The metal cutting process is a critical stage in fabrication. Only after precise cutting, often from sheets, can metal be fabricated into other shapes, designs, and sizes for more practical uses.
Our custom laser cutting metal service is a popular and widely practiced method that we use in our Lodi, Ohio facilities. It has several benefits and is considered a reliable option in the metal fabrication industry.
Laser cutting can touch diverse industries. From an engineer working on a specific project to purchasing agents of large companies, laser cutting can fit into the procedure for many processes. Laser cutting capabilities are vast for products like air conveyers, automotive parts, and medical equipment, aerospace, electronics, food equipment, branding and architecture.
When selecting the right metal fabrication partner, the size of your project is a key factor. At Alloy Fabricators, we specialize in small to medium size runs. Our entire operation is designed to service customers who require accuracy and a quick turnaround – from producing hundreds of parts to individual prototypes. The benefits of utilizing laser cutting in small projects include cost, accuracy, ease of use, and capability.
Cost
With any new or advanced technology, the price of service can be a barrier. With laser cutting, cost savings can be an advantage over other metal cutting options, such as punching, stamping or CNC machining.
The most prominent reason that laser cutting metal drives down costs is because of its ability to reduce or even remove tooling from the process. When cutting metal via other techniques, tooling must be incorporated into the process. These costs fall back on the customer and drive up production costs.
Laser cutting does, however, have significant operational costs – consuming more electricity than other metal cutting methods and requiring shielding gas, which is an added expense. These higher running costs will certainly impact large volume jobs.
Accuracy
Accuracy is another significant benefit of laser cutting. The advantage of automation can drive a level of precision that just isn’t possible with other man-powered methods of metal cutting.
A laser cutting machine can cut whatever shapes you want. A turret punching machine will nibble away at those shapes, removing them in chunks, but it won’t replicate a laser’s smooth and faster accuracy.
Laser cutting does have limits, for example, a turret punch press does allow for added forming like embossing or countersinks where a laser cutting machine doesn’t have these capabilities.
Ease of Use
Setup and ease of use is another plus for cutting metal with a laser. How does this benefit you? The ability to quickly program a project means your parts are finished faster – enabling them to move to the next phase of fabrication.
As discussed previously, the lack of additional tooling helps drive the simplicity of the processes. It allows for the running of the machine with less setup or stoppage to switch tools.
Capability
Added capabilities is the last benefit, and one specifically that applies to Alloy Fabricators.
Newer technology, like our Amada FOM2 3015 NT RI, can laser cut metal in sheets as well as in tubes and pipes. Its added Rotary index laser cutting system allows for the capability to cut different shapes, including, round, rectangular, square, c-channel and angle iron while limiting added steps needed with other metal cutting methods.
New capabilities like the tube laser allow for the removal of several steps and drive down the complexity necessary to cut metal that doesn’t come in the traditional form like flat sheets.
For more information about our custom laser cutting metal services or our other capabilities, contact us.