Sheet Metal Laser Cutting: Fundaments of Laser Cutting Metal
Subtractive manufacturing techniques are typical operations for the fabrication of parts in industries. One primary example of such techniques is …
Provide efficient production and faster design to delivery.
Produce precision parts that exceed industry standards.
Create and test products quickly to bring them to market.
Bring new, affordable products to market faster.
Empower to innovate faster, maximizing performance.
Innovation in enclosures for low-volume production.
Deliver machinery that beats the competition.
Speed up innovation and development.
Build prototypes and products that adhere to medical safety.
Improve efficiency with precise, fast, and constant part quality.
Drive time-to-market through on-demand production.
The extremely high level of precision needed within the aerospace industry makes CNC machining a suitable manufacturing process for the sector.
This article provides you with a complete guide to aerospace machining and its importance.
Whitepaper, design guide, materials, and finishing.
Different finishing options enhance part appearance and functionality.
Discover our library of educational videos.
If you want to produce high-quality machined parts with a sleek appearance, it’s essential to consider some critical factors related to CNC machining.
Here, we’ve gathered some basic information and important considerations to help you achieve the desired results.
Our vision, mission, development history, and dedicated team.
Real feedback on experiences and opinions of our services.
Company news, platform updates, holiday announcement.
Get instant quotes with our smart online platform.
Rapid prototyping, and on-demand production.
Deliver quality parts that meet requirements and exceed expectations.
Attention! We have exciting news to share with you. We have just launched the latest online platform, version 3.0!
The updated platform boasts a fresh and intuitive design, along with enhanced functionality that streamlines and accelerates the quoting process, like a new manufacturing process, streamlined quoting summary page, and improved checkout page.
Get high-quality laser cutting services for prototypes and production parts. Custom high-precision laser cut parts with excellent dimensional stability. At low prices, fast lead times.
Backed by outstanding manufacturing capabilities and 10+ years of industry experience, RapidDirect offers superior quality custom laser cutting services with excellent result potential. We combine highly skilled machinists with cutting-edge laser cutting facilities to cut anything from delicate aluminum foils to thick steel sheets. Enjoy metal laser cutting service with an extensive range of advanced processes and technology.
With outstanding precision results, fiber laser cutting produces excellent results on materials with less than 20mm thickness. This process can help achieve even complex cutting operations like engraving and annealing
Take advantage of the highly advanced combination of electricity and gases to cut non-metal components like plastics, acrylics, and wood. This laser cutting process also gives excellent results with thin sheets of aluminum and other non-ferrous metals.
This high-power laser cutting process offers an even more advanced online laser cutting service for coated and uncoated metals, plastic, and other non-metals. Enjoy top-notch laser cutting parts with increased life expectancy and the best quality.
RapidDirect offers custom laser cutting services that is second to none. Our capabilities and facilities ensure that we get the best results on various projects. Check out our stepwise sheet metal laser cutting process in this video.
Laser cutting offers several benefits for many industries, ranging from precision, speed, repeatability, and flexibility. RapidDirect’s laser cutting service help meet industry requirements in terms of functionality and aesthetics.
RapidDirect provides a AI-powered, hassle-free online quotation platform that can help simplify your ordering and manufacturing process. Stop wasting time in emails, get interactive quotes with DFM analysis within seconds, optimize your orders immediately, compare your multiple quotes side by side, manage your orders in one place.
Get in-bulk quotes, allowing you to make a pricing comparison between different specs, quantities, raw materials, and surface finishes, and helping you choose the solution that best suits your needs and budget.
Our online platform enables real-time visibility of the part manufacturing process that fosters more efficient operation monitoring and quicker response to negative changes.
Quickly check, search, and manage all your orders in one place. What's even better is that you get visibility into all stages of the production process and every aspect of the manufacturing operation.
The versatility and precision of laser cutting ensure excellent initial product development and continuous production. Design files are rapidly turned into end products, from intricate custom parts to complex enclosures.
RapidDirect uses high-precision laser cutters to create material blanks and prepare flat patterns for prototyping and production.
Compatibility with various materials, production speed, and low cost per unit make RapidDirect’s laser cutting services ideal for creating prototypes of end products.
Sheet metal laser cutting service offers high throughput with incredible precision for many applications, making it an excellent technology for end-use parts.
RapidDirect follows international industry standards and market trends to offer premium laser cutting parts to our customers. We have state-of-the-art laser cutting machines that offer the finest and most precise cutting. These technologies allow us to cut at higher speed, with versatile design change, narrow kerf, burr-free edges and holes, and lesser material waste, all at reduced costs.
Standards | Description |
Minimum part size | 10 mm (0.40 in.) |
Minimum feature size | 2X material thickness with a minimum of 1 mm (0.04 in.) |
Distance dimensions | Our laser cutting standards depend on ISO 2768-c.
Typical size: +/- 0.2 mm (0.008 in.) for length, width, diameter and location. |
Maximum material thickness | Carbon steel < 25 mm (0.98 in.), Stainless steel < 15 mm (0.59 in.), Aluminum < 15 mm (0.59 in.) , Copper < 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) |
Kerf (slit size) | About 0.5 mm (0.02 in.) |
Edge condition | Laser cut edges have matte and vertical lines. |
Laser sources | CO2 and fiber lasers. Up to 10 kW. |
Repeatability | +/- 0.05 mm (0.002 in.) |
Positioning accuracy | +/- 0.10 mm (0.004 in.) |
Lead Time | 5-7 days |
RapidDirect’s laser cutting service is versatile and compatible with various materials, ranging from ferrous to non-ferrous metals, plastics, and other non-metals. Our laser cutting facility combines ultra-modern technology with skilled professionals to laser cut materials across different strengths, weights, and thermal properties. Here are some laser cutting materials available for your project.
Take advantage of our wide availability of metal materials for your laser cutting project. Our production-grade metals come with high strength and durability, optimal thickness, and customizability. As the most common laser cutting materials, RapidDirect offers a long list of metals, including:
Types:
Aluminum
Stainless steel
Steel
Copper
There are also many compatible plastics with the laser cutting process. We offer a wide range of plastics that can meet simple commercial applications and complex industrial requirements. RapidDirect’s production-grade plastics are excellent options for medical instruments, gear, food packaging, and more. The common ones include:
Types:
PMMA
Delrin (POM, Acetal)
Polyethylene
Polypropylene
Styrene
Lucite
Mylar (polyester)
Our acrylic laser cutting service is extensively valuable, helping you meet industry demands for various applications. Our improved technology allows us to cut and engrave on acrylic materials to achieve the best results. RapidDirect offers both cast acrylic materials and extruded acrylic to meet your production requirements.
Choose from the extensive list of finishing options to improve the surfaces of your custom laser cut parts and products to improve their cosmetic appearance, corrosion resistance, and durability.
Name | Description | Materials | Color | Texture | Link |
![]() |
Anodizing | Anodizing improves corrosion resistance, enhancing wear resistance and hardness, and protecting the metal surface. Widely used in mechanical parts, aircraft, and automobile parts, precision instruments, etc. | Aluminum | Clear, black, grey, red, blue, gold. | Smooth, matte finish. | Learn More>> |
![]() |
Bead Blasting |
Bead blasting results in parts with a smooth surface with a matte texture. Used mainly for visual applications and can be followed by other surface treatments. |
ABS, Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel |
n/a | Matte | Learn More>> |
![]() |
Powder Coating | Powder coating is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. Unlike conventional liquid paint which is delivered via an evaporating solvent, powder coating is typically applied electrostatically and then cured under heat or with ultraviolet light. | Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Steel |
Black, any RAL code or Pantone number |
Gloss or semi-gloss |
|
![]() |
Electroplating | Electroplating can be functional, decorative or corrosion-related. Many industries use the process, including the automotive sector, in which chrome-plating of steel automobile parts is common. |
Aluminum, steel, stainless steel |
n/a |
Smooth, glossy finish |
|
![]() |
Polishing |
Polishing is the process of creating a smooth and shiny surface, either through physical rubbing of the part or by chemical interference. The process produces a surface with significant specular reflection, but in some materials is able to reduce diffuse reflection. |
Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel |
n/a |
Glossy |
|
![]() |
Brushing |
Brushing is a surface treatment process in which abrasive belts are used to draw traces on the surface of a material, usually for aesthetic purposes. |
ABS, Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel |
n/a | satin |
Many industries worldwide are gradually transitioning to laser cutting technology because it provides additional benefits such as precision, tight tolerance, flexibility, clean finish, enhanced productivity, and design complexity. Whether for prototype or full-scale manufacturing, switching to laser cutting saves time and money.
Because of the crucial nature of its work, the aerospace sector has robust fundamental criteria for accuracy and precision. The laser cutting technology helps to cut aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium for aerospace engineering. Intricate pieces, high-strength aluminum alloys, and various rare metals are cut with a low HAZ and tight tolerance with the help of the laser cutting process.
Precision laser cutting allows for the assembly of complex automotive pieces. Laser metal cutting tools can accurately process automotive parts such as brakes, exhaust pipes, doors, etc. Part and serial numbers can also be engraved on produced items. The laser cutting technique is used to make hydroformed parts, often 3D pieces used to construct instrument panels or engine frames.
Laser cut parts are used in the medical sector to produce everything from beds and trolleys to diagnostic equipment, orthopedic rods, aluminum brackets, and surgical tools. Precision laser cutting creates flexible shafts, vascular clips, bone reamers, valve frames, hones, etc.
The capacity of laser technology to cut intricate components, swiftly switch between different materials and cause little heat damage to the surrounding region are the key reasons for its extensive usage in this sector. Some applications include multi-layer circuit boards, polished metal gadget enclosures, and microSD cards.
In the kitchenware sector, laser cutting equipment has several applications. They are capable of generating very detailed designs, making them suitable for crafting ornamental objects like vases and bowls. Engraving names into cookware is effective in personalizing and keeping track of possessions. A laser cutter may help you get the style you want, from simple borders to complex designs on pots and pans.
Laser cutting technologies are used in the new energy industry to accurately cut solar cells and thin film materials, reducing waste and increasing efficiency. The laser cutting process also helps with the clean and precision cutting of lithium-ion batteries. This is critical for maintaining the batteries’ optimal performance.
For many years, RapidDirect’s laser cutting service has covered a wide range of applications for many industries. Below are some of our previous laser cutting projects.
With cutting-edge laser cutting technologies and innovative technical expertise, RapidDirect is committed to offering the best custom laser cutting services with prototypes and mass production runs. We are a reliable manufacturing company with the right certifications and experience to provide cost-effective, on-demand laser cutting solutions.
Just upload your design files and configure material, finishing options and lead time. Quick quotes for your sheet metal components can be created in just a few clicks.
With an ISO 9001:2015 certificated sheet metal manufacturing factory, we provide material and full dimensional inspection reports as your request. You can always rest assured the parts you get from RapidDirect will exceed your expectations.
Our domestic factories in China provide a complete sheet metal project solution through flexible material, surface finish options and infinite manufacturing capacity for low volume and high volume production runs.
We provide 24/7 online engineering customer support for your custom sheet metal engineering and manufacturing problems. This includes case-by-case suggestions to help you reduce costs early on in the design phase.
A customer’s words have a more substantial impact than a company’s claims – and see what our satisfied customers have said regarding how we fulfilled their requirements.
Hi, Andy. I want to express my gratitude to you and your team for all your efforts in completing the project. Working with RapidDirect on this metal fabrication project has been a great pleasure. I wish you a wonderful rest of your summer, and I am confident we will work together again in the future.
Stephen Phearsdorf
– Lead Mechanical
I would like to thank you for working with us on this successful project. Our project team has been very impressed with RapidDirect’s quality of work and timely deliveries. We will definitely keep you in mind for future sheet metal projects and recommend you to other companies.
Derek Armstrong
– Project Manager
RapidDirect has been a creative and trustworthy partner for both unique ideas and quality parts production for many years. We heartily endorse RapidDirect as a one-stop shop for both straightforward and intricate designs. They offer services for design enhancement, large selection of materials and finishing services, and quick responses.
Kleng Ellwood
– Product Engineer
RapidDirect is an essential part of our supply chain. They regularly deliver on schedule sheet metal parts and with top-notch quality. They are easy to work with and considerate of their client’s demands. Whether it is repeat orders for parts or one of our numerous last-minute orders, they always deliver.
Feri Russell
– Director of Product Development
I am happy to say that RapidDirect is one of our top sources for fabricated metal parts. We have a 4-year relationship with them, and it all began with excellent customer service. They do a fantastic job of informing us about our order progress. We view RapidDirect more as a project partner than just a supplier for us in many ways.
Rahim Smyth
– Designer
Our laser cutting process is compatible with a wide variety of materials, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics, and other non-metals. We can also cut materials with varying weights, thicknesses, and mechanical properties.
Our laser cutting service can cut material with a precision of +/- 0.002 inches and a positional accuracy of +/- 0.004 inches.
RapidDirect has different thickness specifications for different laser cutting materials. The maximum thickness for stainless steel and aluminum is < 15 mm. On the other hand, we can cut carbon steel up to 25 mm thick and less than 12.7 mm for copper.
Yes, our experts have adequate experience and knowledge of laser engraving and etching. Therefore, we are able to provide superior quality services that will meet your demands.
Yes, you can bend the material with the various bending techniques offered at RapidDirect. There is an allowance for bending in your flat pattern profiles. We offer sheet metal bending techniques like V-bending, roll bending, rotary bending, wipe bending, and so on. The technique used will depend on your specific applications.
Laser cutting is a highly efficient method that can cut steel materials with a cutting speed of 600 inches per minute. This ensures multiple cutting projects will be completed quickly while also saving material costs. With our precise laser cutting machines, you can be sure of faster lead times and reasonable pricing.
Subtractive manufacturing techniques are typical operations for the fabrication of parts in industries. One primary example of such techniques is …
When it comes to cutting metal, only a few techniques can compare to the precision and accuracy that laser cutting …
Laser and waterjet cutting are two common processes manufacturers use in sheet metal fabrication. Both processes are fundamentally different, but their …