Stainless steel fabrication demands cutting technologies capable of handling this material’s unique properties while maintaining dimensional accuracy and surface quality.
Today’s manufacturing sectors increasingly rely on advanced cutting methods to produce components that meet stringent specifications while minimising material waste and secondary operations.
Laser and waterjet cutting offer this precision. Here’s how.
Laser Cutting Technology Explained
Laser cutting harnesses focused coherent light energy to melt and vaporise material along predetermined paths, achieving cutting speeds significantly higher than conventional methods.
The concentrated heat source creates narrow kerf widths, typically 0.1-0.5mm, enabling tight nesting patterns and material conservation. Minimal thermal impact reduces heat-affected zones, preserving stainless steel’s corrosion resistance properties.
Computer-controlled beam positioning allows for intricate geometries, sharp corners, and complex internal features that would be challenging (or impossible) with traditional cutting methods. This technology excels in applications requiring high-volume production of complex stainless steel components with consistent quality.
Waterjet Cutting Advantages
Waterjet cutting employs ultra-high-pressure water streams, often exceeding 60,000 PSI, combined with abrasive particles to erode material along cutting paths.
This cold-cutting process generates no heat-affected zone, preserving material properties throughout the entire thickness. The method accommodates virtually unlimited material thickness, from thin gauge sheets to plates exceeding 200mm thick.
Waterjet cutting produces superior edge finish quality, often eliminating secondary machining operations. The process handles layered materials, composites, and dissimilar material combinations without delamination or thermal stress, making it ideal for specialised stainless steel applications requiring exceptional edge quality.
Comparing Laser vs. Waterjet for Manufacturing Needs
Material thickness primarily determines process selection, with laser cutting excelling in applications up to 25mm thickness while waterjet handles unlimited thickness requirements.
Production volume considerations favour laser cutting for high-volume, repetitive operations due to faster cutting speeds, while waterjet proves more cost-effective for low-volume, complex parts.
Geometric complexity factors include laser cutting’s ability to create sharp corners and fine details versus waterjet’s capability for true edge perpendicularity and superior surface finish.
Heat sensitivity requirements make waterjet the preferred choice for applications where thermal distortion cannot be tolerated, such as precision assemblies and heat-treated components.
Steelmor’s Precision and Quality Assurance
Steelmor’s investment in state-of-the-art cutting equipment includes multi-axis laser systems with automatic nozzle cleaning and real-time power monitoring, alongside ultra-high-pressure waterjet systems featuring precision cutting heads and advanced motion control.
Skilled operators undergo extensive training in material handling, fixture design, and process optimisation to extract maximum performance from each cutting method. Stringent quality control procedures encompass material verification, dimensional inspection using coordinate measuring machines, and surface finish analysis to validate that finished components meet customer specifications and industry standards.
Steelmor’s laser and waterjet cutting capabilities empower manufacturers to achieve superior component quality while reducing material waste and production costs. These advanced technologies support the most demanding stainless steel fabrication requirements.
For more information, please get in touch with our skilled team.