Custom laser cutting near me
How to find a reliable laser cutting company
There’s no denying that laser cutting is one of the most versatile manufacturing processes available today. Whether you need to cut through steel, acrylic or other materials, a laser can provide precise cuts with minimal waste—especially compared to other methods like waterjet or CNC machining. But how can you find a reliable laser company near you? Start by looking into some of the questions below. If you’re looking for Laser Cutting in Minnetonka MN, then look no further then Golden Valley Products.
Find out what materials they work on
Before you get far with any local laser cutting company, look into what materials they can work with. If your product is made of rubber, but the company can’t work with that material, then it’s not worth your time trying to find a work around. Simply look around and see if you can find a different laser cutting company in your area.
Ask about other services or capabilities that can be useful for your project
Chances are, the laser cutting company you’ve found can offer you other services to help speed along your production process. You may not need those services now, but if you do in the future, it’s good to know that they’re available. It could save you a lot of time and effort trying to find another company that can provide those services for you.
Ask about their quality control process
All companies will make mistakes at one point or another, but it’s best that you can stay prepared. Before you start your production process, ask you local laser cutting company what their quality control process looks like. Ask them what they do to ensure that every piece of your material is exactly how you want it. You may even want to ask for some examples of their work so that you can see how good their quality control process is for yourself. It’s important that you’re able to trust the people who will be cutting your materials, or else
Look for a company that has experience working with your industry or application
If possible, your product will turn out best if you can find a company that has worked with similar projects in the past. For example, if you’re looking for a laser cutting company to make banners for your business, it’s best to find one that has experience working with other companies in the same industry. This way, they’ll know what materials are best suited for your application and how many layers of vinyl or paper should be used.
What materials are laser cutting used for?
Curious if laser cutting is the right method for your product? Here are some of the most common materials companies use laser cutting to speed their production process.
Foam
Many companies use laser cutting to cut through foam. This is often done in conjunction with other manufacturing processes, such as CNC routing and bending. For example, if you’re making a boat or airplane for children to play with, the frame will likely be made out of wood or metal and then covered in foam sheets. Using laser cutting can help speed up this process by allowing you to cut out the pieces quickly and easily so that the rest of the construction can begin immediately after.
Rubber
Many companies use laser cutting to cut through rubber. This is often done in conjunction with other manufacturing processes, such as CNC routing and bending. For example, if you’re making a rubber mat for people to stand on at work or play outside, the mats can be made more quickly by using a laser cutter to cut out the pieces rather than pounding them out by hand.
Some thin film Plastics
Unlike processes like waterjet cutting, laser cutting produces a lot of heat during the cutting process. For many materials, this simply speeds along production, but some materials are more susceptible to this heat than others, such as plastics. However, laser cutting can still work for some thin film plastics if you choose the right process. For example, if you’re making a thin plastic film for a sign or display, you can use laser cutting to cut out the letters and shapes from the plastic sheet. However, when it comes to making thicker pieces of plastic such as toys or sports equipment like bats, laser cutting is not recommended because it may cause warping and cracking in these materials
At Golden Valley Products, we offer a wide range of services including: Digital printing, Screen printing, Pad printing, Laser cutting, Steel rule die cutting, Waterjet cutting, Laminating, Embossing, Membrane switches, Medical sensors (pressure sensors), Graphic overlays, and more! We’d be happy to support you on your next product project.