The 5 ways in which sheet metal laser cutting reduces material wastage include optimized CAD/CAM nesting, narrow kerf width, zero tooling waste, near-zero rejects and minimal distortion. Solera Metal Fabrication, a major metal fabrication facility in Brampton, Ontario, explores these features that ensure reduced wastage during sheet metal laser cutting in this blog.
How Does Sheet Metal Laser Cutting Reduce Waste Production?
Optimized CAD/CAM Nesting
Modern CAD/CAM software is optimized for nesting, that is, fitting parts edge-to-edge. This serves as a major advantage as the number of usable parts during the sheet metal laser cutting process is maximized. Therefore, the wastage of raw material is minimized during the metal cutting process.
Narrow Kerf Width
Kerf is the dead zone that is created during laser cutting. However, with laser metal cutting, the kerf width is extremely narrow. Hence, the process removes very little material during the cut, and therefore, the dead zone is also very small, in turn ensuring that material wastage is minimal.
Zero Tooling Waste
Unlike other conventional cutting processes such as punching and shearing, there is almost zero tooling waste during sheet metal laser cutting. So the process is excellent in reducing waste from this standpoint.
Near-Zero Rejects
The high accuracy and precision of the metal laser cutting process are also major contributors to reducing material waste. Since the process is automated and repeatable, there is little to no chance of rejections or reworks. Hence, material wastage is significantly reduced.
Minimal Distortion
Due to the high heat created during the laser sheet metal cutting process in a very small zone, there is minimal distortion in the final product. Hence, all processed parts pass quality standards and require no rework, contributing further towards reducing material waste.
Conclusion
In closing, sheet metal laser cutting services ensure minimal material wastage due to their high precision and repeatability characteristics.
Looking for quality laser sheet metal cutting services? Solera Metal Fabrication can help. With decades of experience in metal fabrication in Brampton, Ontario, we also offer sheet metal bending, tube laser cutting, powder coating services, hydrographic dipping and more. Contact us at 905-457-4777 to learn more.
FAQs:
What materials can be processed using sheet metal laser cutting?
Mild steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper and more can be processed using sheet metal laser cutting.
What are the different types of assist gases used during sheet metal laser cutting?
The main types of assist gases used during sheet metal laser cutting include oxygen and nitrogen.