When it comes to manufacturing and fabrication, time is of the essence, so choosing the right cutting method is crucial. In addition to that, there’s also the quality and overall costs of the project to consider, which is why choosing the method is important. With that said, there are two primary options to choose from, which are laser cutting and traditional cutting methods. Today’s article will dive into the key differences between the two as well as their pros and cons so you can choose a method that’s more beneficial to your needs.
A quick outline of the traditional method.
When we talk about the traditional method of cutting, what we’re referring to is the age-old method of sawing, punching, shearing, and many more, which are established practices to shape materials since time immemorial. Although we’ve seen the end results, the traditional cutting method also has limitations, which can pose a problem for your project.
Some of the advantages of the traditional cutting method include the following:
It’s more affordable. With the traditional method, you only need scissors, paper cutters, saws, or rotary cutters to get the job done. Plus, all these materials are affordable and can easily be bought at a general store.
You can do it with different materials. You can cut through wood, plastic, fabric, and many other materials using the aforementioned equipment.
Traditional methods can also cut through a variety of shapes. Apart from materials, traditional methods can also cut through different shapes and sizes, ranging from irregular shapes and curves, depending on what your needs and preferences are.
Understanding laser cutting and its modern approach.
Compared to the traditional methods, laser cutting is a relatively new method, but it has proven its efficiency and usefulness. This method utilizes high-powered and focused laser light to cut through materials with such accuracy that there are little to zero errors. Many industries, apart from manufacturing, are using it, especially the automotive and construction industries. Today, there are a lot of small businesses offering laser cutting in Melbourne because of its wide range of uses. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, you can even use it for your logo and souvenir-making business.
Some of the benefits of laser cutting include:
Precision and accuracy. Once you feed your design into the laser-cutting machine, the latter will cut through and follow the pattern with impressive precision, regardless if it’s a simple or intricate design. As a result, you can expect the final product to have clean cuts that require little to no processing after creation.
Versatility. Laser-cutting can also accommodate different materials like wood, cardstock, metal, and even acrylics.
Speed and efficiency. Compared to the traditional methods of cutting, laser-cutting cuts the production time because of how fast it is. Furthermore, laser-cutting technology can also cut through multiple parts simultaneously, eliminating the need for additional manpower.
How do I choose the right cutting method?
It really boils down to what your needs and preferences are when it comes to cutting methods. Obviously, laser-cutting technology is the most appealing choice between the two, but keep in mind that the machine is pretty expensive. On the other hand, the traditional method of cutting uses readily available materials that you can find at home or even buy at the general store. Whichever the case may be, any of the two methods are viable and will get the job done—it just depends if you have the time and money for it.
