Sheet metal cutting: how it is done and how it works - Minifaber

26 May.,2025

 

Sheet metal cutting: how it is done and how it works - Minifaber

Sheet metal cutting aims to create finished or semi-finished products with precise edges. To limit the inevitable blanking burr, in Minifaber we are careful to use only adequate presses with non-slip sliding on the guides, carefully machined dies that always guarantee the best results of the various operations.

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To learn more, read this article: 

  • Minifaber blanking services
  • High-performance dies for sheet metal cutting and blanking
  • Industries we work for
  • How sheet metal cutting takes place

Sheet metal cutting with Minifaber

Minifaber offers a state-of-the-art sheet metal cutting service thanks to the experience accumulated over years of activity and to the fleet of machines, consisting of 17 mechanical presses and 2 cleaning systems in line with them.

We perform blanking on sheets made of:

  • ferrous materials
  • stainless steel
  • aluminum and its alloys
  • copper and its alloys such as brass
  • special alloys such as cupronickel

How to make a high-performance die for sheet metal cutting and blanking

When designing the blanking dies, we accurately calculate the clearance between the die and the punch. This takes into account the thickness of the sheet, the type of material to be cut, the speed of the press and lubrication.

The material to make punches and dies must be chosen carefully according to the same criteria listed above. The steel mills are chosen among the best on the world market.

The mechanical processing of the active parts of the die is carried out accurately with high-performance machinery such as a 5-axis milling machine and electro-erosion with multiple trims.

All die parts are dimensioned to ensure maximum rigidity and precision.

Industries we work for

In this way the pieces are ready to be used in a variety of sectors:

  • electro-mechanic
  • medical
  • robotics
  • lighting fixtures
  • home appliances
  • vending
  • gas distribution

How does sheet metal cutting and blanking work?

Only in-depth knowledge and experience can determine the clearance, shapes and dimensions of the punch and die. In fact, they must be able to move smoothly and precisely, respecting the construction criteria of the die and depending on the material to be blanked and the requirements of the customer's drawing.

The result is a flawless blanked sheet, while the machinery used is protected from premature wear.

The defects of an imperfectly calibrated blanking

If, during blanking, the clearance between the die and the punch is too high, the excessive space between the two elements causes the sheet metal edges to bend, round them and produce abundant burrs.

If, on the other hand, it is too low, the space between the two parts is reduced, the contact between the die and the punch causes rapid wear of the same and of the die in general, and the semi-finished or finished pieces have equally high burr due to drawing the sheet metal.

A very useful function is performed by the blank holder which avoids the lifting and bending of the sheet metal during blanking, while during the extraction of the punch which takes place in the return stroke of the press, it prevents the sheet from clinging to the punch and raised together with it.

Finally, for the blanking to work properly, the punch must be guided with precision by suitably machined plates:

  • the die itself must have an effective guiding system made from precision columns and bushings
  • the movement of the press slide must have no slips and the guides must be periodically adjusted
  • lubrication plays a fundamental role in avoiding seizure and sticking of the sheet metal on the active parts of the die

State-of-the-art blanking

How to be sure, then, to obtain state-of-the-art blanking? It is necessary to check that the cut edge does not have chips, that there is a small radius on the side where the punch enters and a small burr on the exit side of the punch.

Between the two sides on the thickness will be a blanked part and a torn part which are typical of blanking.

With all these precautions you will achieve:

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from New Hope Laser.

Fundamentals Of Sheet Metal Laser Cutting - Rapid Axis

Intro

People often reach out to our expert machinists and ask what manufacturing process would be right for their upcoming project. To help everyone out, we started our series of blog posts about different manufacturing options, how they work, and when you should pick them.

Today’s guide is all about sheet metal laser cutting. We’ll cover what laser cutting is, the different types, pros and cons of this technology, and the fundamentals you need to know.

What Is Laser Cutting?

The name is not a joke, laser cutting is a manufacturing process where a laser physically cuts through sheets of metal, wood, plastic, leather, and more. In most machine shops, a laser cutter is strictly used for cutting sheet metal.

If you know how waterjet cutters work, you already understand the fundamentals of laser cutters.

There are a few different types of laser cutters, but they all work with the same principle — a strong laser will cut straight lines through a sheet of metal underneath. The head of the laser moves around, typically on a 2-axis or 3-axis gantry.

The laser is cutting based off a series of G-code, which is a machine language that comes from your CAD model.

A laser cutter can cut internal holes, features, and geometries as well as cutting out outlines of parts. This makes it a versatile addition to any machine shop that works with sheet metal.

Types of Sheet Metal Laser Cutters

There are three main types of laser cutters that you’ll find in an everyday machine shop: fiber lasers, CO2 lasers, and crystal lasers.

Fiber Laser Cutters

In our experience, fiber laser cutters are one of the more popular options. They require very little maintenance to upkeep, and they can easily run for 25,000 hours.

This technology uses long, thin strips of glass fibers to amplify the laser beam. This produces a lot of power, but a larger cutting kerf (which is sometimes good and sometimes bad). A fiber laser cutter can handle metal, alloys, plastics, glass, and wood with ease. 

CO2 Laser Cutters

A CO2 laser uses a combination of inert gases and carbon dioxide (CO2, hence the name) to cut through material. It’s a simpler laser cutter, but they require a constant supply of gas to keep them running.

They’re especially good with non-metal materials, but they can handle aluminum and stainless steel sheets without any issues. They require more upkeep, especially in keeping the lens clean so you get a clean cut every time.

Their lifetime is a little shorter than fiber lasers, but much longer than crystal laser cutters.

Crystal Laser Cutters

The final option is the crystal laser cutter, which is also the most high-tech. It uses one of two high-power cutting devices, either Nd:YAH or Me:YVO (you don’t need to understand these acronyms at all). The machine is a lot more expensive than the other two cutters, and it lasts the least amount of time before major repairs are needed — anywhere from 8,000 to 15,000 hours. 

Since they’re so high-tech, it shouldn’t be a surprise that this laser cutter can handle almost anything you put under it. It can handle thicker aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, titanium, and plenty of non-metals (including ceramics). 

Benefits of Sheet Metal Laser Cutting

Why would you choose laser cutting for your next sheet metal project? There are a few major benefits.

  • It’s very fast. A laser cutter can easily make dozens of parts in less than an hour. Once the machine is set up, it can continuously knock out more parts.
  • One machine can handle multiple thicknesses. There’s no need to swap out cutting tools or change the bed configuration — a single laser cutter can tackle multiple different material thicknesses. We just need to change the laser power and head height in the settings of the cutting file.
  • Avoids CNC machining altogether. Even a well-run shop, like ours at Rapid Axis, runs into an issue where a queue forms for CNC machining. It means you have to wait in line before we can start on your project. With laser cutters, it’s rare to have a queue of projects since each project is done so quickly. We can start on your project sooner and deliver it sooner.
  • Allows for more design freedom. Laser cutting heads are very flexible and versatile. As a result, you can take bigger freedoms in your design with confidence.
  • Can create multiple pieces at once. If we have a big sheet of metal and we need to make a dozen parts for you, we can set up the operation to cut them all at once. This translates to less startup time, less wasted material, and less room for error — A lower cost for you and faster project deliveries. 

Downsides of Sheet Metal Laser Cutting

There are a few downsides to discuss as well.

  • Limitations to part thickness. Even though laser cutters can handle a wide range of material thicknesses, there’s an upper limit. This is why we typically only recommend our laser cutter for sheet metal projects.
  • Requires a specialist. A general machinist can’t run a laser cutter, it takes a specialist. You need to find a shop that has laser cutting experts on-staff, or else your parts will turn out wrong.
  • Not all shops have laser cutters. Most shops in America have a plethora of CNC machinery, but not all of them have laser cutters. You’ll need to do your homework to find a high-quality shop that can help out.

Conclusion

We just finished reviewing the fundamentals of sheet metal laser cutting. This technology can deliver high accuracy and fast turnarounds for your parts, and it’s a great alternative to CNC machining for sheet metal parts and assemblies.

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