Sheet Metal Cutting vs. Laser Cutting

Sheet metal cutting and laser cutting are common metalworking methods, each with advantages depending on the application. This article explores their differences and suitability.

Traditional sheet metal cutting typically uses shears or punch presses and suits thicker plates like steel or aluminum. Its advantages include lower cost and simple operation, but it may produce larger deformation and burrs, making it better for lower-precision uses.

By contrast, laser cutting is a high-precision, high-efficiency method that melts metal with a focused laser and uses gas flow to remove molten material. Laser cutting offers high accuracy, fast speed, and minimal deformation, suitable for precision requirements in industries such as automotive and aerospace.

Select between sheet metal cutting and laser cutting based on processing needs and budget. For lower precision and limited budgets, sheet metal cutting is appropriate; for high precision, laser cutting is preferred. In practice, a combination of methods can also yield optimal results.