How accurate measurements that can be achieved for finished detail
A combination of the surface roughness of the cut and the position accuracy of the machine as well as the degree of heat applied, which affects the thermal expansion, determines how high precision that can be achieved with the different thermal cutting methods.
When cutting a 10mm thick steel sheet it can generally be said that the following tolerances can be achieved:
Laser cutting: +/- 0.05-0.1mm
Plasma cutting: +/- 0.3-0.5mm
Gas cutting: +/- 1-3mm
The exceptional tolerances of the laser cut can be used to cut articles with guide holes and guide pins to puzzle them together before welding and thus being able to simplify or completely eliminate welding fixtures.
LASER
Surface roughness
Thermal cutting
