Laser Cutting for Metals: The Benefits That Are Most Desirable to Metal Fabricators

When it comes to choosing a method for cutting metal material in metal fabrication, the choices are many. Each metal cutting technique has unique features, pros, and cons that make it more suitable for certain metal cutting applications than others.

Laser cutting is one of the most popular ways of cutting through metal material. It involves moving the cutting head of laser equipment over a metal workpiece in the shape of the desired part. A high-power laser beam of visible light melts the sections of the workpiece that it comes into contact with, and then an assist gas, usually high-pressure nitrogen gas, is used to blow away the molten metal. 

Laser cutting is the go-to technology for metals because it can deliver many desirable benefits to metal fabrication companies. Continue reading to discover some of these benefits.

Quality

Laser cutting is a contactless cutting technique because no physical contact occurs between the cutting machine and the metal part being worked on. The laser cutting head is simply directed at the workpiece, and the laser beam gets the job done. 

The laser delivers clean edges because there is no mechanical friction that could distort the finish on the final product. Because of the great amount of power used, laser cutting works best when used for cutting thicker metal materials that don't easily get damaged by heat. 

Precision

Clients care about the quality of cuts produced on their jobs because it affects the overall quality of their finished products.

With the advent of CNC laser cutting, laser cutting machines can be programmed to produce highly accurate jobs that may not be possible with traditional cutting methods such as mechanical die-cutting.

The precision of laser cutters makes it easier to achieve complex shapes and designs.

Speed 

As the cutting process can be automated, laser cutting can produce as many parts as required a lot faster than manual or mechanical cutting processed. An experienced machine operator is still needed to oversee jobs but cutting speed is increased tremendously.

Cost Benefits

The upfront costs of laser cutting equipment may be higher than those for most traditional cutting machines. In the long run, however, the costs of ownership may prove to be much more economical than expected. 

This is because cutting with a laser beam may increase the speed of cutting and reduce the amount of manual labour required to perform cutting operations. This can result in a significant increase in sales and a decrease in running costs. 

For more information about laser cutting for metals, consult an expert in the industry.