Laser Cutting & Metal Stamping

Laser Cutting

• Laser cutting machines take the electronic data from a CAD (computer-aided design) drawing to producer accurate contours on metal that would require a high level of skill and time if they were to be done by hand. Laser cutting works best on metals such as stainless and carbon steel. Aluminum and copper alloys require more powerful lasers to produce accurate cutting results, as these metals tend to reflect light, and also conduct and absorb the heat of the laser. Although laser cutting is used primarily in metal fabrication, it is also used to cut materials such as acrylic, wood, cardstock and textiles.

Benefits of Laser Cutting

• Laser-cutting machines can produce precise, clean edges and because they are often enclosed, are far safer than conventional metal-cutting procedures. In addition, there is no contact between surfaces when using a laser to cut metal, so there is no need to replace blades or perform equipment maintenance due to wear caused by contact. Clean-up is also minimized, as the metal is either burnt, melted or vaporized, and any leftover debris is typically blown away by some type of down-draft ventilation system.

Metal Stamping

• Metal stamping is a completely different process that is also used in sheet-metal fabrication. A stamping press can also be used on other materials, such as polystyrene. Unlike a laser, stamping involves direct contact from a stamping machine onto the metal surface. Stamping comprises a variety of processes including punching holes in metal, creating embossed finishes and bending and flanging metal. This process can also be used to draw patterns and designs on a metal surface.

Benefits of Metal Stamping

• Metal stamping is typically done in a mass-production process in order to keep costs low. Stamping processes on metal are used in a variety of different industries, ranging from large-scale manufacturing to small, meticulous work. For example, metal stamping is used in making jewelry, manufacturing precision surgical instruments and automotive parts. On a larger scale, metal stamping is used in engineering, in the construction of bridges and heavy equipment, as well as ship-building.