Frequently asked questions

Question - I want a 2D shape cut out. What is the best way to give you my drawings?

 

1. We are able to work from anything from a 'fag packet sketch' to a full blown 3D CAD file. However the following file types are best! DXF/DWG for 2D or step/stp for 3D parts

 

2. We can scan and convert artwork which has either been hand drawn or printed out but it needs to be in black and white and the lines need to be cleanly drawn or in the case of print outs the lines must be well defined and not blurred. This is not the best way to get something accurately cut!

 

3. We are not able to work with any native MAC files

 

 

Question - What metals do we hold in stock?

 

We hold stocks of the follow in most of the common metric thickness

 

Mild steel (S275)

Stainless steel - both 304 and 316 grades

Aluminium - 1050, 5083 and 6082 grades

 

We also hold limited stocks of -

 

Mild steel (S355)

Brass

Copper

 

 

Question - What materials can you cut?

 

We use our laser profiling machines to cut both ferrous and non ferrous metals. While the gas and plasma profile cutting machines are used for ferrous metals only. The water jet profile machines however are able to cut virtually anything. This includes both ferrous and non

ferrous metals, plastics, composite materials (not all laminates), wood (including plywood), glass (not toughened glass though), stone (including concrete and ceramics) and rubber.

 

 

What tolerances can we work to?

 

We generally work to the following tolerances -

 

Laser - +/- 0.2mm

Waterjet - +/- 0.5mm

Gas - +/- 1mm

Plasma - +/-

Guillotine - +/- 1mm

 

Bending, on one off's/small batches - +/- 1 degree

Bending, on larger batches - +/- 0.5 degree

Durbar bending tolerance +/- 2 degrees

 

Sheets of mild steel are bought in to the EN10029 standard of thickness and flatness