Laser cutting produces high quality finishes in a fast turnaround time. It’s one of the most popular techniques in modern material cutting due to its cost-effective nature, making it accessible to all. Designers, makers and individuals now have an affordable option when looking for a laser cutting specialist and larger companies are outsourcing to these expert companies as the most cost-effective solution.
Historically— traditional techniques for cutting plastics and other materials involved less accurate and at times, labour intensive work using manual means such as hand-held tools. Technologies have advanced since then and laser cutting is now one of the most popular methods for material cutting due to its reliable and cost-effective process. Many larger companies choose to outsource their work to specialist laser cutting companies and these services finally provide a cost-effective solution for makers.
Laser cutting is the perfect technique for cutting plastics. Acrylic is a versatile material to use, due to the range of colours and thicknesses it comes in and how well it cuts with a laser. Acrylic is a flexible material to work with and laser cutting is a flexible technique to use. This combines to make a golden formula for creating the best options for your laser cut acrylic project.
First, let’s take a look at what laser cutting involves and some of the possibilities it creates.
Laser Cutting Plastics – What’s Involved?
The term ‘laser cutting’ may seem quite self-explanatory. However, there’s much more to it than that and in fact, the process itself is pretty automated.
Laser cutting technicians firstly require a design file. This needs to be in a vector-based format so that the laser cutter’s computer can read the design file as a set of coordinates. The laser can then replicate what’s been drawn in the design file onto the material. The format of this file is usually .ai, .eps., .dxf. or .dwg. PDFs are also an option, but it depends if a vector-drawn design can be exported from it. 3D files can also be looked at, but it’s sensible to get advice from laser cutting team about these files.
Once the coordinates have been established by the laser cutter, it uses a powerful bulb to send the laser down an encased tube, off a series of mirrors to finally be angled onto the material. It works by burning through the material, creating an accurate replica of the drawing in the original design file. Its accuracy is also down to the small head of the laser, as the cutting will never exceed the width of the laser.
Laser Cutting Possibilities
The nature of laser cutting means that the two main services offered by laser cutting specialist companies are cutting services and engraving services.
Popular materials chosen for laser cutting:
- Acrylic
- Plastics
- Sheet materials e.g. plywood, MDF
- Softwoods
- Wood panels e.g. oak
- All laminates
- Softer materials e.g. card, foam, soft leather
Popular materials chosen for laser cut engraving:
Laser Cut Acrylic
Laser cut acrylic is extremely popular for both cutting and engraving services. Its popularity stems from its versatility and the high quality of cut produced when it‘s cut by the laser.
It comes in a range of:
These diverse features, along with the ability to cut and engrave acrylic so easily, opens up the doors to possibilities. It’s ideal for laser cutting due to its ability to have smooth and polished edges after laser cutting has been completed.
Benefits of Laser Cut Acrylic
Laser cutting is a fabrication technique that is massively growing in popularity.
Below are just some of the benefits.
The small head of the laser means that the cutting never exceeds the width of the laser. This allows for accurate and precise cutting, not usually achieved by tool-based cutting methods. Laser cut acrylic is so easily cut, leaving what we call a ‘flame polished edge’. This means that where the acrylic has been melted or burned away, the edge looks smooth and polished. Laser cutting can achieve intricate designs and detail if required for your project. This produces a much more professional finish and a high quality product at the end of the process. Intricate designs are possible and the level of detail will be extremely high when you compare it to the original design file.
As previously mentioned, acrylic can be laser cut or engraved. Being able to engrave on acrylic with a laser cutter means that companies have more ways in which they can display their products and promote their brand. Details can be engraved onto acrylic such as logos, text and photos. Laser cutting is also a flexible technique as it’s an intricate way of cutting. This means the laser cutters can accurately produce things like sharp angles, smooth edges and curves, complex lace designs and small screw holes. The laser cutter can take any vector-based file and replicate it on the material.
Laser cutting methods have some of the fastest turnaround times, meaning that if you have a project that needs to keep on schedule, this will be one of the most efficient options you can choose. The automated nature of the process means that once the expert technicians have uploaded your design file to the laser software, the laser cutting begins and continues as an automated process. Various materials can be loaded onto the machine in any operation so the process is completely time efficient. Multiple jobs can also be loaded and the machine will move onto these automatically. This is incredibly useful if you are making multiple copies of the same item. We should also mention that if there are any changes to be made, these can be done with the click of a few buttons, meaning that there is minimal time wasted if alterations are to be made.
With the process being largely automated, there’s little need for manual intervention once the cutting process begins. This means that not only is the process as efficient as it can be, but it doesn’t require a great deal of man hours to actually complete the process. The automated process has also resulted in a high turnover of materials produced in a short timeframe, meaning that the process is incredibly time efficient. High quality goods are being produced in the fastest time possible. This has made laser cutting one of the most cost-effective ways to cut materials. This is the reason why many larger companies now outsource to specialist laser cutting companies and why designers, makers and individuals have now found an affordable option to access such services.
Your Project – We Can Help!
When looking to successfully carry out a laser cut acrylic project, you should choose a specialist company who have all the equipment, experience and expertise to help you make the project a smooth operation from start to finish.
With Aldworth James & Bond, you will have just that! We are a laser cutting company who specialise in creating high quality products with a fast turnaround time. We have several cutting machines, both of the CNC (computer numerical control) and laser cutting kind, so we are more than equipped to take on any acrylic cutting project and meet your requirements.
Our expert team have years of experience in the design and manufacturing industry. We have a whole team of experts on hand, from project managers and designers, to operators and technicians. We have all the specialist knowledge to smoothly guide you through the project from start to end. We are experienced in laser cutting and have been involved in many successful projects, including architectural conceptualisation projects and complex furniture building projects. We can also provide any pre-cutting advice you may require and this means that you can access expert knowledge. This ensures there aren’t mistakes further down the line and you have picked the best options for your project.
We are happy working collaboratively on projects and can provide you with as little or as much in-depth knowledge as you need. Some people have a simple cutting job who just need to be booked in with our laser cutters and files are production-ready. Others need more specialist advice and would prefer to access our pre-cutting advice in the planning stages of their project. Pre-cutting advice and help may avoid any mistakes further down the line and deliver your project successfully.
Advice offered can cover:
- Quotes
- Lead times
- Specialist laser cut acrylic advice
- Material choices
- Material ordering
- Details about the cutting process
- Technique choices including overlaps between CNC and laser cutting
- Design file help and troubleshooting, including 3D design files
- Development of your design files to make your project perfect
- Nesting (‘laying up’) of designs onto a sheet to ensure you are getting maximum use out of the material and wastage is minimal
- Fast and accurate costings service with a reliable and easy payment system
- Delivery / collection options
We can start with an informal chat or book you straight in – it really depends on what your requirements are!
Our Promise:
We put customer service at the heart of what we do, aiming to make the process as smooth and as easy for you as it possibly can be. As part of our services, we offer:
- Quality laser cutting and engraving services
- Help with any size or type of job
- Pre-cutting advice about anything that needs clarifying or any aspects you are not sure about
- All the help you need with your design files
- Great communication, including lead time information
- Fast turnaround times – if we have the material in stock, we’ll schedule your job in even quicker
- We package all your items and ensure they are labelled so that you can keep track of exactly what’s been delivered
- Fast delivery of all your items so that your project is not delayed
- A collection service is available if required
- Delivery is available nationwide as we have a fleet of vehicles, including a Luton van with a tail lift. We are based in a great central location (zone 2) so we can deliver your finished items to anywhere in the UK.
- Fast turnaround for any costings
- An easy payment system is available and credit cards are accepted here
If you have a laser cut acrylic project that you need help with or have any other material cutting projects, please contact us. We would love to hear from you.
Summary
The design and manufacturing industry underwent a revolution when technology advanced within this sector. Technologies allowed more modern methods of design fabrication to emerge, meaning that computer-controlled machines took over the material cutting industry. With this came laser cutting techniques, allowing high quality and precise laser cutting to take place with fast turnaround times. This automated and fast process allows for intricate and detailed designs to either be cut or engraved on materials. Specialist laser companies like Aldworth James & Bond offer a cost-effective service that makes them popular for larger companies to outsource to and affordable options for smaller companies to access.
Laser cut acrylic is a popular option due to its versatility – differing in colours, sizes and thicknesses. It is a material that is not only great for cutting but for engraving too. The laser cutting leaves a polished edge that makes for a high quality and professional effect not achieved with other materials or cutting methods.
Aldworth James & Bond are a specialist company who have all the equipment and expertise you need for a smooth service from start to finish. Our expert technicians are experienced in laser cutting and our project managers will guide you through the process from the start. We can provide you with any pre-cutting advice you require and our fantastic London location means that we are in a position to deliver to any UK location.
Laser Cut Acrylic Project – Next Steps
If you have an acrylic cutting project and you would like to speak to a member of our team, whatever stage you are at, we’re happy to help you with what you need. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Contact us using one of the 3 methods below:
