Why Laser Cutting Is Widely Used in Today's Sheet Metal Fabrication World
Posted on: 7 March 2022
When it comes to the fabrication of sheet metal products, two types of operations are generally performed — cutting and forming.
The cutting process involves cutting sheets of metal to size while the forming process, which may include bending, stretching, shearing and punching, helps turn the cut metal into virtually any desired shape. While a combination of different manufacturing techniques is usually used in sheet metal forming, sheet metal cutting requires making a choice from the different types of cutting methods available out there.
Laser cutting is widely used in today's sheet metal fabrication world, and for good reason. Continue reading to find out the various advantages it brings.
Precise cutting method
When working on a sheet metal fabrication project, the quality of sheet metal cuts matters because it will affect the overall quality of the finished parts or products. With this in mind, it's important to create high-quality cuts on workpieces.
Metal laser cutting involves aiming a highly focused and powerful laser beam at a workpiece, allowing fabricators to produce clean cuts. Since the surface quality of sheet metal is preserved, the need for rework is significantly reduced.
Shorter cutting time
While manual metal cutting tools can make light work of cutting thin sheets of metal, they are not as efficient when it comes to cutting a large number of thicker sheets of metal.
With laser cutting technology, cutting sheet metal to size has never been easier. The high power of the laser beam used in the cutting process not only delivers high-quality cuts but fast cutting speeds as well. The faster the cutting speed, the shorter the cutting time.
What's more, the metal laser cutting process can be automated using computer numerical controls, shortening the cutting time even further.
Less need for scrapping
One of the best ways to reduce inefficiencies in sheet metal fabrication is to minimise material waste.
Since the use of laser cutting machines leaves sheet metal workpieces smooth at the edges, it reduces the need for rework. This improves the usage of metal material, thus increasing the efficiency of the entire sheet metal fabrication process.
Metal laser cutting is a preferred cutting method for many sheet metal fabricators because it can make high-quality cuts in an efficient manner. However, it is a thermal cutting process that can result in heat distortion of metal material. If this is a major concern for your sheet metal cutting job, you might be better off using a different metal cutting method.
For more information on metal laser cutting, contact a professional near you.
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