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FAQ
What is the minimum quantity?1
What is the maximum quantity?1,000,000 Q; Why should I consider laser cutting for my custom
parts? A; Lasers have
many advantages over other conventional metal cutting and metal fabricating processes. Laser cutting can produce very complex
parts while cutting materials from 0.005" to 0.625" thick.
Lasers can cut the hardest materials and leave
burr-free edges. The laser cutting process is extremely repeatable and produces parts with virtually no distortion.
Laser cutting is well suited for rapid prototyping and provides a cost effective solution for short run production, making
it a good alternative to metal stamping.
The narrow laser cut (kerf) width created by material removal, provides for
the efficient layout of parts (and more parts per sheet), with less material scrap waste than most other cutting methods.
In most cases, laser cutting offers major benefits over short run stamping,
plasma cutting, wire EDM, water jet cutting, and NC milling. Lasers are capable of cutting steel, stainless steel, alloys,
aluminum, and brass. They are capable of cutting non-metallic materials like plastics, ceramics, rubber, quartz, wood and
even some composite structures. Overall, laser cutting out performs plasma, water jet, NC milling, and conventional saws in
nearly every cutting process.
However, for some materials, thickness
requirements, or tolerances, other metal cutting processes may be more efficient.
Q; What kind of materials can
you laser cut?
A; Elite specializes in cutting mild steels up to 0.625" and stainless steels clean up to 0.375".
We also cut aluminum and copper based metals for our OEM customers. Our lasers are capable of cutting many other materials
including acrylics, brass, galvanized steel, Inconel, plastics, tool steel, and wood.
Q; What is your typical quote
response turnaround time?
A; Quotes are usually returned to the requesting company the same day or, at the worst,
the following day. We are very concerned about quick and accurate quote response times.
Q; What's the typical processing
time for a laser-cutting job?
A; The processing time is really a function of the job's complexity, so it depends.
Elite Laser can turn around laser cut parts in as little as a few hours, but some jobs might take a week. We also fill many
rush jobs and will produce and ship partial orders to ensure our customers' production is uninterrupted.
Q; Don’t
most laser cutting processes leave material on the bottom edge of the part?
A; It depends how you operate the laser.
At Elite Lasercutting Inc, we regulate the laser power, our feed rates, and the assist gases we use in our laser cutting production
to minimize and eliminate machining damage created by dross on the bottom side of the material during the laser cutting process.
Q; What kind of drawing files can you accept for my laser-cutting project?
A; We do our fastest work when
we receive emailed .DXF files. Preferably, files are submitted in or AutoCAD 14.dxf or newer .DXF files DWG,AI,CCA,and many
others.
Q; How should I provide files containing text?
A; Provide text-containing files in Adobe Illustrator
(AI) or Corel Draw format.
Q; What is the maximum sheet size Elite can handle?
A; Elite’s lasers
can handle sheets up to 60" x 120".
Q; How can I keep the costs down on my laser cut parts?
A; You can help yourself cut costs by providing clean legible prints, which helps to eliminate needless questions. If you
e-mail a clean .DXF file to Elite Laser with no overlapping or incomplete lines, you are providing the most efficient method
of providing a print for quoting or processing. Since the potential for blowout occurs primarily at sharp (90-degree) corners,
using radii (fillets) where possible is a great help in reducing scrapped parts and minimizing your costs.
Q;
How quickly can you begin my laser-cutting project?
A; Once your order is received, we quickly begin the process
of generating the NC file that our Laser machine will use to cut your parts. Lead times range from one day to a week or more
depending on the size and complexity of the project. Elite Laser always allows for emergency situations by allotting time
to offer partial shipments.
Q; Besides laser cutting, what other capabilities does Elite offer to assist with our
project?
A; We offer a wide variety of metal fabricating services designed to provide you with a one-stop-shop
for your fabricating needs including forming, machining, welding, grinding,
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