How to Find The Perfect Material For Your Laser Project

It is important to consider the material for your metal project. At the time of execution, there are various things to examine like weight, aesthetic, finish, exposure to the elements and even the usage.

It doesn't matter what the purpose of the project is, whether you want to hang the product outside of your house or workplace or an art piece you want to shape and hang on the wall. It is important to make a wise choice in the selection of material as well as the laser parts. Like Trumpf Laser Consumables or Mitsubishi Laser Parts are the best among the available laser parts in the market.

But before choosing the laser parts, you will have to decide on the metal for your project.

To help you make an informed decision, here's a guide to common metals you can use in laser cutting projects:

Stainless Steel:

The idea behind the creation of this metal was to create metal with corrosion resistance. And after adding chromium, you as manufacture can create a metal which encompasses the best quality. It is non-corrodible, beautiful, and strong as a metal. Here are the major benefits of using steel in your laser project:

Benefits of Steel:

• Strong and big
• Great for outdoor use
• Washable and sanitizable
• Welds easily
• Cost Effective
• Perfect decorative, durable parts

Brass

Brass is a copper-zinc alloy which comes with many uses apart from being used in the loudest section of an orchestra. Because of its gold looks, its aesthetic qualities come in use of many things like jewelry and wall art. As an added benefit it's low friction point, makes it perfect for all the types of functional uses such as locks, door fixtures, and ammunition.

Benefits of Brass:

• Lightweight
• Malleable
• Great for Outdoor Use (with a protective top layer)
• Low Friction point
• No additional process needed

Aluminum:

One of the major benefits of this metal is that even if it's in the purest form, it is very light in weight, yet strong. Plus, it is easy as you can make any shape out of it without losing its strength. And it's reactive and forms a natural corrosion resistance when exposed outdoors.

When you use it for commercial use, it is important to mix it with a few other metals. There are various industries including aerospace which rely heavily on aluminum.

Benefits of Aluminum:

• Suitable for Prototypes
• Lightweight
• Perfect for outdoor use.
• Easily shaped, brushed

Copper:

It is easy to excavate this directly from the earth. And you can also use it in its purest form. Around 8000BC, it was the first metal used by humankind. This metal comes with various advantages. It is conductive, as a result of that, it is great for pieces like bus cars and other electrical parts. It is perfect for plumbing and pipe as it is non-corrosive.

Benefits of Copper:

• Great for outdoor use but it will patina after a while
• Suitable for electrical parts
• Malleable
• No additional process required

Carbon Steel

It's an alloy made of iron and carbon. Its ductile strength makes it a go-to metal when it comes to construction of buildings, bridges, and machinery. For Trumpf laser consumables you would have a couple of options to choose from. For example, hot or cold rolled steel.

Hot Rolled Steel

Elaborating that in detail, hot rolled steel is formed when you roll steel at very high temperature. It makes steel easier to form, which makes the product easy to work with. The finished steel would have a thin layer of magnetite known as "scale". It can be reduced with a pickling and oiling finish which would leave the surface of the steel nice and smooth.

Carbon Steel Benefits:

• Creates indestructible parts.
• Welds easily
• Easy to thread, machine, drill, etc.
• Suitable for cutting thick pieces.
• Looks great painted, powder coated, or clear coated

Mild Steel

The process of making Mild Steel is a bit complicated. They roll up the steel hot, then roll it up more after it cools down at room temperature. This process allows the metal to take shapes of a thinner sheet. In comparison with hot rolled steel, it does not require further processing for a smooth, finished surface.

Benefits:

• Strong (especially in 11ga thickness).
• Welds easily
• Simple to thread, machine, drill.
• Easily Etched and cut

What have you considered for your next laser project? Do let us know in the comment section below. If you are looking to replace or change your parts, consider Trumpf laser consumables, or Mitsubishi laser parts for the quality results.

Alternative Parts, Inc. is the manufacturer and distributor of replacement parts for Amada Machinery.