Get Precision, High-Quality Parts Faster with Laser Cutting Services
There are several ways to cut sheet metal. But when you need the cleanest cuts and most consistent results, laser cutting is the superior solution, producing better results than even waterjet or plasma cutting.
Laser cutting is such a fast and efficient metal cutting method that here at Baillie Fabricating & Welding, we utilize laser cutting services for approximately 90% of the orders we fulfill!
We’d love to show you exactly what makes the laser an exceptional cutting tool and how the team at Baillie Fab leverages laser cutting as the cornerstone of our metal fabrication services.
Why Choose Laser Cutting over Plasma or Waterjet Cutting?
It’s one thing to be told laser cutting is great and another thing to understand for yourself exactly why we prefer the laser to other sheet metal cutting techniques. Here’s why we’re such passionate promoters of laser cutting services:
Laser cutting creates a cleaner edge than waterjet cutting
When we talk about a “clean” edge, we aren’t just talking about appearances—though laser cut sheet metal does look beautiful! Laser cutting results in less mess overall. Waterjet cutting creates a more jagged edge and a messier workspace, requiring significantly more clean-up time after the part is cut.
Even waterjet cut edges that appear clean can be unweldable due to impurities caused by the waterjet process. The only solution for welding waterjet cut surfaces is to grind the edges extensively, almost to a shine, to eliminate the impurities.
Between the cleaning and the grinding, waterjet cutting is clearly more time-consuming than laser cutting, and since time equals money, waterjet cutting is more expensive, too.
Laser cutting is cooler (and cleaner) than plasma cutting
It may seem counterintuitive, but laser cutting generates significantly less heat than plasma cutting—good news when we’re cutting thin metals, which easily warp under the extreme heat of a plasma cutter.
The plasma cutter’s high heat also contributes to edge roughness. The edges can be cleaned, but the required deburring and grinding slow production significantly.
Laser cutting is more precise than waterjet or plasma cutting
Laser cutting’s impressive precision is less about the equipment and more about the method itself. Here’s what we mean:
The laser’s deviation or “kerf”—the amount of material burned away during cutting—is notably smaller than that of waterjet or plasma. In fact, laser kerf is typically about half that of the plasma cutter’s deviation.
Thanks to the laser’s impressively small kerf, our experts consistently achieve superior precision when laser cutting sheet metal—which allows us to achieve precise, repeatable bends when using a press brake on laser cut parts.
Laser cutting yields more parts for less money
At only about 0.005” in diameter, the laser’s narrow beam enables the maximum number of parts nested on a sheet of material. With more parts on each sheet, you pay less per part while getting the most value from your purchased materials.
Your One-Stop Shop for High-Quality Laser Cutting Services
Top-quality parts don’t do you much good if you have to wait a lifetime to get them back from the shop. Our team works tirelessly to provide a quick turnaround from quoting to cutting to delivery.
Focused, fast laser-cutting services
Baillie Fabricating & Welding is a smaller shop than most, which allows us to genuinely prioritize our customers’ needs, ensuring fast response times and short lead times. While other shops may require four weeks or more to complete a job, we frequently guarantee lead times of only two weeks!
One way we reduce lead times is by offering comprehensive in-house services. At Baillie Fab, we rarely need to send your parts elsewhere for post-laser cutting fabrication processes because we provide full-service fabrication solutions.
If ever we do outsource a capability to a partner shop, we’ll project manage the entire process for you, so you only have to submit one purchase order.
The best tools for the job
We use different gasses depending on your sheet metal. For example, we use nitrogen assist gas when cutting stainless steel and oxygen assist gas for certain thicker steel parts. Our ultimate goal is to achieve clean, precise edges and high-quality parts.
Contact Baillie Fab for Efficient, Cost-Effective Laser Cutting Services
Baillie Fabricating & Welding provides incredibly accurate 2D laser cutting services for most metals. You can expect superior cutting with tolerances of +/- 0.005″. Because laser cutting negates the need for custom tooling, setup is fast and cost-effective. And by efficiently nesting your parts to maximize your sheet material, you get the best per-part price possible.
