Laserschneiden von Metall in China

Laser type should match the material, thickness, and edge-quality requirements.

Fiber lasers are the default for metal cutting in 2026. A 1,064 nm beam is absorbed well by steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, and copper from 0.5 to 25 mm. Fiber cuts 2 to 3 times faster than CO2 on thin metal with lower operating cost, and it handles reflective metals like copper and brass that older CO2 systems struggle with.

CO2 lasers are still the standard for acrylic, wood, fabric, and organic composites because the 10,600 nm wavelength is absorbed well by non-metals. On metal they handle thick steel and stainless up to 25 mm, but fiber has replaced CO2 on most thinner-gauge metal work.

Nd:YAG lasers are specified for reflective metals (copper, aluminum, precious metals), deep thin-kerf cuts, and pulsed work on heat-sensitive medical components. Slower and more expensive per hour than fiber on general metal, but unmatched on these specialty jobs.

Our engineering team can recommend the right laser type during DFM review based on your material, thickness, and edge requirements.

Laser and plasma are both thermal cutting processes, but they suit different thickness ranges and edge-quality requirements.

Laser cutting holds positional accuracy to ±0.05 mm and kerf widths as narrow as 0.1 mm. Cut edges are clean enough to bend, weld, or paint without secondary finishing. Best for thin-to-medium-gauge metal (0.5 to 25 mm) where edge quality matters.

Plasma cutting is faster and cheaper on thick steel (20 to 50 mm) but holds looser tolerance (±0.5 mm) and leaves a wider heat-affected zone. Kerf width 2 to 5 mm. Cut edges typically need grinding before welding or painting.

Choose laser for precision, thin gauge, and cosmetic applications. Choose plasma for thick steel plate where cycle time and per-part cost matter more than edge quality.

Laser cutting covers almost every commonly specified metal and many non-metals.

Carbon and low-alloy steel (1018, 1045, S355, Q345) from 0.5 to 25 mm is the most common laser-cut material. Oxygen assist gas delivers clean edges with minimal dross.

Stainless steel (304, 316, 430) from 0.5 to 12 mm is cut with nitrogen assist to produce an oxide-free edge suitable for welding or passivation.

Aluminum (1100, 5052, 6061, 7075) from 0.5 to 20 mm. Fiber lasers have largely solved the reflectivity and conductivity challenges that limited older CO2 systems.

Copper and brass in sheet form from 0.5 to 8 mm on fiber lasers. Reflective metals require closed-loop power control and nitrogen assist.

Titanium, nickel alloys (Monel 400, Inconel), and specialty alloys are cut on fiber lasers with argon or nitrogen assist to prevent oxidation.

Non-metals (acrylic, wood, fabric, paper, leather) are cut on CO2 lasers. Material selection should match the part’s mechanical load, operating environment, and cost target. Our DFM review can recommend the right grade before programming starts.

Accuracy depends on machine class, beam quality, and material thickness.

Positional accuracy holds ±0.05 mm on profiles up to 1,000 mm. Repeatability stays within ±0.03 mm across production runs.

Kerf width ranges from 0.1 mm on thin stainless to 0.5 mm on thick carbon steel. The kerf must be accounted for in the CAD file or offset in the CAM path.

Edge quality grades run from N1 (mirror-smooth, machined appearance) to N4 (visible striations and dross) per ISO 9013. Fiber lasers hold N2 to N3 on thin stainless and aluminum, which is weld-ready without secondary finishing.

Heat-affected zone (HAZ) depth is 0.05 to 0.2 mm depending on material and speed. Minimal on thin gauge; consider annealing if the part carries fatigue loading.

Flag tight tolerances and edge quality requirements on your drawing so they can be reviewed before programming. Over-specifying drives up cycle time without improving part performance.

Our laser cutting beds accept sheets up to 3,000 × 1,500 mm on fiber and CO2 platforms. Tube laser cutting handles profiles up to 200 mm diameter and 6,000 mm length.

Maximum thickness varies by material: mild steel up to 25 mm on fiber and 30 mm on CO2; stainless steel up to 12 mm on fiber; aluminum up to 20 mm on fiber; copper and brass up to 8 mm on fiber; titanium up to 10 mm on fiber with argon assist.

Parts larger than the bed are split and rejoined downstream through welding, bolting, or riveting. Feature-level tolerances on the split seam are added to the base positional accuracy.

Laser and waterjet each have strengths. Laser wins on speed and edge quality for metal under 25 mm. Waterjet wins on thick, reflective, or heat-sensitive materials.

Choose laser when the material is metal under 25 mm thick, the profile needs ±0.05 mm accuracy, and the edges will be welded, bent, or painted. Laser is typically 3 to 5 times faster than waterjet per part on thin gauge.

Choose waterjet when the material is thick (above 25 mm steel or 50 mm aluminum), reflective (pure copper, brass, gold, silver) on older machines, heat-sensitive (hardened tool steel that would anneal under laser heat), or non-metal (stone, glass, composites).

For most sheet metal fabrication work in 0.5 to 25 mm metal, laser is the right answer. Our engineering team can recommend the right process during DFM review.

Yes. Most production programs include at least one post-machining operation.

Anodizing is standard on aluminum parts for corrosion and wear resistance. Type II anodizing adds 5 to 25 μm; Type III hardcoat adds 25 to 75 μm for abrasion-heavy applications.

Powder coating is standard on steel parts for outdoor or high-salt environments. Powder coat delivers 500 to 1,000 hours of salt spray resistance in 60 to 120 μm coatings.

Passivation is required on stainless steel medical and food-grade parts to remove free iron and restore the chromium oxide layer (ASTM A967).

Plating adds bright chrome, nickel, zinc, or tin for cosmetic and functional finishes on steel and brass. Plating adds 5 to 30 μm to part dimensions.

Polishing to Ra 0.2 to 0.8 μm is available for optical surfaces, sealing faces, and mirror finishes. Specify on the drawing which surfaces require polishing since it is a manual operation.

Decide on finish requirements during the DFM review because they often influence material selection and dimensional tolerance.

Custom fastener production covers a range of processes that convert wire or bar stock into finished parts. Here are the primary processes available through most full-service fastener manufacturers.

1. Cold Heading: Progressive dies form the head, shank, and recesses from a wire blank. The most cost-effective process for volumes above 10,000 pieces. Diameter range 1.5 to 25 mm.

2. CNC Turning: Rotating bar stock is machined by cutting tools. Suitable for fasteners with complex geometries, unusual thread forms, or tolerances tighter than cold heading allows.

3. Swiss Machining: A variant of CNC turning for small-diameter, long, or precision parts. Used for miniature fasteners and medical screws with tolerances to ±0.01 mm.

4. Thread Rolling: Hardened dies form threads by cold displacement rather than cutting. Rolled threads are stronger than cut threads and produce no chips. Standard process for high-strength fasteners.

5. Wärmebehandlung: Quenching, tempering, carburizing, or induction hardening produces fasteners to specified strength grades (Grade 5, 8, Class 8.8, 10.9, 12.9).

6. Plating and Coating: Zinc, hot-dip galvanizing, electroless nickel, black oxide, Dacromet, and chrome plating applied after threading. Provides corrosion resistance and appearance.

7. Inspection and Testing: Dimensional inspection with CMM and thread gauges. Mechanical testing includes tensile, hardness, and torque-tension. Salt spray testing for plated fasteners.

A full-service manufacturer combines these processes under one roof, reducing lead times and eliminating the coordination overhead of managing multiple suppliers.