting machines can handle laser engraving needs, depending on the laser cutting service provider and the laser cutting machine. For example, a fiber laser machine is often a popular – and highly successful – tool for laser engraving. Fiber lasers are effective because most metals readily absorb their wavelength, so fiber lasers are commonly used for engraving metal parts. Plasma cutting (via plasma laser cutting machines) is another effective method for laser engraving and is also known as a fast, effective process.
The key is to ask your laser cutting service provider what services they can provide and what laser cutting machines they use. There are many different types of laser metal cutting machines and other cutting machines (yag lasers, fiber lasers, waterjet cutting machines, etc.). That is why it is important to understand the variations in with what metal laser cutting services (and other services) a laser cut resource can provide.
Metal Bending
Metal bending is a manufacturing process by which metal can be effectively deformed by applying force to the metal part or piece of sheet metal, causing it to bend at an angle to form an anticipated shape. Some advanced laser cutters can perform metal bending techniques. However, the process may be more complicated and requires some behind-the-scenes expertise to create the bend lines and the ensuing 3D metal parts.
Again, when it comes to metal bending needs, ask your laser cutting services provider if this is a project they can handle in-house. You should also ask if you need a second metal bending resource for this distinctive aspect of your manufacturing processes.
Powder Coating and Other Finishing Processes
Sometimes, a laser cut metal part requires finishing touches to become a whole product, and this is where final steps like powder coating can come into play. Typically, any sheet metal or material with electrical conductivity (like stainless steel) can be powder coated. Moreover, an exceptional laser cutting service provider can offer this service after the custom laser cut parts have been created.
Powder coating effectively applies a hard, long-lasting coating on the laser cut metal parts, giving the metal parts both an enhanced aesthetic value and better durability. If powder coating will improve your laser cut parts, then be sure and ask your laser cutting partner if they provide this service.
Custom Laser Cutting
It bears repeating that when it comes to metal cutting, a top-rated laser cutting services provider can handle virtually any and every design. One of the most significant benefits of laser metal cutting is this high level of detail, as the laser kerf (or the width of the material removed during the cutting process) is minuscule. In addition, there is no excess waste, molten material, jagged edges, or other deviations from the design.
As a result, your laser cut parts can be as intricate or elaborate as you require, giving your organization the freedom to launch new metal cutting projects that will enhance your products and operations.
Questions to Consider Before Choosing a Laser Cutting Services Provider
Before you can outsource your laser metal cutting needs, you need to do your research.
Don’t just search for “online laser cutting” and filter through the top results. Instead, consider these factors and essential questions before forming a laser cutting services partnership.
What Are Your Specifications for Laser Metal Cutting?
Most laser metal cutting service providers will have detailed specifications of both the material thickness and the types of sheet metal that they can fabricate for optimal results.
For example, most metal laser cutting service providers can easily fabricate a common sheet metal like stainless steel, but their laser cutter may not be able to create laser cut parts out of more difficult sheet metal materials, like highly reflective aluminum. The best metal laser cutting providers will have this information detailed on their website, so you can instantly know if they can handle your specifications, like your desired thickness and/or raw material.
What is Your Turnover Time for Laser Metal Cutting?
Even when shipping is included, outsourcing your laser metal cutting needs is typically a time saving initiative, especially if you don’t have the technology or resources to create your laser cut parts within your organization. Even so, it’s essential to ask up front how long your laser cutting service provider can turn around your metal laser cutting projects, from when they first receive the instructions to when the custom laser parts are ready to ship or be picked up.
Some laser cutting service providers may offer incentives for large production runs or multiple laser metal cutting projects, like free shipping, so ask about these costs or promotions ahead of time. (Even if free shipping is not available the shipping costs mitigate any in-house expenses that would be required to conduct custom laser metal cutting projects on your own steam.)
What is Your Experience with Laser Metal Cutting?
As stated, not all laser cutting service providers are created equal, and you’ll want assurance that your laser metal cutting provider has ample experience in custom laser projects. Ask for testimonials from other clients, as well as about the metal laser cutting capabilities and technology that powers your provider’s laser cutting services.
Optimally, your metal laser cutting provider will have decades of experience, as well as the most advanced laser cutting technology available in state-of-the-art facilities that are designed to handle laser cutting projects of all varieties.
What is Your Metal Laser Cutting Technology?
There are many different types of processes available when it comes to crafting metal parts, like waterjet cutting, plasma laser cutting, C02 laser cutting, fiber laser cutting, and so much more. Therefore, every method in the manufacturing process is different when it comes to speed and precision, as well as overall results. As such, it’s imperative to ask your metal cutting provider what laser cutter (or laser cutters) they use for their clients, as well as any other technology, tools, or resources that ensure an exceptional final product.
What Are the Costs for Metal Laser Cutting?
Be wary of laser cutting providers that offer incentives like a low instant price or free shipping from the get-go, but which are a little hazy on the exact price for your distinct laser cutting projects.
Prices for laser cut parts and projects can vary widely, depending on the type of sheet metal, (like stainless steel), the number of units required, and the design specifications. A laser cutting service provider may be able to give you an estimated price instantly, but it’s important to have all costs accounted for before forming a formal partnership. This includes potential extras like powder coating or laser engraving, as well as shipping to and from your company’s home base.
Discover the Most Reliable and Effective Laser Cutting Services with Steelway Laser Cutting
You don’t have to sift through heavy research to find a laser cutting partner that can satisfactorily answer all of the questions above. Instead, you can start (and end) your search for a top-rated laser cutting services provider by connecting with the expert team at Steelway Laser Cutting.
If you want to upgrade your manufacturing processes by having access to the best laser technology available, but simply don’t have the funds, personnel, or long-term resources to conduct laser cutting in house, Steelway Laser Cutting can help. We have decades of experience with manufacturing projects of all sizes and specifications, and we have the advanced laser cutters and technology required to perfect every job.
Reach out to our team today for any inquiries about our laser cutting services. Discover how Steelway, a laser cutting service provider near Philadelphia, can benefit your projects. With an expert resource like Steelway Laser Cutting powering your manufacturing operations, you’ll be amazed at how much you can revolutionize your productivity, as well as your product.