Photofabrication Engineering Inc. logo in red color for precision photochemical etching manufacturer.

Metal Laser Cutting Services

Precision laser cutting and marking.

PEI offers advanced laser cutting and machining as part of our vertically integrated precision metal manufacturing services. By combining this capability with our core chemical etching expertise, we can cut thicker materials and provide clean, sharp features with unmatched accuracy.

In applications where photochemical etching is limited by material thickness or feature requirements, laser cutting offers fast, accurate results — ideal for sheet metal parts with smooth edges, close tolerances, and permanent traceability.

Whether you’re machining standalone components or integrating laser-cut features with etched geometries, PEI provides complete support from prototyping to high-volume production. Our hybrid manufacturing process enhances flexibility, reduces lead times, and consolidates your vendor management.

Precision Laser Cutting Machines and Process

Our state-of-the-art laser systems support both cutting and marking across a wide range of applications, offering a cleaner, more precise alternative to traditional plasma cutting.

Our advanced laser cutting equipment includes:

  • IPG 4kW Fiber Laser: Designed for cutting materials with metal thicknesses from 0.005″ to 0.250″, this system delivers high-speed, high-accuracy performance across various metals and alloys.
  • Keyence Fiber Laser Marking System: Delivers high-contrast, permanent markings for logos, serial numbers, barcodes, and QR codes, crucial for part identification, traceability, and regulatory compliance.
  • Optical Alignment System: Enables precision registration between etched and laser features for seamless part integration and superior multi-process accuracy.

Our innovative workflow ensures a clean, consistent, and repeatable manufacturing process, whether you need rapid prototyping or full-scale production. By leveraging laser over plasma cutting or older YAG laser cutting machines, PEI delivers finer edge quality, tighter tolerances, and greater design flexibility across a range of metal thicknesses and materials.

The Best of Both Worlds: Seamless Integration with Chemical Etching

Hybrid manufacturing for maximum precision.

Laser cutting and photochemical etching each bring unique advantages, and PEI combines them both in one streamlined process:

  • Laser Cutting is ideal for through-features like outer dimensions, slots, and large holes, especially in thicker materials.
  • Chemical Etching excels at producing recessed pockets, counterbores, logos, and fine mesh patterns with micron-level control.

By leveraging both processes, we can deliver parts with complex geometries, minimal distortion, and precise overlays, all without the need for multiple vendors. Our optical registration ensures perfect alignment, reducing turnaround time and ensuring consistent quality.

The result? A complete metal fabrication solution with greater design freedom, faster prototyping, and reduced costs.

Supported Materials & Specs

PEI’s laser cutter is optimized for a wide variety of materials and applications:

  • Materials: Stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, titanium, nickel, Inconel, zinc
  • Material Thickness Range: 0.005″ – 0.250″
  • Tolerances: ±0.001″
  • Edge Quality: Clean, burr-free cuts with minimal thermal distortion, even on reflective metals

These capabilities make our laser cutting systems ideal for projects requiring corrosion resistance, clean geometry, or traceable markings across a range of sheet-metal fabrication applications.

A Proven Process for Precision Laser-Cut Parts

PEI’s laser cutting and machining services offer significant advantages over traditional cutting methods. The main advantages of the laser process include:

  • High-precision cutting with minimal heat-affected zones
  • Burr-free edges, often requiring no secondary finishing
  • Non-contact manufacturing process (no tool wear, reduced scrap)
  • Fast turnaround times from prototype to production
  • Reduced waste through optimized material nesting
  • Hybrid integration with photochemical etching for broader design possibilities
  • Efficient cutting of thicker materials and complex contours

Whether you need to cut, mark, or machine sheet metal, our laser systems deliver results that exceed expectations.

Laser Cutting Applications & Industries

Our laser cutting and marking capabilities support mission-critical applications across leading industries. Working with a wide range of clients, we deliver precision-cut parts that power modern technologies:

Aerospace

Precision matters at altitude. We manufacture lightweight, high-strength components, including brackets, sensor housings, and RF shielding elements, to meet the demanding tolerances of aerospace applications.

Medical team performing surgery in a hospital operating room.

Medical Devices

In sterile, high-stakes environments, precision and cleanliness are paramount. We produce surgical tools, device housings, and permanent sterile markings that meet strict medical standards.

Military fighter jet flying through cloudy sky.

Defense

Mission-critical performance requires components that can withstand extreme environments. We fabricate precision frames, optical mounts, and guided system parts used in advanced defense technologies.

Electronics

Modern electronics require compact, reliable, and interference-resistant parts. We manufacture connectors, grounding plates, and EMI/RFI enclosures to ensure signal integrity and system protection.

What Makes PEI Different?

PEI doesn’t just offer laser beam cutting; we offer integrated precision manufacturing. Our team works across disciplines to align your part’s needs with the best manufacturing process, whether that’s etching, laser cutting, or a strategic combination of both.

Our in-house capabilities, technical expertise, and end-to-end production flow set us apart for complex, high-tolerance jobs where others fall short.

Let’s Talk Laser Cutting

Do you have a laser cutting project in mind? Do you need to machine sheet metal parts with tight tolerances and permanent markings? The trusted team at PEI can help.

Contact us today to discuss your next project or request a quote.