Processing Capabilities
With multiple different types of processing, we have exactly what you are looking for! Look through our list of processing capabilities or chat with a sales representative about which processing method would be best suited for your order.
Abrasive Saw Cutting
Abrasive saw cutting is used to cut alloys into rectangles and strips. The standard tolerances are +1/8”, -0, diagonal tolerance of 3/16”, and a max plate thickness of 3”.
- Standard abrasive saw cut plate width and length tolerance is +⅛”,-0
- Abrasive saw-cut plate may be furnished with up to (2) mill edges
- Diagonal tolerance is 3/16″ maximum
It starts with the alloy clamped to the table, then the cutting action is done by a 20″ saw blade released downward to grind the steel into dust, creating the cut.
Bar Saws
Tighter tolerances available upon request
- Cut tolerance: +.032”, -0.0
- Precision Sawing: 5/8” – 7 1/4” diameter
- Burr-Free (Clean for safe handling)
- 1/4” to 28” diameter: +1/8”, -0
A Precision Bar Saw, otherwise known as a Cold Saw, uses a circular blade to cut metal. The name “cold saw” comes from the fact that the saw does not require flood coolant. The heat generated by the cutting action is transferred to the chips that are being ejected by centrifugal forces of the rotating blade.
Chop Stroke
- +1/8,-0
- Rough Cut, Not for tolerance/squareness critical cuts, deburring leaves round edges.
- Small diameters, fewer cuts, longer cuts, and random lengths cut in half for UPS
- Forms: Round Bar & Pipe
Coil Leveling
- .020” to .080” thick: +1/8”, -0” on lengths up to 144”
- .020” to .080” thick: +1/16”, -0” on lengths up to 72”
- .075” to ½” thick: +1/8”, -0”
- .075” to ½” thick: Maximum cut length is 320″
- Diagonal tolerance on the sheet coil leveling line is 1/8″ maximum
- PVC and Paper Interleaving capabilities
Coil leveling is the process of unspooling rolled coil alloys, breaking the memory and resetting the alloy to be flat. Coils are loaded into the mandrels, pass through a series of rollers, and are then sheared to length.
Gauer/Straightener
- Produces a safe rounded and deburred edge from sheared strips
- Decambers and detwists sheared strips
The gauer is a straightening and edging machine that produces a product similar to flat bar from sheared strips of metal.
The first section of the gauer uses a series of rollers to break the memory of the metal. The second section uses a pair of dies to put a “rolled edge” on the material. The final section of the machine flattens and straightens the strips.
Hi-Def Plasma Cutting
Standard plasma cutting tolerances that apply to both the top and bottom surfaces are as follows:
- Up to 1-3/4″ thick: +1/8″, -0
- >1-3/4″ to 3″ thick: +1/4″, -0
- >3″ to 4″ thick: +3/8″, -0
- >4″ to 5″ thick: +3/4″, -0
- >5″ to 6″ thick: +1″, -0
Tolerance reversed on all I.D. cuts)
Diagonal tolerance is 3/16″ maximum on plasma cut items
If you require tighter tolerances, please contact us
Our Hi-Def Plasma cuts with an electrical arc that passes from an electrode to the work piece. Plasmas use compressed gas to shield the electrical arc and give a downward direction for the plasma and slag being created.
Plasma machines run fast and can cut thick plate, meaning they offer the lowest lead time of all CNC cutting machines. We provide plate beveling capability at all locations that offer plasma cutting.
Laser Cutting
Standard laser processing tolerances are as follows:
- Up to 0.125″ thick: +/- .008″
- >0.125″ to 1/4″ thick: +/- .010″
- >1/4″ to 1/2″ thick: +/- .025″
- >1/2″ to 5/8” thick: +/- .035″
- >5/8″ to 3/4″ thick: +/- .045″
- >3/4″ to 1″ thick: +/- .050″
- >1″ to 1 1/2″ thick: +/- .060″
- Minimum ID: .125″
- The laser machine bed size is 100″ x 320″. Drawings in .dxf format are preferred. Other acceptable formats include .dwg and .pdf files.
If you require tighter tolerances, please contact us.
- Diagonal tolerance is 3/16″ maximum on laser cut items.
- Burr removal available by Timesaver machining
Laser cutting is an accelerated process that leaves a near-finished part. Lasers hold the tightest tolerances of all the CNC machines and will cut faster than a waterjet. Cutting with this method does produce a heat affected zone. The maximum thickness we can cut is 1-1/2″ with a bed size of 100″ x 320″.
Laser/Punch Combo
- Punching and laser cutting in one
- Capable of processing complex geometries
- Handles very tight tolerances
- No heat affected zone on punch holes
- 50” x 120” working area
- Accuracy: +/-.004” positioning
- Tools are all made +/-.002”
- Capable of 600 hits/min
- Force: 18 tons
- 20 Tool Stations (each tool station capable of housing multi tools)
- Min Sheet thickness: .020/.025” (if smaller than this, please consult salesperson)
- Max Sheet Thickness: .250”
- Max Sheet Weight: 330 lbs
- Max Tool Size: 3.00” (that doesn’t limit geometry)
- Bend Height: 1.00”
- 3,000 KW Laser
Punch Capabilities
- 360 degree rotation of all tools
- Countersink
- Extrude
- Engraving
- Tapping
- Blanking
A Laser/Punch Combination Machine combines these two processes into a single unit, allowing manufacturers to switch between laser cutting and punching operations without needing to move the sheet metal to different machines. This integration offers several advantages:
- Efficiency: Manufacturers can perform both cutting and punching in one setup, reducing material handling and setup time.
- Versatility: The same machine can handle both cutting and punching tasks, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
- Precision: Laser cutting provides high accuracy and fine detail, while punching ensures consistent hole quality and speed.
- Material Savings: Laser cutting can minimize material waste through precise cuts, and punching efficiently creates standardized holes and shapes.
Pipe Threading
- 1/8″ up to 4″ diameter – NPT classification
Plate Beveling
Plate beveling is a process used to create an angle on the edges of a flat alloy. We are able to provide a straight bevel of ¼” up to to 3″: 45° max angle.
- Straight bevel ¼” up to to 3″: 45° max bevel angle
- If you require a contour bevel, please contact us.
Pipe Beveling
- 1-1/4″ up to 10″ diameter / ≥ Sch 40 ≤ Sch 80
- 30° to 37° bevel and facing available
Rod Coil Line
Shear Cutting
- Standard plate and sheet width and length tolerance is +/-1/16″
- Upon request, special processing for sheared sheet can be done with width and length tolerance of +1/16″, -0. Precision shearing to +/-0.015″ is also available upon request
- Sheared expanded metal width and length tolerance is +/-1/8″
- Diagonal tolerance is 3/16″ maximum on sheared items
- Diagonal tolerance is +/-1/16″ on precision-sheared items
The Shear cuts are similar to a guillotine. The material is clamped down and the bottom blade is fixed to the table. The top blade is fixed to a ram that presses down with calculated force causing a fracture in the material, cutting it with extreme precision. It has a tolerance of +-1/16″ and a maximum cutting length of 144″.
Shearing is a great low-cost option for material that is ½” thick or less. It can cut large rectangles, and strips making flat bar. Shearing is a great option for customers not concerned about saw-cut or squared edges.
Timesavers
- Used for grinding/sanding/deburring
- Both wet and dry options available
- .015″ min thickness
- 36″ max width
- 1″ x 3″ minimum
A Timesavers machine is used for fast production deburring of finished laser-cut metal parts.
A Timesavers machine is used for fast production deburring of finished laser-cut metal parts.
Virtek LaserQC
A Virtek Laser QC is a rapid inspection system that employs lasers to measure the accuracy of two-dimensional parts to tolerances within 0.05mm or 0.002 inches. This device verifies system calibration before each scan to ensure repeatable accuracy. The Virtek LaserQC accuracy can measure within 0.05mm and captures more than 500 data points per second.
Waterjet Cutting
- 0.015″ to 0.500″ thick: +/-0.030″
- >0.500″ to 2″ thick: +/-0.045″
- >2″ to 3″ thick: +/-0.090″
- >3″ thick: +/-0.125″
- The waterjet bed size is 72″ x 144″ & 120″ x 240″.
- Drawings in .dxf format are preferred. Other acceptable formats include .dwg, .igs, .cdl, .hpgl, .dstv.
- Cutting up to 6″ thick
- Diagonal squareness 3/16″ for cut rectangles/squares
If you require tighter tolerances, please contact us.
Our waterjet uses high pressure water and a garnet abrasive to cut through steel plate. The water pumps and intensifiers are capable of producing 94,000 PSI. The stream coming from the nozzle cuts at the velocity of 1 kilometer per second.
Waterjets do not have a heat-affected zone on the material while cutting to very tight tolerances.
