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Laser Cutting
Our Custom Laser Cutting Service
At Salamander Fabrications, we don’t just offer a high-quality laser cutting service. As industry experts operating in a wide range of sectors, we are passionate about creating products that are of the utmost quality and have been utilising some of the best technologies available to do so for over 50 years.
Specialising in sheet metal fabrication, we offer an incredibly diverse range of services nationwide, including CAD design, welding, press brakes and metal folding, powder coating, electromechanical assembly and laser cutting, using a wide range of techniques.
What Our Clients Can Expect
- We utilise a fibre laser, as opposed to a CO2 laser, as it is more efficient and requires fewer external gases. Fibre lasers also allow for smoother cutting, faster speeds, more flexibility, and less wastage from our projects.
- Laser cutting allows us to customise cutting shapes, which means no additional tools are required, saving time and reducing costs for our customers.
- We have two bystronic lasers - one 3kw and one 6kw. The bed size for our laser cutter is 3000mm x 1500mm, allowing us to take on a range of different projects.
- Our 200 location automated warehouse enables 24/7 running capability on both of our laser cutting machines - with the ability to hold up to 200 different metal materials, our project capabilities and turnaround times can be significantly improved.
How We Ensure Maximum Precision with Our Laser Cutting Service
At Salamander Fabrications, we utilise some of the best laser cutting technology currently available on the market. Our quick, accurate, and precise laser cutting system ensures perfectly finished parts and components every single time.
By using the latest laser cutting technology, our Bystronic 3Kw BySprint Fiber and 6Kw Bystar Fiber laser cutters allow us to always stay ahead of the curve. This way, we can provide our customers with an unrivalled laser cutting service at a highly competitive price point.
To keep up with high customer demands, both our lasers are connected to an automated warehouse system. This gives us:
- Great efficiency when going from one job to the next.
- The option to programme the lasers to run 24/7 if required.
- The ability to run “lights out” (meaning faster, more streamlined production).
- Lower cost energy, with us regularly running from midnight until the morning.
By investing heavily in the latest technology, we are able to provide a quick turnaround without compromising on quality, giving us a competitive marketplace advantage for every job and project we undertake.
Which Industries Use Laser Cutting?
A major advantage of laser cutting is that it is utilised by a diverse range of industries. This allows us to operate in a wide range of sectors, in particular, our laser cutting services have been instrumental in retail, leisure, construction, transportation sectors, and more.
Construction & Security
Sheet metals cut with precise laser cutting are strong, durable, and easily repairable, meaning they are ideal for use in the construction industry. In addition, sheet metals do not require regular maintenance, and can be reused and recycled. They strike the perfect balance between quality and affordability – it’s no wonder they’re so popular in this industry.
With over 50 years of experience, we have successfully forged many relationships with clients in the construction and security sectors. Check out our laser cutting service in action, as we provide high-quality and bespoke site safety solutions for all our clients.
Retail & Leisure
Here at Salamander, we work closely with our customers in the retail and leisure sector in order to help carry out custom design projects.
As well as being highly manoeuvrable, easy to install and interact with, our bespoke and attention-grabbing displays are not only durable but are of the highest quality and are available at an affordable price point.
Recently, we worked with a leading retailer and premium barbeque manufacturer to deliver a bespoke, stylish, and contemporary product: a range of interactive point-of-sale stands.
Check out our laser cutting service in action, as we showed off our skills when creating these highly adapted retail stands that the customer simply loved.
Science & Food
The scientific and food industries have a wide range of specifications when it comes to sheet metal fabrication, to ensure that the end product is safe and fit for purpose. Luckily, due to our decades of experience, here at Salamander we are able to accommodate these very specific needs, nationwide, at highly affordable price points.
Check out our laser cutting service in action, after we developed storage cabinets using high-grade stainless steel to guarantee that lubricants would be fit for purpose and safe to use within the food industry.
Transportation
The transportation industry utilises thousands of products manufactured through sheet metal fabrication, ranging from vehicle constructions to conversions, handheld rails, and more.
When it comes to this sector, safety is key, which is why you can guarantee that here at Salamander, we can use our decades of expertise to manufacture hard-wearing metal infrastructure to guarantee safety efficiency in the public transport sector.
Check out our laser cutting service in action, as we were recently commissioned to provide luggage racks manufactured from high-grade stainless steel, delivered on time and in line with the client’s brief and budget.
Kiosk and Vending Machine Providers
At Salamander, we are highly experienced in creating a wide range of highly durable kiosks and vending machines that allow our customers to enjoy long-lasting solutions through high-quality laser cutting and sheet metal fabrication.
Check out our laser cutting service in action as we were tasked to redesign the Travelex cash machine. Originally made from pliable MDF (which caused obvious security issues), we manufactured 310 units in total, providing the client with both an aesthetic and secure cash machine, which now enjoys success in multiple retail environments nationwide.
Environmental Considerations for Using Our Laser Cutting in Your Next Project
Here at Salamander, we want to provide an environmentally friendly solution to your project – and that’s exactly what we offer.
By utilising the best technology available, our laser cutting machines are simply built to last, meaning they won’t need to be replaced any time soon. Our advanced laser cutters are fast and efficient, simplifying the manufacturing process, meaning there is less time spent on production, and less time spent on harmful energy output, without compromising the quality of the end product.
Additionally, laser cutting does not require any lubricant to prevent damage to the sheet metal from surface abrasion – this gives our method the upper hand over more archaic solutions, as lubricants have been proven to contribute to environmental pollution.
Facts About Laser Cutting
- It’s Not a New Technology A major misconception about laser cutting is that it’s a new technology – this isn’t true. It started in the 1950s and has been evolving ever since to provide a safe, and environmentally friendly, way of cutting materials to create bespoke products.
- It’s Sustainable and Safe for the Environment Laser cutting is quiet, permits the most efficient use of materials, and restricts harmful fumes to a specific interaction chamber that can be easily ventilated – providing the user with the utmost safety.
- It produces endlessly versatile products Laser cutting can be used to produce an almost limitless range of products. From dog tag engraving, business signs, vending machines, and more. The possibilities are almost endless, and here at Salamander, we offer it all.
- Renowned accuracy As the gold standard in speed and precision, laser measurement is accurate to just over a nanometre – that’s one billionth of a metre – meaning it will provide you with the utmost accuracy in the many industries it caters for. In other words, it’s one of the most reliable options available.
Laser Cutting FAQs
So, just how exactly does laser cutting work? Simply put, laser cutting is typically the first step in the manufacturing process for metals, and uses an incredibly powerful laser to create precise, intricate, and distinct patterns in the material at pinpoint accuracy.
How Precise Is Laser Cutting?
The short answer to this question is very. With modern-day technology, lasers are capable of cutting at just over a nanometre, meaning that laser cutting is the most accurate of cutting and engraving methods.
What Types of Lasers Are Used for Cutting?
When it comes to metal cutting, there are two distinct varieties of lasers used:
- CO2 lasers
- Fibre lasers
CO2 Lasers
CO2 lasers use a more archaic process, where an electrical current is passed through a chamber of CO2 gas. This current excites the particles in the tube and, once focused using mirrors and lenses, produces an intense, hot beam of light.
However, CO2 lasers operate at around 20% efficiency, which means most of the power drawn by the laser tube is converted to waste heat and light, rather than laser power.
CO2 lasers range from 100’s of watts for paper, card, and cloth, to 20kw for use on the thickest of metals.
Fibre Lasers
Fibre lasers, on the other hand, use a solid-state laser power generation source rather than a gas tube.
Benefiting from technological advancements, these laser cutters can process a wider variety of materials than their CO2 counterparts.
One of the many advantages of a fibre laser is its ability to cut through reflective materials. This is due to the way the laser is transmitted onto the material and makes them a better choice for brass, copper, polished stainless steel, and aluminium.
The biggest benefit to the commercial operator is that a fibre laser is much more efficient and cost effective, converting almost 80% of its input energy into cutting power. This means the parts can be made cheaper and the machines require fewer infrastructure changes to install.
What Is the Maximum Thickness You Can Cut with a Laser?
With advances in laser cutting technology, the maximum thickness of sheet metal that can be cut has increased. For mild steel, 20Kw machines are now available – these can cut up to 50mm.
At Salamander, we deal with thinner gauge materials. On a 6Kw machine, the maximum thickness we cut is 20mm mild steel.
Can Laser Cutting Be Used for Engraving?
Yes, here at Salamander, we can use our state-of-the-art laser equipment to give your products or project an extra personal touch, no matter the size of your enterprise. Whether it’s your company logo, or anything else, our in-house experts can laser engrave your selected material at a highly affordable price point.
Can a Laser Cutting Machine Cut through Any Material?
Essentially, yes. One of the many advantages of laser cutting is its practical versatility. Capable of cutting through almost any material, from a wide range of metals, MDF, wood, acrylic, and much more, laser cutting provides the ability to realise intricate designs in almost any physical medium.
At Salamander, we specialise in sheet metal fabrication. Our passion for precision sheet metalwork has seen us work across a broad range of projects throughout the years. When it comes to materials, our expert team is capable of working with most metal types, with the most common being stainless steel and aluminium.
Is Laser Cutting Environmentally Friendly?
In short, yes. Compared to other traditional, more manual metal processing techniques, laser cutting is considered a more environmentally friendly technique. The laser cutting systems we use here at Salamander are one of the most energy-efficient ways of manipulating metals.
Additionally, laser cutting allows us to customise cutting shapes for clients, meaning that no additional tools are necessary – saving time, reducing costs for our customers, and ultimately reducing our environmental impact.
At Salamander, we strive to do everything possible to ensure that our technology is as up-to-date and cutting-edge as it can be, meaning that we can stay ahead of the industry curve in order to continuously improve and offer our customers the best possible laser cutting service on the market.
To learn more about the work we do or to get started with your next project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly sales team on 01484 843599 or at sales@salamanderfabs.com
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