Tube Laser Cutting
Tube laser cutting service with Fractory offers the capabilities to cut different profiles and materials with great precision and flexibility. Carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc. are all available. We cut round, rectangular, oval and other profiles with ease.
Our capabilities reach large radii, varying from 0.5 to 30 inches.
Tube laser cutting has many advantages over mechanical cutting methods like sawing and drilling. These advantages ensure greater flexibility, quickness and precision with a lower overall cost.
Our Capabilities
How to Order?
Tube Laser Cutting
Fractory now provides instant quotes for tube laser cutting. Upload your round or rectangular profiles onto the platform and we'll calculate the cutting costs in seconds.
Upload STP files of your tubes to the platform for an instant quote. Should we not have the suitable material and profile combination, submit the files for a manual quote.
Delivery Over the United States
We are able to deliver your parts right to your selected address all over the US. Just insert your shipping destination to the ordering form and we will take care of the rest.
What is Tube Laser Cutting?
Tube laser cutting machines operate on the same principles as regular lasers. Thus, they use amplified laser beams as a means for thermal cutting.
Our manufacturing network provides both CO2 and fiber laser capabilities. Therefore, there are no problems with cutting reflective materials like stainless steel or aluminum, as fiber lasers are perfect for such jobs.
Regular laser cutters can also cut profiles. Especially when adjusted with some extra equipment. Still, they are not comparable to tube lasers in production speed, quality and precision. Therefore, we would definitely advise choosing a tube cutting service when looking to produce profiles with cutouts.
5-Axis Laser Tube Cutting
Tube cutters come in 2 forms – 3-axis and 5-axis. The 3-axis machinery is more common and lets you cut the profiles perpendicularly to the material. Thus, no bevels or such is possible with 3-axis. At the same time, there are more suppliers available with the capabilities only.
Therefore, we would urge you to use the “cut to normal” function when designing your parts unless otherwise is not necessary. This helps to keep the range of manufacturing partners suitable for the job wider, resulting in a lower overall cost.
Left – cut to normal with flat head; right – 3D tube cutting
The image above exemplifies the difference between a 3-axis and 5-axis machine cut. The traditional tube laser cutting machine can only perform the cut on the left.
3D cutting heads are also capable of providing a similar cut to the one on the right. They result in a closer, snug fit between parts. Such capabilities are becoming more widely available and we can definitely provide them if necessary.
Tube Laser Cutting Uses
TRUMPF laser Tube Cutting: Innovative tube constructions
TRUMPF laser Tube Cutting: Innovative tube constructions – youtube Video
Tube cutting services offer you a vast array of options. When making the most of these possibilities, it can greatly affect the simplicity of making assemblies for welding, for example. The video above by Trumpf may give some ideas.
While there are some solutions that probably need a few tests before successful implementation, there are others that are more commonly used. Aside from the obvious bolt holes, using holes and tenons for detail orientation is an excellent way to make sure that the welding is later done correctly.
Another cutting technique to keep an eye on, is making cutouts for bending. If you master the right working methods there, you can order your frame in one part that can be bent by hand and welded while perfectly in place. It is a good way to keep the number of parts minimal. Keeping your work floor neat is always a priority.
Advantages of Tube Laser Cutting
Flexibility – Tube lasers are able to cut a range of tubes, of course, as the name suggests. But aside from these, it is also available for cutting different profiles that match the criteria of maximum diameter and wall thickness.
Selection of materials – You can cut pretty much all the metals, including carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc. Reflective materials may be a problem for CO2 cutters but are handled easily by fiber lasers.
Limiting operations – Tube lasers are able to provide a cutting quality that does not need any post-processing. Also, it can the material to length and perform complex cutouts in one go, without having to change tools. Automating the process keeps the final cost low.
Great precision – Unrivalled accuracy and clean cuts make sure that no secondary operations are necessary. The parts are ready for use right after coming off the production line.
Lower cost – Automating the manufacturing for complex jobs gives a huge advantage in production speed. Together with a lesser need for manual work makes lower costs viable.
Aesthetical solutions – The great flexibility allows developing innovative designs. Improving the looks and functionality of new products raises your value proposition.