When you need metal cut to the right size, then the most common way to achieve it is to use laser-cutting machinery to create exactly the cut that you need. Laser cutting has lots of advantages. It is fast, highly accurate and repeatable, so once the desired cut is programmed, it can be replicated as many times as needed. However, despite the many advantages of laser-cutting machines, there are still some materials that they have struggled to cut. In particular, non-ferrous metals such as copper, bronze, and brass have often been a particular problem for laser cutters.

Why are yellow metals a problem?

Laser-cutting machines rely on a laser beam rather than a blade to cut the material. Copper and other 'yellow' metals are reflective and have high thermal conductivity. This means that attempting copper cutting leads to the beam being reflected rather than cutting the metal. If the laser is reflected away from the metal, it has the potential to damage the machine and bring all work to a halt.

What is the solution for copper cutting?

While traditional laser-cutting machines may have struggled with copper cutting, advances in technology have seen the introduction of fibre-optic laser-cutting machines that can cut bronze and copper up to 10mm in thickness. These improved copper-cutting abilities can offer a high-quality finish, which makes the materials ideal for decorative projects as well as technical applications such as electrical components and more general fabrication.

How to select the right copper-cutting company

If you are concerned about how your copper is cut then you will need to investigate your chosen company to ensure that they have the right equipment and sufficiently trained staff to carry out the task. You could ask to see samples of their past work or testimonials from past clients. If possible, it is often helpful to pay a visit to their site and see how they work as a company. If you can see them at work on projects similar to yours, then you will be able to form a clear picture of the abilities of the company and decide whether or not they are the right choice to complete the copper cutting that you must have done.

To find out more about how to cut copper, talk to a copper-cutting company in your area today and see what they have to offer. They can show you samples of their previous work to give you ideas.

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