Laser Cutting: the route, the tolerances it holds, materials and design tips, with an indicative cost. One of 56 processes in the free finder.
Non-traditionalFamily
+/-0.1mmTypical tol.
5Route steps
31Parts in finder
Laser cutting focuses a high-power beam to melt and blow through sheet, cutting intricate flat profiles quickly with a narrow kerf.
At a glance
When to use it, and when not
Best for
Flat sheet parts with fine detail, prototype to high volume, in most metals.
Watch for
Mainly flat stock; thick and highly reflective material is harder, with a heat-affected edge.
Step by step
The typical route
Raw material to finished part. Steps vary with material, volume and tolerance; this is the free route from the finder.
Nest
Nest on the sheet.
Tooling CAM Tolerance - Lead -
Cut
Laser-cut the profile.
Tooling Laser Tolerance - Lead -
Deburr
Deburr/clean edges.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Secondary
Bend/tap if required.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Inspect
Check dimensions and edge.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Precision
Tolerances it can hold
TYPICAL TOLERANCE IT CAN HOLD
Where this process typically lands. Tighter is possible with extra operations like grinding, at higher cost.
Materials
Materials it suits
Grade
Why it suits this
Mild steel
Cheap, cuts fast
Stainless 304
Clean edge (N2)
Aluminium
Reflective, needs power
Design
Design tips
A few general pointers for Laser Cutting. The full, part-specific DFM list is in the dossier.
Features smaller than material thickness.Size features >= thickness.
Sharp inside corners.Add small radii / dog-bones.
Cost
What it costs
Fast flat cutting in sheet/plate; no tooling, priced by cut length and material. Great from qty 1.
PER-PART COST vs VOLUME
Per-part cost drops as volume spreads tooling and setup over more parts. The exact figures for your part at your volume, in your currency, are in the dossier.
MODEL EST.
$3.8 to 11per part at 1 off
A rough ballpark only. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency, with the full breakdown.
GET THE FULL DOSSIER
Everything you need to quote and source it
The free route above is yours. To actually put a number on this process and buy it well:
Should-cost at your exact volume in 12 currencies, with the material, processing, tooling and overhead breakdown
Who to source from, typical MOQ and lead time, and the exact RFQ checklist to send
A quote checker that tells you if a supplier quote is fair, and the red flags to watch
SistematikWork is a whole IE platform. Past the free finder, there are 41 ready Excel calculators, templates and CAD guides, each built from real coursework and checked against known values.
Manufacturing & OperationsQuality & ReliabilitySupply ChainProject & StatisticsEngineering Career
Laser cutting focuses a high-power beam to melt and blow through sheet, cutting intricate flat profiles quickly with a narrow kerf. The typical route is: Nest; Cut; Deburr; Secondary; Inspect. Flat sheet parts with fine detail, prototype to high volume, in most metals.
What does Laser Cutting cost per part?
It depends on size, tolerance and volume. As a rough ballpark it starts around $3.8 to 11 per part at low volume and falls with quantity. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency. Model estimates, not quotes.
What tolerance can Laser Cutting hold?
Typically about +/-0.1 mm, tighter with extra finishing operations at higher cost.
What materials suit Laser Cutting?
Common choices are Mild steel (Cheap, cuts fast); Stainless 304 (Clean edge (N2)); Aluminium (Reflective, needs power).
See the exact route and should-cost for your part
The free finder maps your part to its process and full route. Pro adds should-cost at your volume, sourcing and an RFQ draft.
