It seems like only yesterday that laser cutting was a subject for science fiction, but it is now a practical method for custom cutting for sheet metal and an excellent alternative to more traditional machine cutting. This technique is by far the cleanest, most accurate that it is possible to use. To get to grips with the many advantages of laser cutting lets take a deeper look at how the process works.

Via the use of computer software as a guide, a laser cutting device is used to cut materials. This is often used in industrial manufacturing, but numerous small-scale workshops are now using them as well for several obvious reasons. During the process the material then melts away, vaporizes, burns, or is blasted away by a jet of air, leaving a clean-cut edge with a perfect finish. With this method, lasers can be employed to cut flat sheet metal and structural and piping materials.

Lasers do not get worn down by the process so not only is the quality better from laser cutting but also more reliable. While lasers operate by heat, the actual heat-zone is very small so there is less of a chance of warping. The laser output can be adjusted depending on the thickness of the material, thus further reducing the possibility of heat damage during the process. The other benefits of laser cutting over other cutting techniques include easier workholding as the piece is cut much more quickly by laser than machine. Laser cutters also greatly reduce contamination of work piece. Considering that cutting blades are often contaminated by previous jobs and affect the next one this is important.

Traditional metal cutting methods require a lot of cutting and grinding. The edge is often left jagged and needs to be cleaned up. This is a problem that can be easily overcome by using laser cutting techniques. By being totally computer controlled the accuracy of the laser cutting process is unbelievable. When a piece has been cut, there is no finishing to be done and you can move straight on to the next piece. This makes the the laser cutting technique much more efficient than mechanical cutting methods.

While the prices of laser technology have come down somewhat as the machines carve out a place for itself in the manufacturing industry, having one for a few hundred pieces of work a year is still impractical. Many custom laser machine shops or machine shops with a laser or two exist for no other reason but to custom cut material for manufacturers. There can be several benefits to that as well. Without the need to train and maintain operators for a machine rarely used or needing to remind yourself of how to operate it before each and every job, the quality stays high with these workshops. They also have a reputation for being efficient and customer friendly. With this in mind, outsourcing a task that can be done faster and more accurately to a smaller laser shop may be the way of the future over on site shops that are not always cost effective or easy to maintain.

Laser cutting is still not quite out of its infancy in a lot of ways. Improved technology and practices are continually being developed but the actual process remains essentially the same and the clear benefits of laser cutting can never be denied.