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Glossary

CNC Laser Cutting

A computer-controlled manufacturing process that uses a focused laser beam to cut sheet metal with high precision.

Definition

What is CNC Laser Cutting?

CNC laser cutting uses a high-powered laser beam — focused to a tiny point through a lens system — to melt, burn, or vaporize material along a programmed cutting path. Modern fiber laser systems operate at multi-kilowatt power levels and can cut through thick sections of steel, stainless, and aluminum at speeds impossible with older CO₂ lasers. The process is fully CNC-controlled from a DXF or CAD file — no tooling is required, making it ideal for custom parts, prototypes, and production runs alike. ATS Metal Fabrication operates high-power fiber laser cutting systems for flat sheet and CNC tube laser systems for structural profiles.

Types & Variants

  • • Fiber laser (flat sheet — steel, stainless, aluminum)
  • • CO₂ laser (flat sheet — legacy systems)
  • • Tube laser (3D cutting of round, square, and rectangular profiles)

Common Applications

  • • Custom brackets and flat parts
  • • Structural plates and flanges
  • • Architectural panels and screens
  • • Electrical enclosures and sub-panels
  • • Prototype parts and first articles

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between fiber laser and CO₂ laser cutting?
Fiber lasers deliver the laser beam through a fiber optic cable, producing a finer focus with 3–5× more electrical efficiency than CO₂ lasers. Fiber lasers cut reflective metals like aluminum and copper far better than CO₂ systems, and operate at much higher speeds on thin materials.
What tolerances can CNC laser cutting achieve?
Modern fiber laser cutting systems achieve positional tolerances of ±0.1 mm on sheet metal, with edge squareness dependent on material thickness and laser parameters. For precision structural parts, tolerances of ±0.05 mm are achievable on thinner materials.
What file format do I need for laser cutting?
DXF is the standard format for flat laser cutting. 3D STEP or STP files are used for tube laser cutting. Our engineering team can accept PDFs, drawings, or Solidworks/Inventor models and prepare the cutting program in-house.

Related Terms

See Also

Fiber Laser Cutting Tube Laser Cutting Sheet Metal Fabrication Metal Fabrication

Need CNC Laser Cutting for Your Project?

ATS Metal Fabrication provides professional cnc laser cutting services across Toronto and the GTA.

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