Stainless steel cutting — inox, nerzhaveika, stainless
Short answer
Craftarea cuts stainless steel (inox, nerzhaveika) in Tbilisi on a fiber laser CNC machine, from 0.5mm to 6mm thick at ±0.1mm positional tolerance. The most common grades are AISI 201 and 304. Price is calculated from cut length, thickness and grade, and quoted within 24 hours; minimum order is 1 piece, production 2-5 working days.
Craftarea has cut metal in Tbilisi for 7+ years on a fiber laser CNC machine, and stainless steel is one of the most requested materials across our 500+ completed projects. This page covers stainless steel only — also called inox or nerzhaveika, three names for one material, all processed identically on our machine. Here you will find the real thickness ceiling, the tolerance, the grades actually available on the Georgian market (AISI 201, 304), how pricing is calculated, and what happens to the cut edge afterwards. If you need mild steel or aluminium instead, see the dedicated pages below. Wherever you are in Georgia, a drawing or sketch is enough for us to quote exactly.
Key facts
- Max thickness on our machine
- 6 mm (stainless, fiber laser)
- Min thickness
- 0.5 mm
- Positional tolerance
- ±0.1 mm
- Common grades
- AISI 201 and 304 (316 — by order)
- Minimum order
- 1 piece
- Quote turnaround
- 24 hours
- Production time
- 2-5 working days, volume-dependent
- File formats
- DXF, AI, PDF (vector)
What is the difference between inox, nerzhaveika and stainless steel?
There is none — all three names refer to the same material. Inox comes from the French inoxydable, nerzhaveika is borrowed from Russian, and stainless steel is the international technical term. Technically it is steel containing at least 10.5% chromium; that chromium forms an invisible oxide layer on the surface which protects the metal from rust. In the most common grades — AISI 201 and 304 — nickel is added alongside the chromium. Unlike mild steel, which rusts quickly in damp air, stainless holds up under normal conditions. At Craftarea an order arriving under any of these three names is handled the same way: one material, one machine, one price formula.
- Inox = nerzhaveika = stainless steel — one material, three names
- Technical criterion: minimum 10.5% chromium content
- AISI 201 and 304 are chromium-nickel (austenitic) grades
- Mild (carbon) steel is a different material and does rust
What thickness of stainless steel can be laser cut?
Our fiber laser CNC machine cuts stainless steel from 0.5mm to 6mm, holding ±0.1mm positional tolerance — a hole or contour will not drift more than 0.1mm from the drawing. As thickness increases, cutting speed drops and the edge takes on a more noticeable taper. Between 4mm and 6mm a narrow heat-affected band often appears at the edge, a yellow-blue tint that is technologically normal for stainless and can be removed by mechanical cleaning where the application requires it. We do not cut stainless thicker than 6mm, or non-standard stainless, on our machine: those orders are routed to a vetted partner workshop, and we tell you so before you confirm.
Which stainless steel grades are used most often?
Two grades dominate the Georgian market. AISI 201 is cheap and widely available with moderate corrosion resistance — fine for decor, signage and interiors away from direct rain or chemical exposure. AISI 304 has higher nickel content and suits food-contact, medical and outdoor use. AISI 316, the molybdenum-bearing marine grade, is not held in standard stock and is sourced per order. Grade feeds directly into price: 304 and 316 cost more than 201 precisely because of their nickel content. If you are unsure which you need, tell us what the part is for and we will recommend the right grade.
- AISI 201 — cheapest; interiors, decor, signage in covered spaces
- AISI 304 — outdoor use, food contact, medical applications
- AISI 316 — coastal and chemical environments; sourced by order only
Does stainless steel need extra processing after cutting?
Laser-cut stainless normally needs edge cleaning — deburring, which we carry out in-house as part of the job. Some applications also call for passivation: a chemical process that restores the oxide layer damaged by heat at the cut edge and preserves corrosion resistance. We do not perform passivation ourselves — a partner workshop handles it, and we will tell you during the quote whether your part actually needs it. The same applies to polishing and brushing: as standard your part is supplied in the mill finish the sheet arrives in, and any further surface work is done at the partner. If you need a logo or text applied to the surface rather than cut through, that is engraving and is quoted as a separate service.
How much does stainless steel cutting cost?
We do not publish a fixed price, because two parts of identical size can differ several-fold depending on contour complexity. Price is calculated by formula: total cut length (the outline plus every hole) × a thickness coefficient, plus material cost according to grade, plus a one-off setup fee per file. Stainless costs more than mild steel because of raw material price, and 304 costs more than 201. Unit price falls as quantity rises, since setup is paid once. Once we have your drawing we send an exact figure within 24 hours. The full pricing breakdown is on our metal cutting price page.
Where are laser-cut stainless steel parts used?
The most frequent buyers are the signage and interior sectors: facade letters and logos, nameplates and number plates, decorative panels and ornamental gate elements. The second major stream is food service — restaurant and bar interior details, heat-shield panels — where grade 304 corrosion resistance is effectively mandatory. It is worth stating plainly what we do not do: our service covers cutting, engraving and edge deburring. Metal bending (press brake), welding, lathe work and CNC milling are not performed on our machines — if your part needs them, we will point you to a trusted partner we have worked with for years.
Stainless steel cutting thicknesses on the Craftarea fiber laser — holes, edge, applications
| Thickness (mm) | Min. hole ⌀ (mm) | Positional tolerance | Edge after cutting | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5-1 | ≈1× thickness | ±0.1 mm | Clean, no discolouration | Sign letters, thin decor |
| 1.5-2 | ≈1× thickness | ±0.1 mm | Clean, light deburring | Nameplates, logos |
| 3 | ≈1× thickness | ±0.1 mm | Clean, deburring required | Interior detail parts |
| 4 | ≈1× thickness | ±0.1 mm | Possible light discolouration | Functional parts, frames |
| 5-6 | ≈1× thickness | ±0.1 mm | Narrow heat band, removable | Gate elements, heavy parts |
| Over 6 | — | — | — | Via partner workshop |
How it works — step by step
- 1
Send a drawing or sketch
Send a vector file in DXF, AI or PDF. If you have no file, a hand sketch with dimensions is enough — we will prepare the drawing.
- 2
Confirm grade and thickness
Tell us what the part is for. We will recommend AISI 201 or 304 and a thickness within the 0.5-6mm range.
- 3
Receive a quote within 24 hours
We calculate total cut length, material and setup, and send an exact price within 24 hours. Minimum order is 1 piece.
- 4
Fiber laser cutting
After confirmation the part is cut to ±0.1mm positional tolerance. Production takes 2-5 working days depending on volume.
- 5
Deburring and handover
We clean the edges after cutting. Collect the part in Tbilisi or have it couriered anywhere in Georgia.
Frequently asked questions
Are inox, nerzhaveika and stainless steel the same material?
Yes. All three terms describe the same steel containing at least 10.5% chromium. Inox and nerzhaveika are everyday names; stainless steel is the technical one.
Does stainless steel ever rust?
Under normal conditions stainless is protected by its chromium oxide layer. However, AISI 201 can develop surface staining in constantly damp or coastal environments — for those uses grade 304 or 316 is the better choice.
Can you cut 8mm or 10mm stainless steel?
Our fiber laser cuts stainless up to 6mm thick. Thicker parts are made by a vetted partner workshop — we tell you this before you confirm the order.
Can I bring my own stainless sheet for cutting?
Yes, we cut customer-supplied sheet. Tell us the thickness and grade before ordering so we can confirm it fits our machine's working area.
Can you engrave stainless steel as well as cut it?
Yes, engraving is a separate service — applying a logo, text or pattern to the surface without cutting through. Cutting and engraving can be combined on the same part.
How long does a stainless cutting order take?
We send the quote within 24 hours. Production typically runs 2-5 working days depending on volume and thickness.
What is the minimum order for stainless steel cutting?
The minimum order is 1 piece. A single nameplate or a single logo is a valid order — no bulk run is required.
Why does stainless cutting cost more than mild steel?
Stainless raw material itself costs more because of its nickel content, especially grades 304 and 316. Cutting stainless with a clean edge also requires nitrogen assist, while mild steel is cut with cheaper oxygen — which is also why our ceiling is 6mm on stainless versus 10mm on mild steel.