Laser Cutting Australia
Precision laser cut parts in steel, stainless steel, aluminium, and brass. Fibre laser and CO2 laser cutting, press brake forming, welding, and finishing — fully managed from drawing to delivery. Quote in 2 business days.
Laser Cutting Capabilities
Fibre laser cutting for all common engineering metals. Tolerances and thickness ranges by material.
| Material | Thickness Range | Tolerance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild Steel | 0.5–25mm | ±0.1mm | Excellent edge quality, fibre laser |
| Stainless Steel | 0.5–12mm | ±0.1mm | Clean edge, low distortion |
| Aluminium | 0.5–10mm | ±0.15mm | Fibre laser preferred |
| Brass/Copper | 0.5–6mm | ±0.15mm | Fibre laser only |
| Galvanised Steel | 0.5–3mm | ±0.1mm | Ventilation required in manufacture |
Complete Sheet Metal Solutions
We manage every step of the sheet metal fabrication process — from laser cutting through forming, welding, and finishing. One supplier. One quote. Delivered complete.
Laser Cutting
Fibre and CO2 precision cut blanks in steel, stainless, aluminium, and brass to ±0.1mm.
Press Brake Forming
Tight radius bends and complex multi-bend forms from flat laser cut blanks.
MIG/TIG Welding
Structural and precision welding of laser cut and formed assemblies.
Surface Finishing
Powder coat, anodise, zinc plate, and paint — managed as part of the complete supply.
Industries Served
Laser cut parts supplied to a wide range of Australian industries. All shipped anywhere in Australia.
Construction & Mining
Structural steel components, brackets, frames, and mine site fabrications. Mild steel and AR plate for demanding applications.
Electrical & Switchgear
Panel enclosures, switchboard frames, and bus bar components in mild steel and stainless. Punching and threading available.
Agriculture & Industrial
Machinery guards, conveyor components, and agricultural equipment fabricated from laser cut blanks with press brake forming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between fibre laser cutting and CO2 laser cutting?
Fibre lasers use a solid-state laser (Ytterbium fibre) and cut metals more efficiently than CO2 lasers — particularly reflective metals like aluminium, brass, and copper that CO2 lasers struggle with. Fibre lasers are 3–5× more energy efficient, cut thin metals significantly faster, and produce a narrower kerf (cut width). CO2 lasers are better for very thick materials (>20mm) and non-metals (acrylic, timber, plastics). For metal sheet cutting in Australia, fibre laser is the current industry standard — nearly all modern Australian sheet metal shops have transitioned to fibre.
What file formats are needed for laser cutting?
For flat-cut laser parts, DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is the preferred file format — it contains the 2D cut profile used directly by the CNC laser nesting software. STEP files work for sheet metal parts modelled in 3D CAD. PDF drawings are accepted for simple shapes. For formed parts (bends), include a flat pattern DXF and a 3D STEP of the finished formed shape, along with a 2D drawing specifying bend angles, radii, and material thickness. SolidWorks, Fusion 360, and CATIA sheet metal exports in DXF or DWG are accepted.
What tolerances are achievable with laser cutting?
Fibre laser cutting achieves ±0.1mm on cut dimensions for standard sheet metal parts. Tolerance is affected by material type and thickness — thin materials hold tighter tolerances than thick. Formed dimensions (bend locations, flange heights) are typically ±0.25mm depending on the press brake setup. For precision components requiring tighter tolerances than ±0.1mm, laser cutting is used for rough blanking followed by CNC machining of critical features to ±0.01mm.
Can laser cut parts be bent, welded, and finished as a complete assembly?
Yes. Rapid Manufacturing manages the complete sheet metal fabrication supply chain: laser cutting, press brake forming, welding (TIG, MIG, spot), hardware insertion (PEM nuts, rivnuts), surface treatment (powder coating, zinc plating, anodising, painting), and assembly. Parts are delivered as finished, inspected assemblies ready for your production line or end use. Describe your complete requirement in your quote request.
What is the minimum order for laser cut parts?
No minimum order. Single prototype laser cut parts are quoted and manufactured regularly. Laser cutting is economical at all quantities — there is no hard tooling, so one-off prototype costs are similar to production costs on a per-part basis (only nesting and setup differ slightly). For high volumes, nesting efficiency improves material yield, reducing per-part cost.
How does laser cutting compare to waterjet and plasma cutting?
Laser cutting: fastest for thin materials, tightest tolerances, best edge quality, affected by material reflectivity. Waterjet cutting: cuts any material regardless of reflectivity (ceramics, composites, thick metals), no heat-affected zone, slower and more expensive than laser for standard sheet metal. Plasma cutting: fastest for thick structural steel (10–50mm), lower precision than laser (±0.5–1mm), heat-affected zone larger. For standard sheet metal fabrication in steel, stainless, and aluminium, laser cutting is the right choice. For thick plate or non-metals, specify waterjet or plasma as appropriate.
Get a Quote in 2 Business Days
Upload your DXF or STEP file and receive a quote for finished laser cut parts — cut, formed, welded, and finished. Delivered anywhere in Australia.
Upload Files & Get a Quote