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Aerospace

Provide efficient production and faster design to delivery.

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Produce precision parts that exceed industry standards.

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Create and test products quickly to bring them to market.

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Bring new, affordable products to market faster.

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Empower to innovate faster, maximizing performance.

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Innovation in enclosures for low-volume production.

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Deliver machinery that beats the competition.

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Build prototypes and products that adhere to medical safety.

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Improve efficiency with precise, fast, and constant part quality.

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Drive time-to-market through on-demand production.

CNC Machining for Aerospace

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.

 

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Choose from 50+ metals and plastics for your project.

CNC Machining eBook

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.

About RapidDirect

Our vision, mission, development history, and dedicated team.

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Get instant quotes with our smart online platform.

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Deliver quality parts that meet requirements and exceed expectations.

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Instant Quote for Sheet Metal Fabrication and New Homepage

Exciting news from RapidDirect!  We’ve rolled out two exciting updates to enhance your manufacturing journey. 

  • Instant Quote for Sheet Metal Fabrication
  • A brand-new Homepage Experience

Custom Online Laser Cutting Services

Precise laser cut parts for rapid prototyping and production. Free laser cutting quote with DFM review within 1 day. Lead time as fast as 3-5 days.
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Start A Laesr Cutting Quote

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High Quality
Parts
11.1
Our advanced laser cutting machines deliver precision in every project. Our rigorous quality control ensures that your custom metal parts match exact specifications, giving you flawless results for every order.
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Fast
Lead Time
11.2
You'll experience industry-leading speed in project delivery. Our efficient online system and streamlined production processes minimize wait times, enabling you to receive laser cut parts faster and stay ahead in your market.
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Engineering
Support
11.3
Our engineering team transforms design challenges into achievable solutions. We provide hands-on support, ensuring your custom laser cutting projects benefit from the best technical advice and design optimization for superior results.

What is
Laser Cutting

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Laser cutting is a precise and efficient manufacturing process that uses a high-powered laser beam to cut materials into custom shapes and designs. This technology is ideal for creating intricate parts and components with high accuracy and clean finishes.

 

At RapidDirect, our custom online laser cutting services cater to a wide range of materials including various metals, plastics, and even woods, ensuring versatility for all your project needs. Whether you require a single prototype, low or high-volume production runs, our capabilities support it all with ease. We utilize advanced laser cutters that can handle complex designs and deliver consistently high-quality results.

 

To streamline your experience, RapidDirect offers an instant quoting system that accepts multiple 3D CAD file formats. Simply upload your design to receive a real-time quote and move seamlessly from design to production, optimizing both time and cost. Our comprehensive online sheet metal laser cutting service combines speed, precision, and accessibility to meet your manufacturing requirements effectively.

Types of Laser Cutters at RapidDirect

Our laser cutting shop features advanced machinery capable of handling a variety of materials with high precision and efficiency.

fiber-laser-cutting

Fiber Laser Cutting

Fiber laser cutters at RapidDirect provide exceptional precision with minimal setup time, making them suitable for cutting reflective metals. They offer high energy efficiency and fast cutting speeds, essential for both high-volume and custom metal laser cutting projects.

CO2-laser-cutting

CO2 Laser Cutting

Our CO2 laser cutters are highly effective in processing a wide range of materials including metals, plastics, and woods. With a fine laser beam, CO2 technology ensures clean cuts and intricate detailing, enhancing the quality of your laser cut parts.

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Nd:Yag Laser Cutting

Nd:Yag laser cutters are renowned for their high power and capability to cut through thick and hard materials. At RapidDirect, we deploy Nd:Yag lasers for tasks that demand extreme precision and deep cutting, well-suited for complex industrial and design challenges.

Laser Cutting Materials

Metals
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Metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, and brass are known for their durability, high strength, and excellent corrosion resistance. These properties make them ideal for both structural applications and detailed aesthetic pieces.
Plastics
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Plastics like acrylic and polycarbonate are celebrated for their lightweight, impact resistance, and clarity. These materials offer great versatility, allowing for a wide range of applications from industrial components to visually appealing decorative items.
Woods
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Wood varieties such as pine, oak, and maple are chosen for their natural grain patterns, workability, and strength. Each type provides a unique aesthetic and can be used for both structural purposes and intricate decorative works.

RapidDirect
Laser Cutting Capabilities

Our custom laser cutting services follow international industry standards and market trends to offer premium laser cutting parts to our customers.

Description
Maximum Part Size10 mm (0.40 in.)
Minimum Part Size2X material thickness with a minimum of 1 mm (0.04 in.)
Distance DimensionsOur 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 ConditionLaser cut edges have matte and vertical lines.
Laser Sources CO2 and fiber lasers. Up to 10 kW.
Reapability+/- 0.05 mm (0.002 in.)
Positioning Accuracy+/-  0.10 mm (0.004 in.)
Lead Time5-7 days

Explore RapidDirect
Laser Cutting Shop

Discover the precision of the RapidDirect laser cutting shop, where modern technology meets skilled work. Our shop houses seven high-tech laser cutters, each with a capacity of 3000*1500, able to cut up to 30mm thick plates with a precision of ±0.01mm. This allows us to work with a wide variety of materials, from metals to plastics and woods, ensuring top-quality results for every project.

 

Take a closer look at our operations by watching our video tour. See how our laser cutting services bring precision and efficiency to each custom project, demonstrating our dedication to excellence.

700+

Sets of Machine

120+

Countries Shipped

20,000+

Customers Served

Advantages of Laser Cutting

The advantages of using laser cutting technology are significant and beneficial across various manufacturing settings:

  • Precision and Accuracy: Offers exceptional cutting accuracy and consistency, perfect for intricate designs and complex patterns. This precision reduces waste and increases efficiency during the production process.
  • Versatility: Capable of cutting a variety of materials including metals, plastics, and woods, laser cutting is adaptable for different industry needs. It handles various material thicknesses and complexities without the need for tool changes.
  • Speed: One of the fastest cutting methods available, it significantly reduces production times. Its speed makes it ideal for both large scale production runs and rapid prototyping, contributing to faster project completion.
  • Clean Cuts and Smooth Finish: Produces clean, sealed edges that require little to no finishing work, thus minimizing post-processing steps. This not only speeds up production but also enhances the aesthetic quality of the final products.
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  • Reduced Contamination: As a non-contact process, there is minimal risk of material contamination, which is crucial for industries where purity is essential, such as in electronics or medical devices.
  • Energy Efficiency: Modern laser cutting machines are designed to be energy efficient, which reduces operational costs and supports sustainability efforts in manufacturing practices.

Applications of Laser Cutting

Laser cutting technology is extensively used to fabricate a diverse range of parts, each benefiting from the precision and versatility this method offers:

  • Structural Components: Essential for machinery and buildings, laser cutting provides the exactness required for structural elements such as beams, frames, and supports, ensuring they fit seamlessly into complex constructions.
  • Decorative Elements: From intricate metal panels to detailed artworks, laser cutting is ideal for creating decorative items that require fine, precise cuts. This capability is widely used in interior design, architecture, and art installations.
  • Functional Parts: Laser cutting is crucial in manufacturing functional components like gears, brackets, and enclosures. The technology’s precision ensures that these parts operate smoothly within mechanical systems, making it a preferred choice for automotive and machinery applications.
  • Prototypes: Designers and engineers frequently use laser cutting to rapidly produce prototypes, allowing for quick iterations and refinement. This process accelerates the development of products across industries by enabling precise and quick modifications.
  • Electronic Components: Laser cutting is used to produce intricate components for electronics, such as circuit boards and insulating layers. The ability to cut complex shapes precisely and without damaging sensitive materials is critical for the miniaturization and functionality of electronic devices.

FAQs

Our laser cutting service is designed for precision, capable of achieving a cutting accuracy of +/- 0.002 inches and a positional accuracy of +/- 0.004 inches. This level of precision ensures that every part we produce matches your exact specifications, contributing to the high quality of the final product. Whether you are working on intricate designs or require exact replication of parts, our laser cutting technology provides the accuracy needed for complex and detailed projects, making it ideal for industries requiring meticulous attention to detail.

Our laser cutting capabilities vary depending on the material, allowing us to manage a range of thicknesses for different project needs. For stainless steel and aluminum, we can handle materials up to 15 mm thick, providing robustness and precision with each cut. When it comes to carbon steel, our equipment can efficiently process sheets as thick as 25 mm, suitable for heavier-duty applications. For copper, our precise laser cutting service effectively handles thicknesses up to 12.7 mm, perfect for detailed and intricate designs. This versatility ensures we can meet diverse cutting requirements with accuracy and high quality.

Yes, we offer both laser engraving and etching services. Our team is equipped with extensive experience and expertise in these techniques, enabling us to deliver superior quality results that meet your specific requirements. Whether you need detailed graphics, precise text, or intricate patterns, our laser engraving and etching services are designed to provide high-resolution finishes on a variety of materials. We handle each project with great precision, ensuring exceptional and lasting impressions on your products, perfectly suited for both aesthetic enhancements and functional markings.

Yes, in addition to laser cutting, we offer a variety of material bending techniques at our facility. You can bend the material using methods such as V-bending, roll bending, rotary bending, and wipe bending. These techniques are available to shape your flat pattern profiles into the desired forms. The choice of bending method will depend on the specific requirements of your project. This flexibility allows us to cater to a wide range of applications, ensuring that the final product meets your design and functionality needs precisely.

The duration required to laser cut materials varies depending on several factors including the complexity of the design, the type of material, and its thickness. Generally, simpler designs on thinner materials can be completed quickly, often within a few hours. More complex or intricate designs, as well as cutting through thicker materials, may take longer. We strive to optimize our processes to ensure efficient turnaround times without compromising quality. For specific time estimates on your project, we encourage you to contact us directly so we can provide a detailed and personalized timeline based on your exact specifications.

Laser cutting and plasma cutting are both popular methods for cutting materials, but they differ significantly in terms of process, precision, and suitable applications.

 

Laser cutting uses a focused beam of light, typically from a CO2 or fiber laser, to melt, burn, or vaporize material. This method is highly precise, allowing for intricate cuts and fine details with a high-quality edge finish. It is ideal for metals, plastics, woods, and various other materials, especially when precision is critical.

 

On the other hand, plasma cutting involves using a jet of ionized gas at high temperature to melt and cut through electrically conductive materials. Plasma cutters are generally faster than lasers when working with thicker metal sheets but offer less precision. The cut edges are rougher and may require additional finishing.

Laser cutting is a precise manufacturing process that uses a high-powered laser beam to cut materials into custom shapes and designs. The laser beam is focused through a lens onto the material’s surface, where it melts, burns, or vaporizes the material along a programmed path. This process allows for intricate cuts, tight tolerances, and excellent edge quality, making it suitable for various materials like metals, plastics, wood, and more.

The cost of laser cutting depends on several factors, including:

  • Material Type and Thickness: Different materials have varying cutting speeds and laser power requirements, affecting the cost.
  • Part Complexity and Size: Intricate designs with numerous cuts or larger parts require more processing time, influencing the overall price.
  • Quantity: Larger orders often benefit from economies of scale, resulting in lower per-part costs.
  • Additional Services: Finishing operations like deburring, anodizing, or powder coating add to the final cost.

RapidDirect offers an instant online quoting system for laser cutting. Simply upload your design file to receive a real-time quote based on your specific requirements. Contact our team for personalized assistance and a detailed cost breakdown.

Laser Cutting
Resources

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RapidDirect x Rennteam Stuttgart: Innovation Collaboration of Racecar Engineering
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RapidDirect x Rennteam Stuttgart
RapidDirect x Rennteam Stuttgart: Innovation Collaboration of Racecar Engineering
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