PRECISION
LASER
CUTTING
SPECIALISTS.
ABOUT.
01
Sky Laser.
Sky Laser Ltd is a metal profile cutting business and is owned and run by Miles Forsythe. An avionics engineer by trade, he brings a wealth of knowledge and specialised skills to the business along with a commitment to quality and customer service.
All you need do is upload your file to the website and identify the material you require it to be cut from. A simulation/test will then be run to provide you with an accurate quote for your finished products. Once the job is complete your finished items will be couriered direct to you. This means a very fast turn around for your items.
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Our Machine.
Our fibre laser is an Automatic Focussing 3000w machine with a maximum sheet size of 3000mm x 1500mm. Using a mixture of pure oxygen and nitrogen, a wide variety of metals can be cut very accurately including Mild Steel, High Carbon Steel, Spring Steel, Iron, Galvanized Iron, Copper, Brass, Bronze, Gold, Silver and Titanium. For example:
Carbon Steel
18mm
Stainless Steel
8mm
Other Reflective Metals
6mm
03
Miles Forsythe.
Miles’s background is in Avionics Engineering. Having completed his apprenticeship in Avionics Engineering with the Royal New Zealand Airforce, he worked overseas in America & England as an Avionics Technician, in Ireland as an Aeronautical Engineer and in Australia as a Senior Avionics Tradesman. He then joined Air New Zealand, where he trained to become a Licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. During this time, he was part of the 2017 summer crew to Scott Base in Antarctica, working as a fitter/turner, welder & machinist.
He has always had a fascination with lasers. In high school he designed and built a helium/neon laser, which won the Optometrist Award at the Canterbury/ Westland Science Fair.
LASER
CUTTING.
01
Laser Cutting.
Laser cutting is a thermal process in which a focused laser beam is used to melt material in a localised area. A continuous cut is produced by moving the laser beam under CNC control. There are three main varieties of laser cutting. Fusion Cutting, Flame Cutting and Remote Cutting.
Laser cutters are a more accurate and cost effective replacement for oxy/acetelene and plasma profile cutting. The laser is extremely accurate and provides excellent edge quality. A real advantage is the narrow cut width which saves on material but more importantly, reduces the heat absorbtion in the parent material.
02
The Benefits.
High quality cutting - no finishing required.
Ultra flexible - simple or complex parts are easily cut.
Non-contact - no surface scratching or damage.
Quick set-up - small batches are possible with minimal set-up or costs.
Low heat input - small heat absorbtion and therefore low distortion especially in materials like stainless steel.
03
The Applications.
Our Laser will cut a variety of materials and thicknesses - from complicated/intricate curves and shapes with fine details to the cutting of thick plate with close tolerances & dimensions. Once uploaded and set-up an unlimited number of identical parts can be quickly reproduced.
As well as precision profile cutting for engineering, the laser can also cut metal for decorative purposes, signage for business’s, garden art, personalised panels for top end homes, architectural features or commercial property.
Flexibility - lends itself to nearly all metals.
Repeatability - easily produce large numbers of identical items.
LASER CUTTING (PDF)
FILE
SET-UP.
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The three most common file types we deal with are .CDR, .AI and .DXF. In order for the laser to create a cutting path it will require a VECTOR path. Most people will use Adobe lllustrator for file preparation when creating vector files. Please download the SPEC SHEET below to help create and set-up a file which we can use straight away. This will reduce any costs that could be incurred if we need to ammend/convert your files for the laser to use.
Remember, maximum sheet size is 3000mm x 1500mm.
Please Note:- The first time a new material and thickness is cut, a proving and set-up run is required to ensure accuracy of cut and edge quality. There is a one off cost associated with this. From then on, standard cutting rates apply for any future parts.
Essentials.
Document COLOUR MODE should be RGB.
Cut lines should be 0.1pt or hairline & should be RED 255.
Non-cut lines/objects, text and notes should be GREEN 255.
Supply files at 100% if possible and include an accurate scale.
Convert all text to paths / outlines. If this is not done your file cannot be processed and will be returned for ammendment.
Upload Process.
Once you have created your file to the specs supplied in our SPEC SHEET, you can just click the UPLOAD FILE button below the contact form, find your file on your desktop, and select it. Your file will be uploaded and attached to your email enquiry. We will review your file and get back to you if we have any immediate concerns, require any adjustments or need to request an alternative format.
FILE SET-UP SPEC SHEET (PDF)
Helpful Hints.
Nest parts right next to each other to reduce the cutting time and cost. Remember to delete any duplicate lines. If you leave two lines stacked on top of each other, the laser will recognize and cut both lines which can damage the edge quality.
If there are sharp corners, consider rounding them so they are less likely to crack upon impact – even adding a .75mm radius to a 90° angle can make a big difference!
Avoid narrow features that are thinner than the material you plan on using as this can result in your parts breaking or warping/melting.
Combine parts that use the same material into a single file, and avoid sending multiple files whenever possible.
CONTACT/
UPLOAD.
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Once you have created your file to the specs supplied in our SPEC SHEET, you can just click the UPLOAD FILE button below the contact form, find your file on your desktop, and select it. Your file will be uploaded and attached to your email enquiry. We will review your file and get back to you if we have any immediate concerns, require any adjustments or need to request an alternative format.
If you have any queries or concerns please feel free to ring Miles on 021 499 160. He will be more than happy to answer any questions and provide you with any support you may require.
CONTACT US.
ADDRESS.
73 Old Main North Road
Leithfield
RD1 Amberley
Christchurch 7481