The very first laser was developed by Californian Theodore Maima in 1960, using a synthetic ruby crystal as the active medium. Since then, great leaps forward have been made in the field of light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation (laser), including the development of highly efficient flatbed laser cutting machines. It is these machines that are the focus of today’s blog post. More specifically, we will be discussing how flatbed laser cutters improve manufacturing and fabrication processes. We’ll start by defining flatbed laser cutting before examining the machines in more detail and addressing pertinent questions such as “What industries benefit most from flatbed laser cutting services?” and “What are the benefits of using flatbed laser cutting in manufacturing?”

What is Flatbed Laser Cutting?

A flatbed laser cutting machine consists of a horizontal bed (or table), on which the material to be cut is placed. A powerful CO₂ laser is sent to the cutting head, which is directed at the material on the table. Instructions are fed to flatbed laser cutting machines in digital format. Files are created with CAD software applications that contain comprehensive, machine-readable instructions for each pattern to be cut. Thanks to the fully automated cutting operation, a flatbed laser cutter can process large volumes of material more efficiently than manual cutting techniques can achieve. For materials such as metals, plastics and various timbers, a flatbed laser is a cost-effective option with significant benefits.

Applications Across Industries

Flatbed laser cutting machines are employed in a wide variety of industries in Australia and across the globe.

  • Manufacturing – The manufacturing sector utilises flatbed laser cutting technology to shorten lead times and make efficiency improvements that often result in greater profits.
  • Construction – Custom-made parts can slow down construction work and even lead to missed deadlines if they are not received on time. With flatbed laser cutters, deadlines are easier to meet every time.
  • Automotive – Precision parts for vehicles can be made faster without compromising accuracy when using flatbed laser cutting machines.
  • Signage and Advertising – Flatbed laser cutters are used in the manufacture of metal signage featuring intricate designs and lettering. The rapid, accurate movement of the laser beam in 3 dimensions makes short work of even the most complex designs.
  • Arts and Crafts – Artisans work with their hands for much of the time, but when creating larger, more intricate installations, they make use of flatbed laser cutting technology to ensure perfect results.

Any industry that uses flat metal components to manufacture finished products could potentially benefit from adopting flatbed laser cutting technology if they have yet to do so.

Benefits of Flatbed Laser Cutting

Flatbed laser cutting offers several valuable benefits for production runs of varying types and sizes. If precision-cut flat metal components feature in the design of your manufactured products, you can look forward to the following advantages when using flatbed laser cutting.

  • Precision and Quality – The CO2 laser makes precise cuts, which means tight tolerances are not a problem. Each cut is clean and accurate, ensuring quality results. 
  • Speed and Efficiency – Thanks to the speed at which a flatbed laser cutting machine can go about its business, integrating this technology into your production line can lead to significant speed and efficiency improvements.
  • Cost-Effectiveness – The accurate cuts and fast processing times make flatbed laser cutting a cost-effective proposition for many manufacturing and industrial organisations.
  • Versatility – Because flatbed laser cutting machines read CNC instructions, they can quickly be reprogrammed to follow an entirely different cutting pattern, making them highly versatile.
  • Eco-Friendliness – Compared to the alternatives, flatbed laser cutting is more efficient. It uses less energy and results in less wastage, making it the more environmentally friendly choice in many cases.

As the technology evolves, more benefits can be expected. Organisations that switch to flatbed laser cutting now will be ideally positioned to take advantage of these new benefits as they are introduced to the market.

Flatbed Laser Cutting For High-Volume Production Runs

One of the first questions new clients often ask us is “How cost-effective is flatbed laser cutting for large production runs?” and the answer is always the same. It is very effective for high-volume production runs owing to the improvements in speed, accuracy and efficiency it offers. Flatbed laser cutting machines feature two tables, so the table with the finished component can be unloaded by another operator while a new component is being cut on the second table. This design feature, combined with the inherent speed advantages the technology offers, makes flatbed laser cutters a great tool for larger production runs.

Flatbed Laser Cutting in Australia

More and more manufacturing and industrial organisations across Australia are integrating flatbed laser cutting technology into their production processes and reaping the benefits in terms of speed, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Because of this, more companies are offering flatbed laser cutting services in all areas of the country. There has never been a better time, from the customer’s perspective, to switch to this technology and enjoy all the benefits.

Among the industries that have adopted flatbed laser cutting most enthusiastically and consequently enjoyed the greatest benefits to date are the electronics, automotive and medical device manufacturing industries.

If you decide that now is the time to start seriously planning the integration of flatbed laser cutting technology into your production processes, your first job will be to identify a reliable service provider that can meet your requirements. Fortunately, given the competitive laser cutting marketplace and the website on which you are reading this article, it will not be difficult to find a trustworthy flatbed laser cutting service provider who can meet all your needs.

The Best Flatbed Laser Cutting Services in Australia

For the best flatbed laser cutting services in Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia or the Northern Territory, contact Bend Tech Group to discuss your needs. As a leading provider of material processing capabilities to manufacturing, industrial, mining and other industries across the country, we have the expertise to handle all your laser cutting requirements with ease.