Sheet and Tube Laser Cutting Machine: Pros and Cons

What Is a Sheet and Tube Laser Cutting Machine?

The Sheet and Tube Laser Cutting Machine is designed for workshops and fabrication units that cut flat sheet metal as well as tubes. The machine can be used to cut all types of plates placed on the table and can easily be changed to cut round tubes, square tubes, rectangular tubes and pipes and other pipe structures with the chuck system. For many metal fabrication units it is more practical to use one machine instead of two, saving valuable floor space and making mixed orders easier to manage.

How It Works

The Laser cutting machine for sheet and tube cutting uses a focused laser beam to cut the metal. The CNC laser cutting software reads the drawing and follows the exact path with the cutting head. For sheet metal as well as for tube cutting you can make holes, create slots, cut outside shapes, cut angled pipe ends and many more complex shape cutting. The work is done very fast, but requires a lot of care with the settings. A small error in the settings can cause burrs or burn marks.

Where It Is Commonly Used

Laser cutting machines for cutting metal sheet and tubes are often used in the production of automotive parts, metal furniture, construction metal parts, parts for industrial equipment such as frames, parts for agricultural machinery, industrial machinery parts and others. A typical workshop may be producing cabinet parts in the morning and making frames of steel tubes in the afternoon. This type of production mix is typical for many small to medium size manufacturing workshops.

What Are the Main Pros of a Sheet and Tube Laser Cutting Machine?

The main advantage of a machine that can cut plates and pipes is flexibility. While a machine that is able to cut sheets and tubes is not going to solve all of the problems in your workshop, it will make your daily cutting work so much easier. This is the main reason for buying this type of machine.

One Machine for Two Cutting Needs

A combined laser cutting machine for cutting sheet metal and pipes in a small workshop. It saves space, since it is a bit smaller than the sum of the individual machines. It also saves work, since the number of transfers to other work areas is reduced. As a result of this, the risk of damage by scratches, of parts getting lost, and of idling is reduced. Anyone who ever looked for a single missing bracket before shipping knows how much this matters.

High Cutting Precision and Clean Cutting Edge

One of the main reasons customers choose a sheet and tube fiber laser cutting machine is the high cutting precision it delivers. The cut beam is narrow, therefore it is possible to create very small holes, precise cutting of corners and thin cuts. Additionally, the cut edge is smooth, thus minimizing the amount of time required for grinding, which is ideal for materials such as stainless steel covers, small metal brackets and other visible metal parts. This saves time and also looks better.

Fast Cutting Speed and Better Material Utilization

High cutting speed for same day productions from digital files, repeat orders daily. Using fiber laser cutting machine, we do not need to keep changing tool and also using good nesting will lead to better material utilization and less material waste. Even saving of material by couple of mm square from every sheet will translate into big savings in a month for our customers who cut large quantity of carbon steel / aluminum materials.

Non-Contact Cutting for Delicate Parts

The term “non-contact cutting” refers to the fact that the cutting head does not press against the metal being cut. The cutting of thin sheet metal, or light tubes, can be easily damaged by being dented, scratched or bent. Additionally, items used for decoration require a smooth cut surface.

What Are the Main Cons of a Sheet and Tube Laser Cutting Machine?

This review will highlight some of the pros and cons of the sheet and tube laser cutting machines. It goes into the finer details and helps potential buyers make up their minds whether the machine is right for them or not.

High Initial Investment

The high investment costs are often the first point of criticism. A sheet and pipe laser cutting machine is much more expensive than a simple single-use machine. For only occasional cutting of tubes, the functions for these may not have the desired effect in terms of a quick return on investment.

Machine Maintenance and Operating Cost

Machine maintenance forms part of the cost of owning a machine. Checking the cutting heads, lenses, rails, chucks, gas lines and cooling units for wear, for example, will prevent problems such as burrs on workpieces, poor cut edges and incorrect part dimensions. The operating cost of a machine includes items such as gas, power, replacement spare parts and consumables.

Skilled Operators Are Still Needed

A skilled operator is needed for a number of reasons. Firstly a good machine cannot compensate for a bad set up. In terms of cutting parameters these will change with material, thickness, gas etc and part shape. Therefore cutting Al as opposed to Carbon Steel for example will require different set up parameters. A skilled operator will pick a poor cut early on in the process to prevent the whole batch being ruined.

Material Thickness Limitations and Tube Cutting Limitations

Pre purchase checking should be done to establish the material thickness limitations, very thick plate may require higher power or even a different method to cut. Also Tube cutting limitations, length, diameter, wall thickness, and overall part configuration.

Laser Cutting Safety and Fume Extraction

When discussing laser cutting safety, there are many details to note. Cutting of metal can create large amounts of smoke, dust, and fumes. Having good fume extraction, using covers, proper eye protection, and good working habits help to protect employees and make the shop cleaner.

How Should You Choose the Right Machine?

Start by matching up your real jobs before you buy a machine. Don’t just pick a machine based on how powerful it is or how much it costs. There are many variables to consider including the type of materials you work with, the part sizes you make, the amount of room you have in your shop, the number of people that work for you and what future jobs will require.

Check Your Sheet and Tube Ratio

Sheet forms the majority of your work. A sheet only machine would likely be sufficient. However, if you are producing a high volume of items such as tubes, frames & pipes then Tube Laser Cutting becomes more important. However, if you producing a large amount of work on a weekly basis consisting of both flat sheet and tubes then a sheet & tube laser cutting machine would be a wise choice.

Review Power, Size, and Service

WiseCut specializes in fiber laser cutting machines as well as other types of sheet and tube cutting equipment, including a dedicated tube cutting machine, CNC bending machine, laser welding machine, laser cleaning machine and more fully automated production line solutions. WiseCut is happy to accommodate customer requests for customized equipment, training, spare parts and other WiseCut services. In the meantime, compare WiseCut’s laser cutting equipment here before making your purchase.

FAQ

Q1: What Is the Biggest Advantage of a Sheet and Tube Laser Cutting Machine?
A: The biggest advantage of sheet and tube laser cutting machines is the flexible processing of metals. It is possible to process flat sheets as well as tubes with one machine. This saves space and above all reduces handling.

Q2: Is a Sheet and Tube Laser Cutter Good for Small Workshops?
A: Yes, if you cut a lot of sheet and tube parts. If you only cut one type of part then a single use machine might be more appropriate.

Q3: What Materials Can It Cut?
A: This tool can be used to cut carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum and galvanized sheet and the results will depend on the power of the tool, the thickness of the material, the gas in use and the correct set up of the tool.

Q4: What Are the Main Disadvantages?
A: High initial cost. High machine maintenance. Skilled workers required to operate machine. Limited in thickness of material. Limited in length of tube. Fume extraction required.

Q5: When Should I Get a Sheet & Tube Fiber Laser Cutting Machine?
A: When most of your cutting is of sheets as well as of tubes, and it is more practical to use one machine instead of two.