Laser Cutter Verses Turret Punch Press

There was a good article a few days back on water jet cutters...might be worth a look.

here I found it...

In a past life our shop had both the water jet and a laser cutter.

Operating costs are pretty high on the jet. Size is (was) pretty big. Everything got wet.

Laser cutter was fast (so was jet). Laser was quieter and smaller in size, with lower op costs. Laser tended to leave a better edge. Both ran on simple software.

for smaller/thinner materials the laser for sure. you can also pick up some plastics work.

I don't mean to knock the jet, but it is a monster. If you are cutting plate steel, thick plastics and much larger stuff then there you go. But they are heavy consumers, loud, dirty wet, expensive to maintain and service (service cost is high on the laser too).

I encourage you to ask what else can this tool bring into the shop. Where else might we generate revenue as a result of acquiring this equipment. Also you might find thta some existing work is well suited to one vs the other thus freeing up existing equip.

CR3

A friend of mine has a Bystronic laser that can cut up to 25mm stainless. Very quick, very clean, no looking back...we run 4 punch presses processing plastic coated material. A laser would do, but at a higher cost due to re specifying the material...

Is there any reason that you haven't mentioned plasma cutting? I think this would be a low cost - high productivity alternative to expensive punch press tooling and expensive high maintenance lasers.

I have worked at places that have had either a laser or a turret press as well as places that have both. From my experience what is best for you will be determined by what your products typically look like. A Laser can be very quick, quiet and efficient as long as it continues to cut once it starts. So parts with complex profiles work out well. But lasers lose speed once there are a large # of features inside the part, cutting a large quantity of holes etc. Plus a laser will not be able to embosses and other types of features.

A turret will handle the internal features better, special tools can be made to create the geomtry in a single strike but when cutting a profile you will see "nibble" marks that can be quite sharp, but can also create problems with brake tooling, inconsistent burrs that alter the repeatability of the forming process. Plus the lighter duty turrets have real problems handling the heavier gauge material.

Since you have punch presses already I would say either a laser or even a plasma/punch. The one I saw can handle very thick material, that way you have the ability of a lasertype system but also the punch press.

You should investigate a CNC Plasma Cutter.

Relatively inexpensive, fast, versatile and leave a fair edge.

Maintenance is easy.