Metal Cutting Services.
We cut metal two ways in one Littleton, Massachusetts shop: an abrasive waterjet and a fiber laser. Upload a STEP or DXF file and see your price online. You get your parts in days, not weeks, shipped across the US.
No CAD file? Send us a drawing, PDF or photo. Or call (800) 951-5127.
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Metal cutting services matched to each part.
Both machines cut flat parts from the same file. Which one fits depends on thickness, heat, material, and edge. Here is how they compare.
| What matters | Waterjet | Laser |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum thickness | 4.00″ | up to 1.000″, depending on the material |
| Maximum part size | 58″ × 118″ | 58″ × 118″ |
| Heat at the cut edge | No heat affected zone | A narrow heat affected zone can form |
| Metals | Aluminum, steel, stainless, titanium, copper, brass and nickel alloys | Steel, stainless steel, aluminum and galvanized steel |
| Other materials | Plastics, composites, rubber, foam, gasket stock, stone and ceramic tile (not glass) | Acrylic and selected plastics on a Kern CO2 laser |
| Edge | Sharp, lightly sandblasted, some striations | Sharp, shiny and lined, varies with the assist gas |
| Speed | Steady, slower than the laser on thin sheet | Fastest on sheet metal and light plate |
| Standard tolerances | Profile ±0.010″ · holes ±0.005″ | Profile ±0.010″ · holes ±0.005″ |
Choose the waterjet when
The plate is too thick for the laser, the alloy has to keep its temper, or the part is not metal. The waterjet cuts cold, so nothing hardens or changes color. More on our waterjet cutting service.
Choose the laser when
The part is sheet metal or light plate in steel, stainless, or aluminum. In that range the laser is usually quicker and costs less. More on our laser cutting service.
Precision metal cutting with published tolerances.
Every part is held to the same written standard, whichever machine cuts it. Holes stay at ±0.005″ unless thickness or geometry calls for more. Material thickness is nominal and follows the mill tolerance.
Draw the part at its finished size. Our CAM software offsets each cut path by half the kerf, so you do not need to shrink an outline or grow a hole. Need tighter than standard? Send it for a custom quote and an estimator will confirm it on your geometry. Full detail is on the cutting tolerances page.
Standard cutting tolerances
| Feature | Tolerance |
|---|---|
| Outside profile, parts up to 24″ × 24″ | ±0.010″ |
| Large internal cutouts | ±0.010″ |
| Holes | ±0.005″ |
| Hole location | ±0.005″ |
| Each extra 12″ beyond 24″ | add ±0.002″ to the profile |
| Tighter than standard | custom quote |
Custom sheet metal cutting and steel plate cutting.
Most jobs start from stock. We keep common sheet and plate as 48″ × 48″ blanks, so standard parts go straight to the machine. Larger sheets and other materials come through a custom quote.
- Carbon steel, 24 GA (0.024″) to 1″ plate
- G90 galvanized, 18 GA to 11 GA
- Aluminum, 6061-T6 from 0.032″ to 1″ and 5052-H32 from 0.040″ to 1/4″
- Stainless, 304 from 0.030″ to 1/2″ and 316 from 16 GA to 1/2″
- Clear cast acrylic, 1/8″ to 1/2″
On carbon steel plate, the waterjet cuts up to 4.00″ thick and the laser up to 1.000″, depending on the material. Thin brackets and thick base plates both come from one shop. Every grade and gauge is on the stocked materials list.
From cut blank to finished part, in one shop.
The team that cuts your parts can also bend, thread, and finish them on the same order.
Bending
Our TRUMPF TruBend press brakes form material from 0.020″ to 0.500″, with bends up to 96″ long. See our metal bending service.
Tapping and countersinking
We cut UNC, UNF, and metric threads, through or blind, and 82°, 90°, and 100° countersinks, all in house. See tapping.
Hardware insertion
We press in nuts, studs, and standoffs, quoted as a custom job. See hardware insertion.
Deburring
Our automated deburring handles parts up to 47″ wide. We also deburr by orbital machine and by hand. See deburring.
Finishing
Powder coat, anodize, and plating come from vetted local partners, and our team manages them. See finishing and coating.
Full fabrication
Cutting, bending, and added operations come together in our sheet metal fabrication services.
Price your cut parts in minutes.
Custom metal cutting quotes usually mean an email and a wait. Not here. Instant Quote prices standard parts as soon as your file loads, at any hour, with no account needed.
Upload a STEP, STP or DXF
One part per file, at full scale.
Pick process, material and quantity
Set the thickness and add operations like tapping.
Watch the price and lead time
Both update as you change options.
Pay and we start
Pay by card in the quote portal. Work generally begins once payment is confirmed.
Upload a file, pick your options, and see price and lead time instantly. Try it live →
Parts in days, shipped across the US.
We post lead times, minimums, and shipping up front. For the whole ordering flow, see online sheet metal fabrication.
Standard or expedited
Instant Quote orders take 7 business days and custom quotes take 14. In a rush? Expedite to 3 business days or the next business day. Orders placed after the 1pm ET cut off move to the next business day.
7 business days, or expedite
One part or a full run
There is no minimum order quantity. A one-off prototype and a production batch go through the same quote.
No minimum order quantity
Nationwide shipping
We ship across the United States, and Northeast orders usually arrive fastest. You see the shipping cost and ship date at checkout before you pay. Pickup runs Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm ET.
Price and ship date at checkout
How to compare metal cutting companies.
Here are six questions to ask any metal cutting company, and how we answer each one.
- Process choice. We run a waterjet and a laser in the same building, so each part goes to the process that suits it.
- Thickness range. Our waterjet cuts from 0.005″ to 4.00″. The laser cuts up to 1.000″, depending on the material.
- Written tolerances. We publish ours: ±0.010″ on profiles and ±0.005″ on holes.
- Price before a phone call. Standard parts price online at any hour. Send a drawing and you get a custom quote, typically within 24 hours.
- Lead time and minimums. 7 business days on Instant Quote orders, and no minimum order.
- Inspection. We sample every lot per ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, General Inspection Level II, AQL 4.0. See quality and inspection.
Why one shop for both processes
Split a job between a laser shop and a waterjet shop and you get two quotes, two lead times, and parts in transit. Here a mixed order stays one job, from the first cut to the box it ships in.
See how we make custom metal parts from upload to delivery, or read Cutting Thick Metal: Waterjet vs Laser.
Common questions
Should I use waterjet or laser cutting for my part?
Use the laser for sheet metal and light plate in steel, stainless or aluminum. Use the waterjet for thicker plate, heat sensitive alloys, composites and non metals. Unsure? Send the drawing and an estimator will confirm the process.
What is the thickest metal you can cut?
The waterjet cuts metal up to 4.00″ thick, and the laser up to 1.000″, depending on the material. Waterjet parts over 1.000″ thick are priced by custom quote.
What tolerances do you hold on cut parts?
On parts up to 24″ × 24″, profiles hold ±0.010″ and holes ±0.005″ on both processes. Larger parts add ±0.002″ to the profile per extra 12″. Tighter tolerances go to a custom quote.
Do you ship cut metal parts outside Massachusetts?
Yes. We ship from Littleton to customers across the United States. Shipping cost and ship date are shown at checkout before you pay.
How long does metal cutting take?
Standard lead time is 7 business days for Instant Quote orders and 14 for custom quotes. Expedite runs as fast as 3 business days or the next business day. Orders placed after 1pm ET move to the next business day.
Is there a minimum order for metal cutting?
No. One part and a full production run go through the same quote, with no minimum order quantity.
What files do you need, and can I order without a CAD file?
Upload a STEP, STP or DXF file for an instant price; the file guidelines cover the details. No CAD file? Send a drawing, PDF or photo through the contact form and an estimator replies with a custom quote, typically within 24 hours.
Go deeper.
Have metal to cut?
Upload a file for an instant price and lead time, or send a drawing and our estimators will quote it for you.