Home > Services > Precision Laser Cutting Services
At Accurate Metal Products, we bring over 25 years of industrial metalworking experience to our clients. One of our main offerings is precision laser cutting, a service that enables us to cut a wide range of metals – including steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, and low-alloy steel – into specific shapes and sizes according to our clients’ needs.
Steel sheet and plate manufacturing involves various techniques, tools, and equipment. At Accurate Metal Products, we specialize in CNC laser cutting for high-precision and consistent results. Our laser cutting services are available in-house, giving us complete control of your project while implementing our Quality Management System for maximum efficiency and quality assurance.
A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR CAPABILITIES
Our CNC-controlled Fiber Laser cutting tables are designed to handle parts up to 72 x 144. We can work with stainless steel up to .75 in. thick and carbon steel up to 1 in. thick. We are committed to precision, working to minimum tolerances (length & width) of <.1793 +/-.003″, >.1793 – .25″ +/-.005,>.25″-.375″ +/-.006″, >.375″ -.5″ +/-.008
Repeatable Cut-Edge Quality
Hole and Internal Shape Cuts
Cutting Materials
Steel
Stainless Steel
Low Alloy Steel
Alloy Steel
Cutting Thickness
Up to 1/2″(Steel)
Up to 3/8″(Stainless Steel)
Cutting Length
Up to 10′(120″)
Cutting Width
Up to 5′(60″)
Kerf
Narrow to Reduce Waste
Tolerance(+/-)(Length & Width)
<.1793″+/-.003″
>.1793″-.25″=+/-.005
>.25″-.375″=.006
>.375″-.5″=+/-.008
Lifting Capacity
2 Ton
Additional Services
Clean
Package
Bar Coding
*Free Delivery (150 mile Radius of Milwaukee or Rockford)
Production Volume
Low to High Volume
Lead Time
Inquire for current lead times
Additional Information
Industry Focus
Agriculture, Automation / Production Equipment,
Construction, Mining, Nuclear, Material Handling,
Municipal/ Government, Power Generation, Rail, Wind
Intended Application
Components
Armor Plating
Heavy Duty Vehicle
OEM Components
Industry Standards
ASTM
ANSI
ASME
File Formats
AutoCAD (DWG, DXF)
CNC Laser Cutting at Accurate Metal Products
Our precision laser cutting services involve using a laser beam to gradually remove material from a workpiece by melting or vaporizing it. Our state-of-the-art laser cutting machines can handle a variety of materials, including stainless steel, aluminum, and carbon steel. Computer Numerical Control (CNC) laser cutting machines have optics, an assist gas, and a guidance system to direct and focus the high-powered laser beam into the workpiece.
CNC laser cutting offers incredible accuracy and precision to achieve complex shapes, tolerances, sizes, and patterns. Compared to manual or traditional cutting methods, where complicated designs are almost impossible to produce, our laser cutting services have become a go-to cutting technique for demanding industries such as agriculture, rail, mining, etc.
How Does Laser Cutting Work?
Our experts follow a general step-by-step process to guarantee superior quality outcomes. After identifying your project needs and other crucial factors regarding your product, we’ll begin the process below:
CAD software creates a design.
CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software converts the CAD design into a CNC program.
The material is prepared and attached to the machine’s work surface.
The CNC machine is set up based on the project’s requirements and specifications.
The beam is guided along the programmed path while the material is melted and removed.
While the material is cut, cooling is provided by the assist gas to prevent overheating and aid in solidification.
Parts are inspected for quality to determine post-processing steps.
Once the CNC laser cutting process is completed, a clean and detailed cut is achieved with minimal heat distortion or mechanical stress. The material’s structural integrity is ensured to eliminate additional finishing processes as much as possible, except for particular parts and components.
Applications of CNC Laser Cutting
Our high-precision laser cutting services are employed in various industries, especially those with stringent standards and regulatory requirements. Some typical applications include:
Agriculture: OEM parts for agricultural machinery are made using CNC laser cutting for durable components that can resist the rigorous agricultural environment.
Mining: The harsh conditions in mining require high-performance parts produced through professional laser cutting services, such as armor plating for mining vehicles.
Construction: The construction industry relies on consistent cutting of steel sheets and plates for structural components and off-highway truck parts to withstand impact, abrasion, and heavy loads.
Rail: Heavy-duty rail components can be manufactured through CNC laser cutting using steel sheets and plates.
Regardless of your application, we can easily and confidently handle any laser cutting project. Our team has years of expertise in operating CNC laser cutting machines, so we promise to deliver results that will improve your bottom line. Contact us to speak with one of our representatives or request a quote so we can kickstart your project today!
An Overview of the Laser Cutting Process
Click to Enlarge
The laser cutting process relies on a high-powered laser to cut through material. As the laser beam passes across the workpiece, it heats, melts, and partially or entirely vaporizes localized sections. An assist gas protects the laser components from thermal damage and expels the excess waste material from the targeted areas, assisting in the formation of the desired cuts.
The design and configuration of laser cutting equipment vary depending on the project specifications. For example, parts with high precision and accuracy requirements are generally made on CNC laser cutters to achieve tighter dimensional tolerances. The type of laser employed-e.g., CO2 vs. solid-state—is similarly dependent on the part and production needs.
CO2 lasers utilize carbon dioxide as the active laser medium. Compared to fiber lasers, they are generally much weaker. As such, they are typically used for cutting through non-metal and other soft materials or engraving metals and other hard materials.
Fiber lasers are one of the most commonly employed types of solid-state lasers. They utilize optical fibers made from rare elements (e.g., neodymium or ytterbium) as their active laser mediums. Compared to CO2 lasers, they are more powerful, meaning they can cut a broader range of metal and non-metal materials. Other key advantages include better precision, accuracy, and efficiency.
Laser Cutting Benefits
In comparison to other cutting processes, laser cutting offers a number of benefits, such as:
Better cutting precision and accuracy. Laser cutters-especially CNC-compatible units-allow for the cutting of parts and products with highly complex and/or intricate designs to tight tolerances. This quality ensures the finished pieces comply with the design specifications from one part to the next and between runs.
Broader design flexibility. The laser cutting process readily accommodates a wide range of designs in varying sizes and thicknesses as the equipment simply needs to be reprogrammed to suit the project specifications.
Lower risk of mechanical and thermal distortion. Since the laser cutting process is inherently contactless, there is a smaller chance of mechanical distortion occurring in the workpiece, including for highly thin of flexible materials. Additionally, the use of a focused beam decreases the average size of the heat affected zone (HAZ) on the workpiece compared to other cutting processes, which, in turn, reduces the risk of thermal distortion.
Smaller material utilization-to-waste ratio. Laser cutting technology allows manufacturers to achieve greater precision and accuracy during cutting operations, which enables them to place individual part designs closer together on the workpiece without sacrificing product or process quality. As a result, the overall amount of material required to complete a laser cutting operation is much lower than other cutting processes.
The Materials We Laser Cut
Both steel and stainless steel are commonly used in laser cutting operations, given their compatibility with the process. At Accurate Metal Products, we offer precision laser cutting for steel, stainless steel, and other alloy and low-alloy steels. Our large CNC-controlled, fiber laser cutting tables can process materials up to 72 x 144 and up to .75 inches thick (for stainless steel) or 1 inch thick (for carbon steel). Our stringent minimum tolerances (length & width) are <.1793 inches +/-.003 inches, >.1793–.25 inches +/- .005 inches, >.25–.375 inches +/-.006 inches, and >.375–.5 inches +/-.008 inches.
AN INSIGHT INTO THE LASER CUTTING PROCESS
Laser cutting is a procedure that uses a high-power laser to cut through material. As the laser beam traverses the workpiece, it heats, melts, and either partially or entirely vaporizes specific sections. An assist gas shields the laser components from thermal damage and expels excess waste material from the target areas, helping to create the desired cuts.
The design and configuration of laser cutting equipment may differ based on the project specifications. For instance, parts requiring high precision and accuracy are usually crafted on CNC laser cutters to achieve closer dimensional tolerances. The type of laser employed—like CO2 vs. solid-state—is likewise dependent on the part and production needs.
CO2 lasers use carbon dioxide as the active laser medium. These lasers are generally weaker compared to fiber lasers and are typically used for cutting non-metal and other soft materials or for engraving metals and other hard materials.
Fiber lasers, a common type of solid-state laser, use optical fibers made from rare elements (e.g., neodymium or ytterbium) as their active laser mediums. They are more powerful than CO2 lasers, making them capable of cutting a wider range of materials, both metal and non-metal.
They also offer better precision, accuracy, and efficiency.
The Benefits of Laser Cutting
Compared to other cutting methods, laser cutting offers several benefits, such as:
1. Improved cutting precision and accuracy: CNC-compatible laser cutters allow for intricate designs and parts to be cut with tight tolerances, ensuring consistency from one part to the next and between
2. Greater design flexibility: Laser cutting can accommodate a wide range of designs of different sizes and thicknesses, as the equipment simply needs to be reprogrammed to match the project
3. Lower risk of mechanical and thermal distortion: Laser cutting is a contactless process, reducing the chance of mechanical distortion in the Additionally, the use of a focused beam decreases the heat affected zone (HAZ) on the workpiece, thus reducing the risk of thermal distortion.
4. Decreased material waste: Laser cutting allows manufacturers to achieve greater precision and accuracy, enabling them to place individual part designs closer together on the workpiece without sacrificing product or process quality. As a result, less material is wasted compared to other cutting processes.
Industries & Applications We Serve
The AMP team delivers precision laser cutting services to a wide range of industries, such as:
Agriculture
Automation / Production Equipment
Construction
Mining
Nuclear
Material Handling
Municipal/ Government
Power Generation
Rail
Wind
We produce laser cut components for agricultural and automation equipment, armor plating, heavy-duty automotive and truck parts, and OEM parts.
Contact The Experts at AMP for Your Laser Cutting Needs
Laser cutting allows for the manufacture of highly precise and accurate components. If you’re looking for a partner for your laser cutting needs, turn to the experts at Accurate Metals.
At Accurate Metals, we offer precision laser cutting capabilities for projects involving steel and stainless steel alloys and low to high production volumes. In addition to our laser cutting capabilities, we also offer cleaning, packaging, barcoding, and other post-processing services to achieve a complete or near-complete solution. We can comply with a variety of industry standards (e.g., ANSI, ASME, ASTM), depending on customer specifications.
For more information about our laser cutting services and how they can help in your next project, contact us or request a quote today.
