Home > Laser cutting & metal fabrication FAQs > Laser cutting FAQs
Laser cutting frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Our customers utilizing Tesko's laser cutting, and architectural
and ornamental metal fabricating services frequently ask similar
questions. The following laser cutting FAQs cover many of the
typical questions we are asked by our OEM customers and anyone
desiring high quality laser cutting and metal fabricating services.
What kind of materials can you laser cut?
Tesko specializes in cutting mild steels up to 0.750" and
stainless steels up to 0.625". We also cut aluminum and copper
based metals for our OEM customers. Our lasers are capable of
cutting many other materials including acrylics, brass, galvanized
steel, Inconel, plastics, tool steel, and wood.
View a ful list of the materials
(with specifications) that Tesko can laser cut.
Why should I consider laser cutting for my custom parts?
Lasers have many advantages over other conventional metal cutting
and metal fabricating processes. Laser cutting can produce very
complex parts while cutting materials from 0.005" to 0.750"
thick. Lasers can cut the hardest materials and leave burr-free
edges. The laser cutting process is extremely repeatable and
produces parts with virtually no distortion. Laser cutting is
well suited for rapid prototyping and provides a cost effective
solution for short run production, making it a good alternative
to metal stamping.
The narrow laser cut (kerf) width created by material removal,
provides for the efficient layout of parts (and more parts per
sheet), with less material scrap waste than most other cutting
methods.
In most cases, laser cutting offers major benefits over short
run stamping, plasma cutting, wire EDM, water jet cutting, and
NC milling. Lasers are capable of cutting steel, stainless steel,
alloys, copper, aluminum, and brass. They are capable of cutting
non-metallic materials like plastics, ceramics, rubber, quartz,
wood and even some composite structures. Overall, laser cutting
out performs plasma, water jet, NC milling, and conventional
saws in nearly every cutting process. However, for some materials,
thickness requirements, or tolerances, other metal
cutting processes may be more efficient.
What is your typical quote response turnaround time?
Quotes are usually returned to the requesting company the same
day or, at the worst, the following day. We are very concerned
about quick and accurate quote response times.
What's the typical processing time for a laser-cutting
job?
The processing time is really a function of the job's complexity,
so it depends. Tesko Laser can turn around laser cut parts in
as little as a few hours, but some jobs might take a week. We
also fill many rush jobs and will produce and ship partial orders
to ensure our customers' production is uninterrupted.
Request a Quote to get
a specific answer for your requirements.
Don’t most laser cutting processes leave material on
the bottom edge of the part?
It depends how you operate the laser. At Tesko Laser, we regulate
the laser power, our feed rates, and the assist gases we use
in our laser cutting production to minimize and eliminate machining
damage created by dross
on the bottom side of the material during the laser cutting
process.
What kind of drawing files can you accept for my laser-cutting
project?
We do our fastest work when we receive emailed .DXF files.
Preferably, files are submitted in or AutoCAD 14.dxf or newer
.DXF files.
How should I provide files containing text?
Provide text-containing files in Adobe Illustrator (AI) or
Corel Draw format.
What is the maximum sheet size Tesko can handle?
Tesko's Mitsubishi lasers can handle sheets up to 60" x 120".
Our 4030 LXP laser utilizes a pallet changing system that allows
us to change sheets in 30 seconds, increasing our production
capacity and decreasing processing times for your job.
How can I keep the costs down on my laser cut parts?
You can help yourself cut costs by providing clean legible
prints, which helps to eliminate needless questions. If you
e-mail a clean .DXF file to Tesko Laser with no overlapping
or incomplete lines, you are providing the most efficient method
of providing a print for quoting or processing. Since the potential
for blowout occurs primarily at sharp (90-degree) corners, using
radii (fillets) where possible is a great help in reducing scrapped
parts and minimizing your costs.
How quickly can you begin my laser-cutting project?
Once your order is received, we quickly begin the process
of generating the NC file that our Laser machine will use
to cut your parts. Lead times range from one day to a
week or more depending on the size and complexity of the project.
Tesko Laser always allows for emergency situations by allotting
time to offer partial shipments.
Request a Quote to get
a specific answer for your project.
Once you've laser cut my parts once, how easy is it to
reorder?
Once our computers have been programmed to laser cut your part,
we can begin producing your re-order parts within just a short
setup time. Each part on the re-order will have the same repeatability
and positioning
tolerances as the previous order, ensuring all parts are
identical.
Besides laser cutting, what other capabilities does Tesko
offer to assist with our project?
We offer a wide variety of metal fabricating services designed
to provide you with a one-stop-shop for your fabricating needs
including shearing, forming, machining, welding, grinding, polishing,
and painting, for virtually any metal fabricating application.
We work in most metals used in metal fabrication including steel,
stainless steel, brass, bronze, copper and aluminum.
If you would like more information about our laser cutting
services, please use our contact
form or email us at info@teskolaser.com.
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