Comparing Plasma and Laser Cutting in Toronto
There are two main cutting technologies used these days to cut metals in a precise manner: plasma and laser cutting in Toronto. These methods are not interchangeable, with each of them providing advantages and disadvantages for different applications.
In today’s blog, we will be discussing the differences between plasma and laser cutting in Toronto:
Plasma Cutting
Plasma cutting is cheaper compared to laser cutting, largely due to its lower levels of precision. In plasma cutting, a jet of ionized gas, projected as a plasma beam, is used to melt, or cut, material. CNC technology is used to control the movements of the plasma cutter. Typically, plasma cutting is more suitable for steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and copper, and is preferred over laser cutting when it comes to cutting thicker materials.
Laser Cutting
Like plasma cutting, laser cutting also utilizes a beam to cut materials, but in this case the beam is a laser instead of being made of ionized gas. Paired with CNC technology, the laser beam is guided by the software to cut in a certain pattern or design. Laser cutting is able to produce much higher-quality finishes, thanks to the intensity of the laser paired with technology to quickly dispose of any debris. At Metal-Tronics, our laser cutters can cut materials as thin as 0.001” or as thick as 1”.
Here are the takeaway comparisons of plasma and laser cutting:
- Lasers are more expensive but more precise.
- Lasers are great for engraving small or cutting small shapes.
- Plasma cutters are needed for materials that exceed an inch in thickness.
- Plasma can only cut conductive materials.
- Lasers can be used to cut wood, plastic, glass, and other materials.
- Lasers cannot cut highly reflective materials like copper.
These cutting technologies ensure minimal errors and dramatically reduce the time needed for metal fabrication projects. For laser cutting in Toronto, make sure to contact the experts at Metal Tronics for more information.
