One of the key methods of sheet metal cutting is laser cutting. Laser cutters use powerful laser light that is intensified through lenses or mirrors. It is a precise and energy-efficient machine suitable for thin or medium gauge sheet metal, but may have difficulty penetrating the hardest materials.
Another sheet metal cutting process is water jet cutting. Waterjet cutting is a sheet metal manufacturing method that uses a high-pressure water jet (mixed with an abrasive substance) to cut metal. Waterjet cutting machines are particularly suitable for cutting low melting point metal sheets because they do not generate heat that could excessively deform the metal.
The third sheet metal cutting option is plasma cutting. Plasma cutters create an electrical channel of ionized gas, creating a jet of hot plasma that can easily penetrate even thick gauge metal sheets. While not as accurate as laser or waterjet cutters, plasma cutters are fast, powerful, and cheap to set up.
