LASER CUTTING
Laser cutting is a cost effective process for rapid and accurate cutting of two dimensional parts from stainless steel and steel with thickness from 16 GA to 1/2". For higher quantity runs this process is generally more accurate and less expensive than waterjet cutting. Our cutting process uses a 4000 watt laser beam, with either nitrogen or oxygen gas to facilitate the cutting. Laser cutting leaves a thin heat-affected zone at the cut edge which can cause a shallow hardened layer in high carbon steels. There is little, or no clean up or deburring on all but the thicker stainless steel parts. If cleanup is required, it is usually provided by Austin Waterjet personnel as a service to our customers.
Laser cutting is a cost effective process for rapid and accurate cutting of two dimensional parts from stainless steel and steel with thickness from 16 GA to 1/2". For higher quantity runs this process is generally more accurate and less expensive than waterjet cutting. Our cutting process uses a 4000 watt laser beam, with either nitrogen or oxygen gas to facilitate the cutting. Laser cutting leaves a thin heat-affected zone at the cut edge which can cause a shallow hardened layer in high carbon steels. There is little, or no clean up or deburring on all but the thicker stainless steel parts. If cleanup is required, it is usually provided by Austin Waterjet personnel as a service to our customers.
TOLERANCES
Laser tolerance is primarily determined by thickness of material.
From 26GA to 3/16" a tolerance of +/- .005 can be expected.
With 3/16 to 1/2" the tolerance would be +/- .010.
IDEAL PARTS
- Panels
- Clevis Plates
- Hoops
- Gussets
- Flat Patterns
- Truss Plates
- Cheek Plates
- Flanges
- Gearbox Side Plates
Finished Parts Architectural features, signage, canopy outrigger, decorative plates. Rings, disks and other profiles from plate. Near net shapes for final machining.-
Laser cutting can save significant CNC cutting time by producing parts to near
net shape before CNC machining. Both the periphery and any holes, or
slots can be pre-cut using the Waterjet process.
Parts which will later be welded into an assembly.MATERIAL TYPES
Materials which we routinely cut by waterjet.
Materials which we routinely cut by waterjet.
Stainless Steel, all alloys
we stock 304 and 316
Steel - all alloys
thicknessess up to 1/2"
we stock 304 and 316
Aluminum - up to 3/16"
