When selecting metal cutting services, one has several good options to select from. But you can find significant differences between these options, and the informed buyer can save a bundle with a good choice.
Laser Cutting:
Laser cutting involves light relocating a straight line towards the task piece, removing metal by vaporization. Laser cutters will often have tolerances down to .0005 inches. They are potentially the most precise and can have the tiniest kerf (or cutting width). Also, they are the fastest at cutting thin material (16 gauge or thinner). More powerful laser cutters can cut mild steel as thick as 1.25 inches. The supply of the laser involves laser gasses and electricity.
Waterjet Cutting:
Waterjet cutting involves abrasives and ruthless water at 35-75,000 PSI aimed towards the workpiece leading to precise abrasion cutting. Steel parts can be as thick as 6 inches and stay within tolerances of +/- .003 of an inch. Materials can range from metal to ceramic tiles and virtually anything between. It is by far the slowest approach to the cutting services discussed on this page. The way to obtain the waterjet includes water and moderately expensive tiny rocks called garnet.
Plasma Cutting:
Plasma cutting involves temperature plasma and a power arc seeking ground. In this instance, it seeks ground through the workpiece--and along the way removes metal by melting the material and blowing it from the work area. Plasma cutting has by far the fastest speeds when cutting thick metal. Plasma cutting requires electricity and certain gasses to operate.
Which Cutting Method Works Best?
Get more info cutting method largely depends on the capabilities required. If a job involves a bit of metal 1" thick or less and requiring moderate to strict tolerances, nothing beats a laser cutter. If a workpiece is made from an exotic material which has low tolerance to heat (called a "Heat Affected Zone"), a waterjet is likely your very best bet. If the material is metallic and intensely thick (say, 1.5 inches or even more) and speed is crucical, then plasma cutting would be the best.