Have you ever held an exquisitely cut intricate piece of metal and thought, 'This magic must cost a fortune'?
You're right. Laser cutting, a technology that's changing industries ranging from aerospace to craft has a price that could raise eyebrows. However, before you dismiss it as 'expensive,' let's delve into the seven factors that make up this intricate cost tapestry.
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Laser cutting isn't just sharp; it's a master of microscopic accuracy. This demands advanced machines, meticulous calibration, and constant maintenance ' a symphony of technology that doesn't come cheap.
From delicate acrylic to tough titanium, each material sings a different tune for the laser. Specialized settings, gas types, and even lens configurations adapt to each material's unique dance, adding complexity and cost. Thickness also plays a role, with thicker materials requiring more laser power and time.
Don't underestimate the laser's inner beast. High-powered lasers, needed for thicker materials and faster cuts, guzzle energy, driving up operational costs. But remember, their strength translates to efficiency, minimizing waste and saving time in the long run.
Laser cutting waltzes through materials at breakneck speed, a boon for production. However, this speed demon also demands higher machine power and expertise, contributing to the initial investment. But the trade-off? Reduced labor costs, minimal waste, and faster turnaround times, all sweet music to manufacturers' ears.
Laser cutting isn't just plug-and-play. Skilled operators, trained in safety protocols and machine nuances, are crucial. And like any prima donna, the machine demands regular maintenance and occasional upgrades, adding to the operational cost symphony.
Laser cutting isn't a backyard barbecue. Stringent safety regulations necessitate specialized equipment, rigorous training, and meticulous adherence to protocols. These measures, though essential, add another layer to the cost equation.
Buckle up for a big one. Laser cutting machines are technological marvels, and their price tag reflects their sophistication. But remember, this investment isn't a one-time expense. Over time, the machine's productivity and efficiency pay dividends, gradually amortizing the initial cost.
Yes and no. It's a complex equation, where the price tag is just the first note. The real value lies in the precision, efficiency, and versatility that laser cutting delivers. It's an investment in quality, speed, and a competitive edge. By understanding the symphony of factors that contribute to the cost, you can appreciate the true value proposition of this transformative technology.
With today's high end laser cutters available at the fingertips of even the smallest machine shop, it's never been easier to manufacture high quality laser cut parts.
But is purchasing and operating a laser cutter really worth it? Between the initial investment and additional costs of labor and maintenance, owning a laser cutter is no small undertaking. It's for this reason that many businesses and individuals are outsourcing laser cut parts from online manufacturers. Let's explore the values and true costs of owning a laser cutter, as compared to the reasons one might turn to outsourcing.
There are a number of costs associated with purchasing, operating, and maintaining a laser cutter of any size. We will examine a range of these costs pertaining specifically to industrial sized laser cutters as well as smaller CO2 lasers.
CO2 lasers that are powerful enough to cut plastics, wood and even thin metals start at about $15,000 and scale upwards based on a number of factors, including size and power.
The initial investment costs for any laser cutter depends on the laser technology and capabilities, as well as your machine shop's needs regarding capacity, level of power, and degree of automation.
Small CO2 lasers, which are limited on both size and available materials, can easily be run by just one operator. A larger, high power fiber laser could potentially be run by one operator, but is ideally run by a team of 2-3 staff made up of one operator, one materials handler, and oftentimes one parts handler. Lasers are fast machines that need to be fed material constantly in order to achieve a positive ROI.
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High powered fiber lasers should be run as close as possible to 24 hours a day to maximize its efficiency and ROI. Ideally, all the parts cut on this laser are eligible for automatic loading and unloading. However, since this can't always be the case (job shops), your shop should be prepared to have 2-3 shifts of several people each working around the clock to load and unload the material.
The cost of materials is as much a part of the cost of the laser cutter as it is the cost of the parts you're cutting. Depending on the part geometry and how the parts are nested in programming, anywhere from 10% to 50% of the raw material is wasted and has to be recycled. This can be partially mitigated by efficient sheet utilization, but if you aren't also running the laser often enough to utilize all of the raw material, the amount and cost of scrapped material will be high.
If you don't have enough parts to utilize all the raw material when laser cutting, you will also probably face issues with price scaling as it's often significantly cheaper to order material in large quantities. However, if you can order large quantities of material and can justify it with the near constant use of the laser cutter, you will eventually need to address a rather glaring storage problem. This can be expensive for smaller machine shops who may have to store the material for an extended period of time before it's all used.
The most efficient material sizes may be sheets of 4'x4', 4×10', or even 5'x12'. Storing and handling materials of those sizes requires a lot of space, specialized equipment (forklifts, cranes, etc.), and unique training for laser operators. Since it may be difficult for shops to find the space for such storage and equipment, they will have to turn to renting additional space on top of ordering the larger sheets in large quantities. As you can see, materials costs are not as cut and dry as they may appear.
High power fiber lasers require a significant amount of maintenance which will play into the cost of daily operation.
CO2 lasers require less maintenance and consumables, but what they make up for in convenience, they lose in power, available materials, and capacity.
The rapid turnaround time in your laser cut parts is the biggest advantage to owning your own laser cutter. Depending on the part, you can go from a drawing to a finished product in mere minutes. Most outsourcing companies can take anywhere from two days to several weeks.
Iterating on existing designs or creating new prototypes is also a perfect application for an in house laser cutter for any size business or machine shop. With the right tuning and training, it takes no time at all to update your design, cut and assemble it, test, and do it all over again. This can work for anything from robotics designers to product testing, and is far faster and cheaper than repeatedly placing a large outsourced order when you only need a couple parts.
Owning and operating your own laser cutter also gives you complete control over production rate and quality control. It can be frustrating to relay tolerances and specific needs to a third party, but if you're cutting your own parts in the first place, that additional communication is cut out entirely and gives you a better handle on the final quality of your parts. However it does mean you can't 'pass the buck' to your third party supplier, so keep that in mind when you make promises for the tolerances and look of your final parts!
The most glaring disadvantages for owning a laser cutter is the space needed to house one, the time needed to learn how to operate it, and the money needed for the initial investment, materials, and ongoing maintenance and operation. If you're a large manufacturer with a full warehouse and a crew of people able to operate it, purchasing a laser cutter is viable and probably wise. However, if you've got a small to medium sized machine shop and your business output is too low for the demands of an industrial laser cutter, you should defer to outsourcing as it will save you time, space, and money.
As we mention the purchasing or creation and storage of assist gasses, it's important to also note that laser cutter owners need to obtain special permits from the EPA, OSHA, fire marshal, and other local authorities due to the dangers of keeping a laser cutter and the tools needed to operate it. If you outsource, that is your vendor's problem, you can relax!
Many large scale manufacturers are able to easily justify state of the art, high powered fiber lasers because they have the output necessary to reach ROI on one relatively quickly. This means that if you outsource, your parts will most likely be cut on a laser cutter that is better able to reach tight tolerances and high quality cuts than the mid-tier laser cutter many small manufacturers use. You're better able to guarantee high quality parts because they're cut on a high quality laser.
There are, of course, downsides to outsourcing as there is with anything. As we mentioned, outsourcing is a slower turnaround time from concept to finished part. Many manufacturers take weeks to machine your parts, but a few are ahead of the curve and will only take 2-4 days. Outsourcing is also more expensive if you have a high volume of needed parts over an extended period, but remember that if it's high enough, you can justify purchasing a laser cutter. Outsourcing is still ideal (and cheaper) for businesses with a lower output on a laser cutter that prevents them from running it 24/7.
You will have to take your own needs into account when making this decision for your business or shop, but we see outsourcing as an elegant solution to many (if not all) of the problems that purchasing and maintaining a laser cutter in house presents.
Today's manufacturers and fabricators are revolutionizing the world of machining, and with new advances and innovations appearing in laser cutters all the time, trusting a third party with your laser cut parts today feels like a sigh of relief.
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