Metal cutting — frequently asked questions
Short answer
Metal cutting — frequently asked questions is available through Craftarea in Tbilisi. Common metal-cutting questions cover thickness, turnaround, edge colour and safety. Timing is agreed after the project review. Send the metal grade, thickness, drawing, finishing and quantity, required date and collection or delivery location.
Craftarea has run laser metal cutting in Tbilisi for 7+ years across 500+ completed projects, from shopfront signage to decorative panels. The same handful of questions comes up every time: how thick a sheet we can cut, why the cut edge darkens, how long an order takes, whether a part needs finishing, and whether the process is safe. This page answers each with a number — in millimetres, hours and working days — and states plainly which processes we do not run in-house, so nobody wastes a week waiting on work we were never going to do. Fuller detail on thickness, pricing and file prep sits on dedicated pages linked below.
Key facts
- Thickness ceiling
- 10mm mild steel, 6mm stainless, 5mm aluminium, copper/brass: thickness confirmed for the alloy and surface
- Cutting accuracy
- Tolerance by specification
- Minimum order
- 1 piece, no extra conditions
- Quote turnaround
- Timing by agreement
- Production time
- Timing by agreement
- File format
- DXF, DWG or AI with closed contours
- Edge colour
- Dark edge = oxide layer, not a defect
- Not done in-house
- No plasma, waterjet, bending, milling or lathe
How is metal cut with a laser?
Fiber laser cutting is a CNC-controlled, automated process. A vector file — DXF, DWG or AI — is loaded first and checked for closed contours, then the metal sheet is placed on the bed and clamped. The machine tracks a focused beam along the drawing's lines: the beam melts or vaporises metal at the cut point while an assist gas — oxygen or nitrogen, depending on the material — blows the molten metal out of the kerf. Power, cutting speed and gas pressure all shift with thickness. Specify the required tolerance in the drawing; achievable tolerance and edge finishing are confirmed for the material, thickness and geometry.
Why does the metal edge darken after cutting?
The dark or blue-violet tint left on a cut edge is a product of the assist gas reaction, not a defect. When cutting with oxygen — standard practice for mild steel — the metal reacts with oxygen at high temperature and a thin oxide layer stays on the edge. It comes off easily with mechanical cleaning and is removed as a matter of course before painting. Switching to nitrogen, common on stainless and aluminium, leaves a noticeably cleaner, lighter edge, though gas consumption makes the cut more expensive. If your project needs an oxide-free edge, say so when you order.
How long does laser cutting take?
Cutting time itself — machine time per part — runs from a few seconds to a few minutes, driven by contour length and material thickness: a thin part with short contours cuts in seconds, a thick one with intricate ornament takes considerably longer. Large runs and complex geometry get an individual timeline, fixed in writing when the order is agreed. Timing is agreed after the project review. Send the metal grade, thickness, drawing, finishing and quantity, required date and collection or delivery location.
Does cut metal need extra finishing?
Select edge cleanup and any further finishing for the intended use of the part. Inspect sharp areas and the surface at handover. Agree on painting, anodizing or polishing separately, including the provider and price.
Is laser cutting safe?
Laser processing requires suitable equipment, a controlled working area and an identified material. Finished parts need inspection for sharp edges, residues, coatings and the intended environment. State food-contact, skin-contact or structural requirements in advance; cutting alone does not establish compliance with those requirements.
What don't you do in-house?
Our workshop runs a fiber laser: it cuts sheet metal up to the thicknesses listed above and it engraves. Plasma cutting, waterjet cutting, press-brake bending, milling and lathe work are outside our capability — we say this directly so an order doesn't sit waiting on equipment we don't own. When a job needs one of them, we either advise which method is actually right or route you to a vetted partner workshop. The same applies above our thickness ceiling: mild steel over 10mm or stainless over 6mm goes through a partner.
Metal cutting quick reference — the numbers behind the most common questions
| Topic | Short answer | Number/detail |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness ceiling | Depends on material | Mild steel to 10mm, stainless to 6mm, aluminium to 5mm, copper/brass: thickness confirmed for the alloy and surface |
| Accuracy | Positional tolerance | Tolerance by specification |
| Edge colour | Natural with oxygen assist gas | Dark tint = oxide layer, not a defect |
| Post-processing | Deburring included as standard | Paint/anodizing via partner workshops |
| Order turnaround | Fast quote, short production | Timing by agreement |
| Minimum order | Single pieces welcome | MOQ: 1 piece |
| File needed | Vector file, closed contours | DXF, DWG or AI |
| Not in-house | Not run on our own equipment | Plasma, waterjet, bending, milling, lathe |
How It Works
- 1
File preparation
A vector file (DXF, DWG or AI) is loaded into the cutting control software and contours are checked for accuracy and closure.
- 2
Clamping the material
The metal sheet is placed on the bed and clamped flat so it cannot shift during the cut.
- 3
Setting power and gas
Laser power, cutting speed and assist gas — oxygen or nitrogen — are configured for the specific material and thickness.
- 4
Cutting
Specify the required tolerance in the drawing; achievable tolerance and edge finishing are confirmed for the material, thickness and geometry.
- 5
Part separation
Finished parts are separated from the remaining sheet and given an initial visual check.
- 6
Deburring and handover
Deburring cleans sharp residue off the edges, then parts are prepared for pickup, delivery, or onward processing at a partner workshop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is metal cut with a laser?
Why does the metal edge darken after cutting?
How long does laser cutting take?
Does cut metal need finishing?
Is laser cutting safe?
Can I order just a single piece?
What if the metal is thicker than 10mm?
How is metal cutting priced?
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