At a glance
| Material | Typical parts | Finish | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild steel (MS) | Frames, brackets, base plates, guards | Painted or powder coated | Lowest |
| Stainless steel (SS) | Housings, food-contact and outdoor parts | Bare, buffed or brushed | Higher |
| Aluminium | Covers, panels, light frames | Bare or coated | Higher |
| Copper | Busbars, earthing strips, electrical parts | Bare | Highest |
Whether a particular part can be cut, bent or welded in a given material is confirmed from the drawing before quotation.
Mild steel
Mild steel is the workhorse for structural parts: strong, easy to weld and the most economical. It rusts if left bare, so parts are usually painted or powder coated. When cut with oxygen, the edge carries a thin oxide layer, which is cleaned before coating so paint adheres well.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel resists corrosion, so it suits housings, food and pharmaceutical equipment, and outdoor parts. It is usually cut with nitrogen for a bright, oxide-free edge that needs no further treatment. Grade 304 covers most indoor and general work; grade 316 is chosen for harsher, salty or chemical environments. The Avior Aqua housings are a typical stainless steel build.
Aluminium
Aluminium weighs about a third as much as steel and does not rust, which makes it ideal for covers, panels and frames where weight matters. It reflects more of the laser's energy and conducts heat away quickly, so cutting parameters are set specifically for it. Softer grades bend more easily than hard tempers, so state the grade on the drawing if the part will be formed.
Copper
Copper is chosen for its electrical and thermal conductivity: busbars, earthing strips, terminals and heat-transfer parts. It is highly reflective, which older CO2 lasers struggle with, but fiber lasers handle it well. Copper costs considerably more than steel, so efficient nesting matters more than usual.
Getting the most from a material
- Add stiffness with shape, not weight. A bent flange or a welded gusset usually stiffens a part more cheaply than heavier sheet.
- Match the material to the environment. Stainless steel for water, chemicals and food contact; powder-coated mild steel for indoor frames.
- Name the grade. SS 304 or 316, and the aluminium grade, change both price and how the part bends.
- Think about the next step. Parts that will be bent, welded or coated may need a different material or grade from flat cut parts.
See the laser cutting service or the infrastructure, or upload a drawing on the contact page.