LASER CUTTING – METAL
High-Power Fiber Laser Cutting Services for Precision Sheet Metal
In the modern manufacturing landscape, the stability of a supply chain depends on the speed, precision, and consistency of its primary components. Graphie positions itself as a strategic manufacturing partner, operating from La Pocatière, Quebec, to serve OEMs and industrial integrators across Canada and the United States. We offer state-of-the-art fiber laser cutting services, anchored by a powerful 12kW primary system and a versatile 3kW secondary unit.
For U.S. OEMs seeking a nearshoring alternative to offshore laser cutting, Graphie provides shorter lead times, direct engineering communication, and consistent North American manufacturing standards.
We do not simply cut metal; we streamline the industrialization of complex products. By integrating high-power laser cutting with downstream processes under one roof, we transform raw sheet metal into high-precision technical components ready for assembly. Our expertise is specifically focused on thin-gauge processing (typically 1/8" and under) for products such as electrical enclosures, precision mechanical chassis, and intricate brackets, ensuring a seamless transition from prototyping to recurring industrial series.
Advanced 12kW Fiber Technology: Precision on Thin Gauge
Unlike laser cutting, which relies on heat to separate material, CNC routing uses a rotating end mill to mechanically remove chips. This cold machining process offers key advantages for industrial plastic components:
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Material Integrity: With no heat-affected zone (HAZ), the plastic retains its original mechanical properties right up to the cut edge. This is critical for load-bearing components such as machine guards, insulating panels, and protective housings.
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Chemical Safety: Certain plastics, including PVC, release hazardous fumes when thermally processed. CNC routing allows us to safely machine these materials without combustion or off-gassing risks.
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3D Machining Capability: End mills allow for pockets, recesses, chamfers, counterbores, and stepped features directly in thick plastic sheets or blocks.
The “Thin Gauge” Advantage
Processing thin sheets (0.125" and below) requires precise control to avoid warping or distortion. Our 12kW source enables extremely rapid cutting velocities, minimizing the time the laser interacts with any single point on the material.
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Zero Thermal Distortion: Parts remain flat and stress-free, which is critical for maintaining tight tolerances in subsequent bending and forming operations.
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Intricate Detailing: Complex geometries, fine contours, and dense hole patterns can be executed in thin aluminum and stainless steel without burning or melting delicate features.
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Material Versatility: While our core production volume is concentrated on thin sheet metal, our equipment maintains the capacity to cut up to 1 inch in carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, supporting mixed-thickness assemblies within the same project.
Our fiber laser systems also allow controlled cutting of reflective materials such as copper and brass, supporting electrical conductivity components, grounding elements, and thermal management parts that are challenging for conventional laser systems.
Burr-Free Finish and Clean Edges
Cutting speed directly influences edge quality. The high velocity enabled by our 12kW laser results in burr-free, oxide-free edges, particularly on stainless steel and aluminum. This eliminates the need for manual deburring or mechanical edge cleaning.
Parts can move directly to bending, clinching, or welding without bottleneck-inducing secondary operations, an important efficiency gain for high-volume series of small, precision components.
Precision Engineering: Tolerances That Secure Your Assembly
At Graphie, a laser-cut part is never treated as a standalone item; it is a critical element within a larger mechanical system. In thin sheet metal applications, where rigidity is lower, precision is essential.
We consistently maintain the following tolerances:
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Positioning Tolerance: ± 0.001"
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Dimensional Tolerance: ± 0.005"
Holding a ± 0.001" positioning tolerance ensures that mounting holes, slots, tabs, and cut features align perfectly during final assembly. This precision significantly reduces fitting time on the production floor and ensures reliable installation of hardware such as PEM fasteners, installed in our integrated clinching department.
Vertical Integration: A Strategic Supply Chain Advantage
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Graphie’s value proposition extends beyond laser cutting. We operate as a vertically integrated manufacturing hub, centralizing sheet metal laser cutting with bending, machining, welding, and finishing under one roof.
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This integration eliminates the logistical risks, accumulated margins, and variability associated with managing multiple subcontractors, while improving consistency across production batches.
From Prototyping to Recurring Series
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We engage early in the product development phase, supporting Design for Manufacturing (DFM) validation through functional prototypes and pre-series builds. While prototyping is an essential step, our facility is engineered for the production of managed, recurring series.
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This approach allows manufacturers in Quebec, Canada, and the United States to maintain lean inventories while securing a stable, predictable supply of high-precision components. Digital nesting strategies are employed to maximize material utilization, reduce waste, and lower the total cost of ownership across the product lifecycle.
