Fibre Laser Cutting: A Practical Guide to Getting Great Laser Cut Parts
Fibre laser cutting has changed how small and medium runs of metal parts are made. It's fast, accurate and doesn't need any tooling, so a single prototype is just as practical as a production run. We use it every day in our Rutherford workshop for control panels, signs, brackets, plates and custom parts.
This guide covers what you need to know to get great results: how the process works, which materials suit it, how to prepare your files, and the design details that make a part cut cleanly.
How fibre laser cutting works
A fibre laser generates a high powered beam that's delivered through a fibre optic cable to the cutting head. Lenses focus it to a tiny point that melts through the metal, while an assist gas blows the molten material out of the cut. The head follows your drawing exactly, so complex shapes, small holes and lettering are as easy as straight lines.
Materials we cut
- Stainless steel: our most common material. 316 marine grade for outdoor and corrosive environments.
- Aluminium: light, sharp edges, and can be anodised and engraved.
- Brass: for plaques, signs and decorative parts.
- Mild steel and corten: brackets, signs and garden features. Corten weathers to a protective rust finish.
Our cutter takes sheets up to 1200 x 900mm. Tell us the material and thickness you need and we'll confirm what's possible.
Preparing your files
- DXF or DWG files at 1:1 scale are ideal.
- Use closed outlines. Gaps in a line can stop a shape cutting out.
- Remove duplicate and overlapping lines, which can cut twice.
- Convert text to outlines, or tell us the font.
- No CAD? A dimensioned sketch or PDF is fine. We'll draw it up and send a proof.
Design tips for clean parts
- Keep holes at least as wide as the material is thick.
- Leave enough material between holes and edges so parts don't distort.
- For lettering and logos cut out of a sign, add small bridges so the centres of letters like O, A and R don't fall out.
- Allow for the width of the cut on tight-fitting parts. We can compensate if you tell us which dimensions matter.
- If a part will be engraved too, include the engraving on a separate layer. We'll cut and engrave it in one job.
Cutting and engraving in one job
Because we cut and engrave under one roof, a part can be cut to shape, drilled, engraved and labelled in a single job. That's ideal for control panels, compliance plates, signs and house numbers and fence signs.
Getting an accurate quote
Send your file or sketch with the material, thickness, quantity and finish you need, and any deadline. We usually come back with a quote within 24 hours, and every new part gets a proof before we cut.
Questions we often get
Do you cut one-off parts?
Yes. We cut single parts, prototypes and production runs.
What's the largest sheet you can cut?
Our fibre laser cutter takes sheets up to 1200 x 900mm.
Can I supply my own material?
Talk to us first. In most cases we supply the material so we can guarantee the result.
Ready to talk about your job? Send us the details below, call 02 4030 5878 or email office@planetengraving.net.
