Metal cutting price — how it is calculated

What makes up the metal cutting price?

The final price is the sum of four variables. First, material type and thickness — different metals cut at different speeds and demand different laser power. Second, total cutting length in linear meters, measured from the part's contour in your file. Third, a one-time setup fee covering file preparation, loading the sheet, and initial calibration; this applies once per order regardless of how many pieces you need. Fourth, any extra operation required — engraving or surface finishing. Price is set by neither weight nor surface area; cutting length is what actually drives machine time, so it is the dominant term in the formula.

• Material type and thickness — sets cutting speed and required laser power
• Total cutting length in linear meters — not weight, not surface area
• One-time setup fee — file prep and machine calibration
• Extra operations — engraving, surface finishing

How does material affect the price?

Material moves the total two ways: the cost of the raw stock and the speed of the cut. Carbon steel is the most economical on both counts — cheap stock, fastest cutting. Aluminium and stainless sit in the middle: stainless needs inert gas and slows noticeably as thickness rises, while aluminium is capped by its reflectivity. Copper and brass are the most expensive group — the stock costs more and the cut runs slowest, which is why engraving often beats cutting through on those two. The table below shows exactly that ordering alongside what Craftarea’s fiber laser CNC actually processes — real machine limits, not generic figures pulled from the internet. If a part exceeds the maximum thickness or falls outside a standard profile, we route it through vetted partner workshops and tell you upfront when that applies.

Why isn't there a fixed price list?

Two parts of the same thickness can cost differently. The reason is geometry: a simple rectangle cuts fast, while an ornamental pattern full of perforations and fine detail takes longer and needs more care. It also matters whether you supply your own sheet — in that case you pay for cutting only — or whether Craftarea sources the material. Timing is agreed after the project review. Send the metal grade, thickness, drawing, finishing and quantity, required date and collection or delivery location.

What is not included in the cutting price?

The price described here covers cutting and engraving — the operations we perform on our own fiber laser CNC. Press-brake bending, CNC milling and lathe work are not part of our in-house capability; we do not own that equipment. If a part needs bending or machining after cutting, we arrange it through vetted partner workshops and show that cost as a separate line item in the quote rather than folded into the cutting rate. Material purchase is likewise itemised separately when we source the sheet.

Timing by agreement

Send a vector file (DXF, AI, or PDF) or precise dimensions plus the material, the thickness you want and the quantity; if a deadline matters, say so in the first message. We measure total contour length, apply the correct per-meter rate for that material and thickness, and add the setup fee. The more complete your first message, the fewer follow-ups the quote needs: a scanned sketch or a phone photo almost always costs one extra round of questions. Order mechanics, accepted file formats and minimum quantities are covered on the ordering page. Timing is agreed after the project review. Send the metal grade, thickness, drawing, finishing and quantity, required date and collection or delivery location.

How does order quantity affect the price?

Even a single-piece order (the minimum is 1 piece) gets an individual price, but because the setup fee is charged once per batch, per-piece cost drops as quantity grows. For larger runs we can also source material in bulk at a better rate. The exact discount depends on volume and schedule and is calculated separately.