Laser Cutting
For parts that require intricate cuts, like very small holes or very tight corner radii, laser is the preferred method. Laser fills in the gaps that die cutting cannot, allowing you to cut rigid materials such as acrylics and materials up to 1" thick that cannot be cut on rotary die presses. We also utilize laser cutting for pre-press prototyping which eliminates the need for tooling costs as you test and evaluate your parts.
We have flatbed lasers, which cut sheets of material, and in-line laser on our rotary presses which cut roll-fed flexible materials. Having in-line laser capabilities allows us to combine laser and die cutting in one pass. It also allows us to increase efficiency for parts that need laser cutting but can be run on a high-speed rotary press. This means saving time and costs over simply having a flatbed laser option.
At Thomco, quality is at the forefront of everything we do. We are ISO 9001 & IATF 16949 registered and are a 3M Preferred converter. For you, this means we have quality controls in place to make sure your parts are within tolerance and packed and shipped exactly as you specify.
Benefits of Laser Cutting
Laser cutting adds capability to cut very small shapes and does so without the costs of tooling. As opposed to die cutting, the laser can be programmed to cut any shape you need, whereas with dies, you sometimes need multiple tools to create the desired shapes. Laser is also beneficial if your part may change, because you are not locked into a shape based on a die that you purchased for a previous design. And some materials just don't perform well when attempting other cutting methods for a variety of reasons. In those cases, laser cutting could be the solution.
Our Laser Capabilities
At Thomco, we have both flatbed and in-line rotary laser capabilities to give you the best of both worlds. Our flatbed laser can accommodate 48" x 48" sheets of raw material, while our rotary laser allows us to speed up production on flexible roll-fed materials up to 13" wide that require laser cuts. If your part is also pre-printed before laser cutting, we have built-in optical registration capabilities to align with your print and ensure quality. We can cut materials up to 1" thick on our flatbed laser and perform other services such as flame polishing and laser etching.
Finishing Options
We can produce your parts in a variety of ways with our lasers. For flatbed laser-cut parts, we can kiss-cut to sheets or through-cut to produce blanks or stamped parts. For rotary laser-cut parts, you can choose from sheets or rolls for your finished parts. Both laser cutting methods at Thomco allow for pull tabs to be created on linered products with adhesive.
Is Laser Cutting Right for Your Application?
Are your parts designed with intricate cuts or tight corner radii? Do you need to prototype your parts before going to full production? Is it likely that your parts will undergo revisions in the future? Or are your parts made from a rigid material? If you answered yes, laser may be the most efficient method. If not, take a look at our other converting services. We pride ourselves on our diverse mixture of capabilities and there isn't much we can't cut. If you need help determining if our capabilities can produce what you need, just ask us. We love a challenge and are looking forward to taking a look at your parts and solving your problems.
Request a Converting QuoteOther Converting Methods at Thomco
Rapid Prototyping
With multiple no-tooling options, we specialize in getting you precision prototypes fast so you can move quickly.
Learn MoreRotary Die Cutting
This high-speed method of die cutting is best for high-volume, repeating parts utilizing roll-fed flexible materials.
Learn MoreCAD/Plotter Cutting
Plotter cutting is perfect for wider and thicker materials, and is also useful for pre-press prototyping without tooling costs.
Learn MoreWaterjet Cutting
Our 5-axis waterjet system allows us to create 3D shapes and work with rigid materials such as metals and ceramics.
Learn MoreLaminating
Our presses can process multi-layered constructions at high speed and pin-point precision.
Learn MoreSlitting
Need multiple custom widths? Not a problem. We offer both unwind-rewind and lathe slitting to give you the perfect width every time.
Learn MoreRapid Prototyping
With multiple no-tooling options, we specialize in getting you precision prototypes fast so you can move quickly.
Learn MoreRotary Die Cutting
This high-speed method of die cutting is best for high-volume, repeating parts utilizing roll-fed flexible materials.
Learn MoreCAD/Plotter Cutting
Plotter cutting is perfect for wider and thicker materials, and is also useful for pre-press prototyping without tooling costs.
Learn MoreWaterjet Cutting
Our 5-axis waterjet system allows us to create 3D shapes and work with rigid materials such as metals and ceramics.
Learn MoreLaminating
Our presses can process multi-layered constructions at high speed and pin-point precision.
Learn MoreSlitting
Need multiple custom widths? Not a problem. We offer both unwind-rewind and lathe slitting to give you the perfect width every time.
Learn More
