Laser cutting technologies have been gaining in popularity in recent years, namely because they’re finally being recognised for their potential in agile manufacturing solutions. For small businesses operating on a modest production budget, investing in laser cutting aids in reducing manufacturing waste and the financial loss that accompanies storing and/or discarding of unused or damaged materials.
And speaking of storage, laser cutting manufacturing processes are also agile enough to operate on-demand – so you won’t have to worry about 3PL or renting out your own warehouse to store your own stock. You can just produce your stock as it’s needed and still process orders with plenty of time, given the sheer speed and efficiency of laser cutting processes.
There are countless other advantages of partnering with laser cutting technicians for small business manufacturing, and we’ll cover them all in due time in today’s write-up below. The main purpose for today’s blog, however, is to delve deeper into our online laser cutting services and why our team here at Vector & Raster Laser Services is well-positioned to be your manufacturing partner – no matter where your business is based in Australia.
What ‘Online Laser Cutting’ Actually Means for Production Buyers
Our online laser cutting services at Vector & Raster Laser Services are designed to be streamlined, cost-effective, and universally accessible. Working tirelessly from our studios in Melbourne, our laser cutting team fulfills production orders from all corners of Australia. Whether you’re after laser cutting services in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, or even right here in Melbourne, our team will be able to assist you.
Our shipping policy is also nationwide and inclusive of oversized parcels and heavier deliveries. So if you’re looking to order oversized laser cut creations like custom business signage, for instance, you can rest assured knowing that your designs will be shipped directly to you securely, responsibly, and with zero risks of damage.
Online Laser Cutting Design-to-Delivery: A 6-Stage Workflow
We’ve mentioned that we’ve designed our online laser cutting process to be streamlined and efficient. Well, here’s exactly what you can expect from our production timeline when you work with us for your business manufacturing.
Stage 1 – Prepare Your Design File
You can either send us over a polished design in vector file format, or our graphic designers can work with you to develop a design that meets your project goals.
Stage 2 – Submit Your File and Request a Quote
Once your designs are finalised and your project materials have been selected, our laser cutting technicians will then send you a no-obligation quote for your project (based on project scope, units ordered, materials costs, labour costs, etc.).
You can use your quote to decide whether or not you’d like to proceed with your online laser cutting project.
Stage 3 – Operator File Review (Before Anything is Cut)
If everything’s looking good, we move on to final digital quality checks with our cutting team. Our experts will assess your finalised vector designs and confirm the designs are suitable for processing alongside your selected laser cutting material/s.
Stage 4 – Production and Nesting
It’s finally time for production! Our laser cutting technicians get to work planning your cutting project. We’ll find the optimal arrangement and nesting for your designs across your cutting materials to significantly reduce material waste and keep energy consumption to an absolute minimum.
Did you know? – Our studios at Vector & Raster Laser Services run on 100% renewable energy! This is yet another way we provide value to your small business manufacturing processes.
Stage 5 – Quality Checks
Once your designs have all been cut, our laser cutting technicians assess them thoroughly for any signs of damage, faults, or inconsistencies from the original design. If any faults or inconsistencies have been identified, we’ll correct designs as needed to ensure the finished products align perfectly with project specifications and desired outcomes.
Stage 6 – Packing and National Delivery
With the tick of approval in place, our team at Vector & Raster Laser Services will proceed to securely pack your order, being mindful of scratch and damage risks and utilising tailored packaging solutions to mitigate these risks entirely.
From here, all that’s left for you to do is sit back and await the arrival of your freshly manufactured laser cut creations, shipped securely to your business premises anywhere across Australia.
What Makes Batch Orders Cost-Efficient?
For small businesses looking to invest in laser cutting for batch manufacturing, you’ll be happy to hear that our online laser cutting services are designed to make quick work of processing batch orders.
For starters, we have a wide variety of cost-effective materials for bulk order projects on offer, allowing you to keep your ‘per unit’ costs as sustainable as possible.
On top of being spend-savvy, we also pride ourselves on our fast processing time. For most batch order projects, you can expect our team to work within a tight 1-2 week timeline, however we can also manage 24-48 hour completion timelines for urgent projects.
Our quick turnaround times also support small business owners in meeting their own order fulfilment timelines. And if you’re after repeat batch orders with us, then our online laser cutting services will operate like clockwork, helping you maintain stock at a frequency that suits your business.
Simply put, laser cutting for business manufacturing gives you greater control over your batch production orders. Don’t pay for more stock than you need – with laser cutting, you can call the shots by stipulating the size, cost per unit, and production frequency of your batch orders.
Online Laser Cutting vs. Traditional Fabrication: Which is Right for You?
Alongside being an agile manufacturing method, laser cutting is also highly precise and suitable for projects that demand manufacturing to exact specifications (plus unwavering attention to detail).
With all these pros, it’s clear to see why more small businesses across Australia are swapping out traditional manufacturing for streamlined, cost-effective laser cutting alternatives.
If you want to revolutionise your small business manufacturing, then look no further than Vector & Raster Laser Services. Get in touch with a member of our team to learn more about our laser cutting and design services, or seek inspiration from our blog, where you can find more information about some of our favourite past projects.
Online Laser Cutting – FAQs
1. How Does Online Laser Cutting Work?
Our online laser cutting services can be employed entirely over email. Our graphic designers work with you to finalise your digital designs. From here, our laser cutting technicians will help you select your ideal project materials and then process your laser cut designs with an agreed upon timeframe.
Once the work is complete, we’ll carefully package your order and deliver it to you securely, with delivery available Australia-wide.
2. What File Format Do I Need for Online Laser Cutting?
Our laser cutting team works from vector image files. Acceptable file types when providing vector line drawings include CDR, EPS, PDF, AI, DXF and DWG.
3. Can I Order Laser Cutting in Bulk or Production Quantities?
Yes, our laser cutting team accommodates projects of all scopes and sizes, spanning from limited production runs to once-off and even repeat bulk order projects.
4. What Materials can be Laser Cut Online?
You can order our full catalogue of laser cutting materials for online laser cutting projects. This includes plastics like acrylic, traffolyte, mylar and more, as well as various types of metals, wood materials, paper, cardboard, rubber, silicon, and leather and other fabrics.
5. What Affects the Cost of a Bulk Laser Cutting Order?
Bulk order laser cut projects vary in pricing depending on:
- The value of materials used
- The number of units ordered
6. How Long Does Laser Cutting Take for a Production Run?
Production times for online laser cutting orders vary depending on the scope of the project (including units required for project completion as well as finishes/treatments needed to complete all processed designs). In some instances, we may be able to provide a 24-48 hour tight turnaround time for urgent products, whereas large production runs and multi-process orders may take closer to 1-2 weeks. Expect standard first-time jobs with our online laser cutting team to take anywhere between 3 to 5 business days.
7. Do I Need a Minimum Order Quantity for Online Laser Cutting?
No, we don’t set a minimum order quantity for our online laser cutting projects, and are happy to accept project proposals of all scopes and sizes.
8. Is Laser Cutting Accurate Enough for Production Parts?
Yes, laser cutting is a form of precision manufacturing, making it a suitable process for producing intricate parts and components. For customers looking to manufacture industrial parts, however, we advise that you take material requirements into consideration to ensure your parts are structurally fit for purpose.
Share On:
