Mild steel bracket
Laser cut sheet metal brackets no matter how simple or complex start with a 3D model on our Radan sheet metal software system here at V and F Sheet Metal. We can be lucky sometimes and have a 3D model given to us by our customers which can save us time in producing the final developed blanks for cutting. If not, we then have to create one ourselves to act as the master file for all material information, thickness, hole sizes, outer profile and bend information. Once that has been completed the flat blank can be created and used to program either a CNC punch press or a CNC laser cutter to enable the parts to be cut from flat sheet metal.
Laser cutting sheet metal brackets
Here’s the Trumpf fibre laser in action cutting out the 1.5mm thick mild steel bracket blanks using nitrogen as the cutting gas. The first 3 are missing as they were used to check that the laser edge was clean and the component size was correct to the drawing / 3D model tolerances. Once that was approved the rest of the batch could be laser cut repeating the same part again and again. You can see what a dynamic cutting process it is from this photographic still image capturing the moment the laser is piercing a hole straight through the 1.5mm thick mild steel sheet.
Laser cutting progress
The operator can monitor the progress of the laser cutting while it’s in process. They can stop the machine at any point and make adjustments or remove components that are in the way of the laser cutting head. You can see that the batch of components turns green on the screen as they are cut so we are approximately a third of the way through the batch at this point. The layout of the components on the sheet is controlled by the CNC programming department along with the design of each part.
Laser cutting sheet metal brackets video
Fast Tube by Casper
The laser is cutting the sheet metal with nitrogen as the assist cutting gas so that a clean oxide free edge cut is achieved.
If you have a sheet metal bracket that needs laser cut sheet metal brackets please give us a call or send an e-mail with your drawings to sales@vandf.co.uk as we will be happy to quote for your sheet metal work.