Can anyone laser cut stainless steel?

[red_slr]

I am after getting some stainless cut.
Needs to be about 7 foot long about 12 inches wide.
Fairly simple design.

Laser or water cut or perhaps CNC if possible - what ever works really.

I need a few done as samples, maybe half a dozen, then if all goes to plan I would like maybe 100 or so doing.

If anyone is in this line of business let me know.

I am in the N/W.

[mr.man]

Do a search for Laser Cutting stainless on the internet. There's lots in the N/W.
But I rather suspect none will do you samples free of charge. Especially 7 foot long !!

[red_slr]

Not looking for FOC, will pay whatever the cost is. I meant samples for my customers then if they go down well I would expect customers to order so might be a decent size order from it. IYSWIM

[Easternlight]

Not my company and couldn't be further from you, but we use this place.
http://lasercutting.uk.com/

[red_slr]

Thanks will give them a call just to see what they suggest anyway - its something I have no clue about as you may have noticed.

[ReaderScars]

You might find more waterjet cutters than stainless laser cutters in my experience.

[tuffer]

If you have no joy let me know, I know someone in Sheffield area who could probably do this but he is really busy at the moment.

[rich888]

What thickness of stainless are you considering?

[red_slr]

Its basically a template that will be used to cut out carpet like material.

Nothing fancy but needs to be able to cope with a bit of abuse. I would have thought good quality aircraft ali might also do the trick.

Maybe 3mm?

[Mr Roper]

red_slr said:

Its basically a template that will be used to cut out carpet like material.

Nothing fancy but needs to be able to cope with a bit of abuse. I would have thought good quality aircraft ali might also do the trick.

Maybe 3mm?

If this is just a template and has no association to aerospace then I really wouldn't waste my money on aircraft grade aluminium. Just use free machining aluminium. 2011 Grade.

[red_slr]

No defo nothing to do with aircraft.

[rich888]

Aluminium might be a little too soft for your purpose whereas stainless steel would be mighty robust. Almost indestructible. Like you have said, get a few samples cut to test, then move forward to the 100+ orders once you are happy.

I wouldn't worry too much about where the laser cutting company is located because the likes of Fedex, APC or DPD can collect the items just so long as they are well packed.

[chris390]

NW area i use www.arcmetals.co.uk

[ReaderScars]

Searching for plasma cutting might also offer up some other outfits.

[Birkin1932]

If you PM me OP I have a much cheaper way of doing this than laser steel or CNC ali

[red_slr]

Inbound!

[Smiler.]

Plasma is quite a "dirty cut" compared to laser/water.

Interested to see what Birkin's suggestion is

[dfen5]

Smiler. said:

Plasma is quite a "dirty cut" compared to laser/water.

Interested to see what Birkin's suggestion is

Not so much now. I'm a Hypertherm reseller and the new 45 machines work with F5 gasses giving a much cleaner cut on stainless.

May I suggest the op considers trespa or even ply? MDF at a push. If you're cutting anything out, using stainless as a jig will dull anything that touches it and it's properly expensive.

[Smiler.]

dfen5 said:

Smiler. said:

Plasma is quite a "dirty cut" compared to laser/water.

Interested to see what Birkin's suggestion is

Not so much now. I'm a Hypertherm reseller and the new 45 machines work with F5 gasses giving a much cleaner cut on stainless.

May I suggest the op considers trespa or even ply? MDF at a push. If you're cutting anything out, using stainless as a jig will dull anything that touches it and it's properly expensive.

Ah, thanks for that

[red_slr]

Stanley blade will be doing the cutting and we go through boxes of the things so not a problem as the material we are cutting dulls them at a serious rate of knots.