Laser Cutting Vs. Other Cutting Processes

Laser cutting in Toronto is a highly preferred service in the metal working industry as it provides a smooth clean cut every time and allows technicians to create customized and complex shapes. Aside from lasers, there are also other cutting processes that are available which are commonly compared with laser cutting.

Here are some other cutting processes compared to laser cutting:

Laser Cutting vs. Plasma Cutting

What distinguishes plasma cutting from laser cutting is that it employs an electrically heated channel of ionized gas and the workpiece must also be electrically conductive as it constitutes part of the resulting electric circuit. Some would consider choosing plasma cutting when it comes to capital and operating costs and speed. However, laser cutting is more efficient when it comes to flexibility in cutting non-conductive materials, the edge quality of the material being cut, and part size tolerance.

Laser Cutting vs. Punching

Punching or most commonly known as mechanical cutting, is the most advantageous when it comes to producing large quantities of work. Some consider it more cost-effective to use a mechanical punch press when it comes to producing a high volume of identical parts. However, laser cutting in Toronto is more flexible, and is more preferred compared to punching if the quality and visuals of the parts are of great importance, especially if marks or scratches are not tolerable. Plus, laser cutting has lower capital and operating costs than punching, more so if the punch press has a complex die set.

Laser Cutting vs. Waterjet

Waterjet cutting is very similar to laser cutting in Toronto, particularly when it comes to cutting thicker materials and 3D material cutting. The highly pressurized stream of water enables waterjet cutting to produce almost equally the same edge quality and precision as lasers. However, laser cutting is a great option compared to waterjet cutting when it comes to speed.