Laser cutting FAQs
We’ve compiled a list of FAQs about laser cutting, but if you can’t find the answer please call our sales team on 01376 327182.
Order Process
Please provide details of the number of components you require, the material and thickness you need them cut from and CAD files along with your delivery address to the sales email sales@lasered.co.uk. We can draw simple shapes but it is best to provide us with CAD files, we accept DXF, DWG or NC files.
Please see our guide on how to prepare your drawings to enable us to process your order as quickly as possible: https://lasered.co.uk/technical-information/preparing-drawings/
If you don’t have access to AutoCad or a similar CAD program to create a drawing to send to us, you can find free or low cost CAD software online. Sketchup is available as a free 30 day trial and we know that the web-based ‘Shop’ option of the software should fulfil the needs of most of our clients for a relatively small annual fee. You can create fully dimensioned technical drawings of the metal components you require and save them as DXF or DWG files for us to use to price and produce your order.
General enquiries are welcome by phone 01376 327182, but unfortunately we cannot offer prices, quotations or take orders over the phone. There are several parameters that affect component pricing which are calculated by our system after drawings of your component are uploaded. We also need to have a traceable record of all of the details of your order from beginning to end.
For more information read our article ‘How much does laser cutting cost?‘
We also have a guide about how to prepare your drawings for laser cutting.
Due to the current market conditions, our quotes are valid for five days or until the end of the month, whichever comes first.
We keep a wide range of materials and thicknesses in stock. We source less popular materials on a job by job basis and are sometimes subject to a longer lead time, your Estimator will be able to give you more specific information when you request a free quote.
Please take a look at our materials section for further information. If you have any queries, please ask one of the sales team for further details on 01376 327 182 or sales@lasered.co.uk
Samples can be provided when required, please send further details so that we can provide you with a quote.
Please read our guide on what to send us for a fast and accurate quote for your laser cutting: https://lasered.co.uk/technical-information/preparing-drawings/
We accept DXF, DWG or NC files. All drawings will need to be supplied in a 2D format. We are able to draw basic shapes but prefer to have the CAD files when available.
Preparing your drawings for laser cutting correctly will help to streamline your order process, enabling us to get your order out to you as quickly as possible. Please see our guide on how to prepare your drawings.
We aim to maintain optimum lead times for all of our customers, so we do not offer an express service. We can however, price for any job to be booked onto a morning delivery. This needs to be requested at the quotation stage.
No, we stock all the materials that we cut and use our purchasing power to pass savings on to you. Then we can provide you with a price including, material, processing and delivery, and you don’t need to source your materials.
We supply and keep on file all material certificates for all parts and orders in materials, S275JR, S355JR & S355J2 and all stainless steel and aluminium.
For more info about material certificates and traceability read this: https://lasered.co.uk/technical-information/traceability/
Yes we supply the material for all components that we cut, we cut various grades of mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, copper, galvanised steel and Zintec. See the list of materials section for more information.
Every delivery of laser cut components comes with a Certificate of Conformity as standard.
Find out more about our accreditations here: https://lasered.co.uk/technical-information/documentation/
Lasered Components offers full traceability for all our components from source to delivery, mill certificates are available for; S275, S355, all aluminium and all stainless steel. Find out more about traceability here: https://lasered.co.uk/technical-information/traceability/
We can look at a physical sample or photograph to see if we can laser cut what you require, if viable we will need you to provide CAD files or fully dimensioned drawings to process your order. Measuring and copying a component is time consuming and might not be accurate if the part has been used and is worn or damaged or if secondary processes have been applied.
All drawings need to be supplied in a 2D format, we accept DXF, DWG or NC files. If you prepare your drawings for laser cutting correctly, it will help to streamline your order process, enabling us to provide you with an accurate quote and get your order out to you as quickly as possible.
Find out more about how to prepare your drawings to send to us: https://lasered.co.uk/technical-information/preparing-drawings/
We do not currently provide a CAD service, we can draw simple shapes but it is best if the customer provides us with CAD files. We accept DWG, DXF and NC files for laser cutting. All drawings will need to be supplied in a 2D format because we only cut flat components from sheets of metal.
Find out more about how to prepare drawings to send to us here: https://lasered.co.uk/technical-information/preparing-drawings/
Price
No, we only charge for the section of the metal sheet required for your job.
We ‘nest’ jobs on sheets to make the best use of materials. Nesting is the term for arranging the parts to be cut on the sheet of metal in a way that minimises waste, this has the dual benefits of creating less waste product and keeping material costs down for you.
Due to the current market conditions, our quotes are valid for five days or until the end of the month, whichever comes first.
We offer competitive prices for all quantities and size of orders. Larger quantities usually allow for better material utilisation and bigger savings, contact our sales team for a quote sales@lasered.co.uk.
All new customers are required to submit a customer information form when requesting a quotation, then, subject to credit checks, we can either offer a credit account or run an account on a pro forma basis. Pro forma accounts can be settled using any major credit or debit card.
We aim to maintain optimum lead times for all of our customers, so we do not offer an express service. We can however, price for any job to be booked onto a morning delivery. This needs to be requested at the quotation stage.
We don’t have a minimum order quantity, but our minimum order value is £75 plus VAT.
Finished Product
We focus on providing the best possible metal cutting service, so all of the components you receive will come straight from our laser cutting machines. We don’t offer any secondary operations such as folding, de-burring or welding.
A lead-in is essential to the laser cutting process, so there will always be a lead-in pip. The lead-in ensures that the laser enters the cut line smoothly but it does result in a lead-in pip, a small bump on the outer edge of the component.
We will add lead-ins for you on the drawings as part of the setting up process, so there is no need for you to add these on your drawings. If you have a specific requirement, this will need to be discussed with the sales team to ensure your component is as you require whilst making sure the laser cutting process goes as smoothly as possible.
You can find out more about preparing drawings here: https://lasered.co.uk/technical-information/preparing-drawings/
As a rough guide, around the size of a 5p piece in our thinnest materials or a £2 coin in our thickest materials. To ensure a good quality final product, minimum part sizes often need review by production as it is dependant on the component design, material type and thickness.
Engraving is not a service that we offer. We can etch onto parts, which is suitable for identification marks but is not substantial enough for logos or patterns in the same way as engraving. Our etching would most likely be covered by any secondary operations such as painting or powder coating and could be removed if the parts were run through a graining machine.
Care is taken when laser cutting and processing the parts, so they will be as scratch free as possible, however we do not offer any secondary operations or finishing processes.
We can order stainless and aluminium between the thicknesses of 0.9mm and 3mm with a protective plastic coating which is specifically designed for fibre laser cutting. This will help keep the A face of the product scratch free and will give some protection during the fabrication process.
We do not offer any secondary processes, so your components will be sent to you as they come off the laser. Care is taken when processing the parts, so they will be as scratch free as possible, but if you need a bit more reassurance, some of our grades of aluminium and stainless can be ordered with protective film on.
See our materials page for more info: https://lasered.co.uk/laser-cut-metals/
One of the main advantages of laser cutting is the accuracy, our laser cutting tolerances are +/-0.25mm.
Find out more about our laser cutting technology here: https://lasered.co.uk/our-technology/
No, we stock all the materials that we cut and use our purchasing power to pass savings on to you. Then we can provide you with a price including, material, processing and delivery, and you don’t need to source your materials.
To make tolerance we say that the smallest hole we can laser cut is to match the thickness of the plate, ie 10mm plate, 10mm hole. We can cut much smaller than this but the tolerance cannot be kept, it is ideal for a pilot hole.
Most of our materials are supplied in a maximum sheet size of 3000 x 1500mm, but the laser cutting process requires a 10mm border around the sheet, so the maximum part size we can cut is 2980 x 1480mm.
Along with the 3000 x 1500mm sheet size the other generic sheet sizes available are 2500 x 1250mm and 2000 x 10000mm and so the largest part we could cut from these would be 2480 x 1230mm and 1980 x 980mm. The standard sheet sizes vary between material grades, finishes and thicknesses and availability.
For more info on availability please visit our materials page.
Yes we supply the material for all components that we cut, we cut various grades of mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, copper, galvanised steel and Zintec. See the list of materials section for more information.
Delivery
Yes, we can notify you when your order is available for collection. If you intend to collect your order from our factory, please ensure you highlight this to your Estimator during the quotation stage. We will be able to give you the dimensions and weight of the package if required, to ensure that you have a suitable vehicle to transport it safely.
We deliver laser cut metal components all over the UK mainland.
Please confirm your delivery address when ordering so that we can select the most suitable service and provide you with an accurate price.
We can manufacture parts for Ireland and Northern Ireland but we cannot deliver using our network. You are welcome to arrange your own courier service to collect your order.
Depending on where you are based and the size and weight of your order, we use a combination of our in-house delivery service, TNT and overnight pallet networks to get your orders to you quickly.
Our average lead time is 3-4 working days but this does change due to demand. Our sales team will advise you of current lead times when contact us to enquire or place your order.
Any Questions about laser cutting?
If you can’t find the answer you are looking for, please contact our knowledgeable sales team, who will be able to advise you on any laser cutting related questions.
Please note: We are unable to provide quotes or prices over the phone, please email us your requirements and we will respond as quickly as possible.