Copper and brass cutting and engraving
Short answer
Copper cuts reliably up to about 1-2mm sheet and brass up to 3mm on our fiber laser, because both metals' polished surfaces reflect much of the beam instead of absorbing it. On thicker or mirror-finish stock, engraving is the better answer for logos, text and ornament. Positional tolerance is ±0.1mm, minimum order is 1 piece, and we quote within 24 hours.
Copper (Cu) and brass — a copper-zinc alloy, called "latun" in Georgian workshops — are the two decorative non-ferrous metals behind most badges, award plates, nameplates, keychains and interior accents, chosen for their gold or rose-red tone. Both sit in the "difficult" group for fiber lasers: a polished surface reflects the beam back rather than absorbing it, which lowers the realistic cutting thickness well below carbon or stainless steel. We process both in-house in Tbilisi on our own CNC laser, and this page states plainly where real cutting capability ends and where engraving becomes the more reliable choice.
Key facts
- Copper reliable cutting thickness
- 1-2mm (polished sheet)
- Brass max cutting thickness
- up to 3mm
- Positional tolerance
- ±0.1mm
- Minimum order
- 1 piece
- Pricing formula
- 3 components: contour length + thickness + raw stock cost
- Quote turnaround
- 24 hours from file received
- Track record
- 7+ years, 500+ completed projects
- Production
- Tbilisi, delivery across Georgia
What's the difference between copper and brass?
Copper (Cu) is a pure metal — soft, an excellent conductor of both heat and electricity, red-pink in tone. Brass is a copper-zinc alloy, known locally as "latun"; it is harder and reads gold. Tombak is not a synonym but a specific high-copper grade of brass. Both are routinely confused with bronze, which is copper plus tin and a different material entirely. All three are non-ferrous metals, valued for a warmth that carbon and stainless steel cannot reproduce.
- Copper (Cu) — red-pink, soft, highly conductive
- Brass (CuZn) = latun — golden, harder; tombak is a high-copper grade of it
- Bronze (CuSn) — copper plus tin, a separate material
- In Georgian, ლითონი and მეტალი both simply mean metal
What thickness of copper and brass can be laser cut?
Copper and brass reflect a large share of the fiber laser beam, which places both in the "difficult" category and caps their thickness below carbon or stainless steel. On bright, polished copper, reliable cutting tops out around 1-2mm. Brass reflects slightly less and cuts to roughly 3mm. A matte or oxidised surface absorbs energy better, so the process runs more stably there and 2-3mm becomes workable. Positional tolerance is ±0.1mm for both metals. The full per-material thickness table lives on our thickness guide.
- Copper (polished) — reliable cutting to 1-2mm
- Copper/brass (matte, oxidised) — to 2-3mm
- Brass (standard sheet) — to 3mm
- Positional tolerance — ±0.1mm
When does engraving beat cutting?
If the design is a surface mark — a logo, text, an ornament — rather than a cut-through outline, engraving almost always wins. Material thickness places no practical ceiling on engraving, so it works on thick plate where cutting is either impossible or risky because of reflectivity. It also leaves the plate structurally intact, which matters for door nameplates, award plates and badges that get mounted to a wall or pinned to fabric. Cutting stays right when the shape itself — a letter, a figure, a keychain outline — is the finished product.
What do we make from copper and brass?
We use copper and brass mainly for small, detailed pieces where the metal's colour is part of the product: badges, award and medal plates, door nameplates and apartment numbers, personalised keychains, decorative ornaments and interior accents. Both metals hold fine engraved detail well, which is why brass remains the default for award plates. The minimum order is 1 piece, so a single keychain or a single nameplate is a real order, not a rounding error.
- Badges and award plates
- Door nameplates and apartment numbers
- Personalised keychains and souvenirs
- Decorative ornaments and interior accents
What we do not do with copper and brass
On copper and brass we do laser cutting and engraving — nothing else. We do not own plasma or waterjet cutting, press-brake bending, CNC milling or lathe equipment. If a project needs copper or brass thicker than 3mm, a bent part, or any volumetric machining, we say so directly and route you to a vetted partner workshop rather than taking an order we cannot finish. We also do not sell raw copper or brass by the sheet; our service is the processing.
- We do: laser cutting to 3mm, engraving with no practical thickness limit
- We do not own: plasma, waterjet, bending, milling, lathe
- Thicker than 3mm or volumetric work — routed to a partner workshop
How much does copper or brass cutting cost?
Price is built from three components: total cut-contour length, material thickness, and the cost of the raw stock itself. Copper and brass cost significantly more per sheet than steel, so the same drawing prices higher here than on carbon steel. Surface finish matters too: mirror stock needs a test pass and more care, while matte stock cuts more stably. If the design is a surface mark, engraving is more economical than cutting — it consumes no contour length and is not limited by thickness. Unit price falls on larger runs, because file prep and machine setup are paid for once. We confirm the exact figure within 24 hours of receiving your file — a vector file, the material, the thickness and the quantity are enough; the full pricing formula for every material is on our dedicated price page.
Why do copper and brass change colour over time?
Exposed to air, copper and brass oxidise and gradually darken or develop a green-brown patina — a natural chemical process, not a defect. To keep a bright, new look, the piece needs a clear lacquer coat or periodic cleaning with a soft polish. If you prefer an aged, patinated look, simply leave the metal alone. Engraved lines often gain contrast as this happens, because patina collects faster in the recessed marks.
Copper and brass cutting capability by surface finish and reflectivity (steels shown for comparison)
| Material | Max cutting thickness | Surface finish | Beam reflectivity | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper (pure, polished) | 1-2mm | Polished, mirror-like | Highest | Cut thin sheet only; engrave anything thicker |
| Copper/brass (matte, oxidised) | 2-3mm | Matte, oxidised | Low — absorbs more energy | Cutting runs more stably, works on thicker sheet |
| Brass (standard sheet) | up to 3mm | Semi-polished | Medium | Nameplates, award plates, keychains |
| For comparison: stainless (inox) | up to 6mm | Matte or polished | Low | Structural and exterior parts |
| For comparison: mild steel | up to 10mm | Non-reflective | Lowest | Thick structural work, mangals, partitions |
How it works — step by step
- 1
Send your file or sketch
We accept DXF, SVG, AI or PDF with vector contours. No file? A hand drawing with dimensions is enough — we vectorise it.
- 2
Choose material and finish
Copper for a red-rose tone, brass for gold. We also settle polished versus matte here, since finish directly affects the maximum cuttable thickness.
- 3
Decide: cut or engrave
Cut for a through-shape, engrave for surface logos and text. Above 3mm, or on mirror-finish stock, we will recommend engraving.
- 4
Test pass on reflective stock
On copper and polished brass we trial the settings on an offcut first, so the production sheet cuts cleanly in a single pass.
- 5
Quote in 24 hours, then production
We confirm the exact price within 24 hours of receiving your file. After approval we produce in Tbilisi; minimum order is 1 piece, with delivery across Georgia.
Frequently asked questions
Are copper and brass the same material?
No. Copper (Cu) is a pure metal with a red-pink tone, while brass is a copper-zinc alloy with a golden tone, called "latun" in Georgian. Bronze, frequently confused with brass, is copper plus tin and is a third, separate material.
Can you cut bronze as well?
Bronze is as difficult for a fiber laser as copper, and its composition varies between batches. We do process it at small thicknesses, but we always test on an offcut first. Send the details and we will tell you within 24 hours whether your specific stock will work.
Why doesn't copper cut as easily as steel?
The polished surface of copper and brass reflects much of the fiber laser beam instead of absorbing it, and high thermal conductivity pulls heat away from the cut line. That caps reliable cutting at 1-3mm for both metals, against up to 10mm for carbon steel.
Can you cut oxidised or painted copper?
Yes, and it is often more reliable — a dull or oxidised surface absorbs laser energy better than a mirror finish. The surface still needs to be free of grease and heavy lacquer layers, which degrade cut quality.
Can you engrave without cutting through?
Yes. Engraving marks the surface only and material thickness places no practical limit on it. On thick plates, award plaques and badges, it is usually the better choice for a logo, text or ornament than a cut-through outline.
How much does copper or brass cutting cost?
Price is calculated from cut-contour length, thickness and raw material cost; copper and brass stock costs more than steel, which raises the final figure. Surface finish also counts — mirror sheet needs a test pass, matte cuts more stably. We confirm the exact quote within 24 hours of receiving your file; a vector file, the material, the thickness and the quantity are enough.
Is there a minimum order?
No — the minimum is 1 piece, so a single keychain or nameplate can be produced. Unit price drops on larger runs because file prep and machine setup are paid for only once.