Laser cutting is a popular choice for fabricators and machine shops to execute custom work as well as higher volume jobs, for cutting mainly but also etching and other finishing tasks.
Sheet metal is the most common material treated this way. Laser cutting is effective but it’s not always cost-efficient. Many manufacturers realize that their laser cutting costs are unsustainable. If that’s the situation you find yourself facing, below are three aspects to minimize your expenses for your reference.

1. Before Cutting

1.1 Be sure the design calls for laser cutting

Evaluating your design before activating the laser cutter is another cost-saving step. Narrow parts or those with useless details can increase your expenses. The same is true for double lines. If you have two overlapping objects in your design file, the machine will cut the same line twice. This increases your costs, as well as the time it takes to finish laser-cut projects.
Any cutouts or designs intended for laser cutting should be at least 1x larger than your material’s thickness. Otherwise, accuracy decreases and you may discover your machine won’t cut them. Both of those things could make you pay more for laser-cutting projects. You can prevent them by eyeing your design closely before sending the file to your machine.

1.2 Group your laser cutting projects

Grouping is a laser cutting technique you can use to reduce waste. It means putting the pieces into clusters to help the laser work more efficiently. This reduces the distance the laser head travels between each cut, and it also accommodates circular cuts. Those are sometimes necessary, but they’re expensive.
Scrutinize the configuration of the pieces in the computer-aided design (CAD) file. When you can depend on grouping to prevent unnecessary movement by the laser, your overall costs should go down.

2. During Cutting

2.1 Use the flying cut when possible and appropriate

Using the “flying cut” while using these machines means turning on the laser when the head is still moving. For other kinds of cutting, the laser usually turns on and off once its head shaft shops moving. This technique keeps it moving rapidly, which can save time and money due to increased throughput.
More specifically, if your laser cutting projects involve numerous internal holes, flying cuts can reduce the machining time while optimizing productivity. However, if the material you’re cutting is too thick, the flying cut won’t give the desired results. It’s worth considering, but only in certain circumstances.

2.2 Reduce extra cost

Reduce the number of switches times of laser source as much as possible. Normally, the laser can be switched off without using a metal laser cutter. In addition, under the condition of meeting the cutting requirements, the use power should be reduced as much as possible to save power consumption.

2.3 Operating machine under operating procedures

The metal laser cutting machine is a high-tech equipment. Improper use will affect the entire mechanical system. The quality of the cutting workpiece is unstable, which seriously affects the quality of the equipment, which is irreparable.

3. After Cutting

3.1 Clean lens

Clean the focus lens of cutting head. During the operation of the laser cutting machine, metal chips and dust will be generated. These residues will adhere to the focusing lens. If not cleaned in time, the light transmittance will be reduced, the heat absorption rate will be increased, and the cutting accuracy will be affected. Cleaning the focusing lens in time can reduce unnecessary material waste and the cost of replacing the lens.

3.2 Control gas consumption

About 80% of the use cost of laser cutting machine comes from gas consumption. As the main energy supply for laser cutting machine, familiarity and understanding of the gas application principle of laser cutting machine will help to reduce the use cost of gas.

3.3 Stay on top of maintenance

Some people who do laser cutting work put maintenance and repairs into the same category. However, whereas you repair a machine that breaks, maintenance is about keeping it running smoothly so that breakdowns don’t happen. Statistics indicate that laser-cutting maintenance needs vary among operators, but they typically represent about 2-3% of the initial investment each year.
After the metal laser cutting machine works for a long time, the parts will be worn, and the instability of the equipment will affect the cutting accuracy. Therefore, maintenance of equipment is also a way to extend the service life of equipment and improve the cutting accuracy.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding your maintenance routine. Keep a logbook so there is a clear and complete record of what happened when.