Laser or plasma cutting: choosing for your parts
Both processes cut steel to a programmed profile, and for a lot of parts either would do. The difference shows at the extremes: very thin material, very fine detail, very thick plate and very tight budgets.
Edge quality
Laser produces a near square, clean edge with a very narrow kerf and minimal heat affected zone. Plasma produces a slightly bevelled edge with some dross on the underside and a harder cut face.
For a part that will be welded into an assembly and painted, the plasma edge is perfectly adequate. For a visible decorative panel or a part that mates precisely with another, laser earns its cost.
Thickness and cost
Plasma is the more economical process across most structural plate thicknesses and handles heavy plate that becomes slow and expensive on a laser. Laser dominates on thin sheet, where plasma tends to distort the material and lose accuracy.
Cost also depends on the part count. Nesting many parts on one sheet reduces the price per part on either machine.
Detail and small holes
As a rule of thumb, a thermally cut hole should not be much smaller than the material thickness. Plasma reaches that limit sooner than laser, so parts with a lot of small holes in thick plate are usually drilled rather than profiled.
Fine lettering, slots and intricate decorative patterns are laser work.
What we do
We run CNC plasma in house in Dublin 22, which covers the overwhelming majority of structural and fabrication work, and we drill precision holes rather than cutting them thermally.
Send us the part drawings and we will tell you honestly which process suits, including saying when a job is better done on a laser.
Want this priced for your own job? Send us your drawings or a photo and we will come back with a fixed price, usually within one working day.
Common questions
Need this done properly? Talk to the workshop.
Send us drawings, a sketch or a site photo. We come back with a fixed price and a firm lead time, usually within one working day.