Stainless steel cutting — inox, nerzhaveika, stainless

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?

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. Specify the required tolerance in the drawing; achievable tolerance and edge finishing are confirmed for the material, thickness and geometry.

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. The full pricing breakdown is on our metal cutting price page. Timing is agreed after the project review. Send the metal grade, thickness, drawing, finishing and quantity, required date and collection or delivery location.

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.