Large-format CO2 laser cutting for thin metals and non-metals. Clean edges, tight tolerances, ready to assemble.
Seven laser systems across two distinct service lines. Our large-format industrial CO2 laser handles sheet metal cutting on a 5′×10′ bed. Our small-format 75W CO2 lasers handle non-metals like acrylic, wood, leather, and specialty plastics. Fiber lasers handle permanent part marking on metals. Clean, tight-tolerance cuts ready for forming, welding, or assembly. We run laser alongside our waterjet systems, so a single order can combine processes when the job calls for it. Same-day quotes from our Orange, CA facility, and low minimums on prototype and small-batch work.
Laser cutting at AWL spans two distinct service lines on dedicated equipment. The large-format industrial CO2 laser is built for production sheet metal work on a 5′×10′ bed — mild steel, stainless, galvanized, aluminum. The small-format 75W CO2 lasers are dedicated to non-metals: acrylic (cast and extruded), wood, leather, cork, rubber, and specialty plastics with clean edges and no secondary finishing required. Fiber lasers run permanent part marking on metals. Each material runs on the laser built for it, not on a single bed forced to do everything. Complex patterns, small holes, slots, and detail work that would add setup time on a punch or router cut in a single pass. Contact us about your specific material and thickness for the cleanest result.
Each material runs on dedicated equipment. The large-format industrial CO2 laser is for metals only: mild steel, stainless, galvanized, and aluminum. The small-format 75W CO2 lasers are for non-metals only: acrylic (cast and extruded), wood, MDF, plywood, leather, cork, rubber, foam, and a wide range of specialty plastics. Fiber lasers handle permanent part marking on stainless, aluminum, anodized aluminum, and hardened steel — on anodized aluminum the layer vaporizes to expose a crisp, permanent contrast underneath. A few materials we won’t run: PVC, vinyl, polycarbonate, and anything that off-gasses chlorine, cyanide, or other harmful fumes when heated. If you’re unsure whether a material is laser-safe, ask us before sending the job. For materials laser can’t handle cleanly (composites, stone, thick stock), we switch the job to waterjet in the same shop.
Laser and waterjet overlap on thin sheet metal, and each has a cleaner fit depending on material, thickness, and edge quality. Short version: if the job is thin sheet metal in production quantities and the edge needs to be weld-ready or paint-ready without secondary work, laser. If the material can’t take heat, the stock is thicker than what laser handles cleanly, or the material isn’t something the laser is suited for, waterjet. We run both processes in one shop, which lets us pick the right tool for each job and combine them on the same order.
Not sure which fits your job? Send the file and we’ll tell you honestly. If waterjet is the cleaner call, we’ll quote waterjet. If laser saves you money and gives you the same result, we’ll say so. One shop, one recommendation.
A CO2 laser cuts by focusing a high-power infrared beam onto the material and using an assist gas (oxygen, nitrogen, or compressed air) to blow the melted material out of the kerf. On mild steel the oxygen assist actually contributes chemically, making the process closer to a controlled burn and giving clean, fast cuts. On stainless and aluminum, nitrogen gives a cleaner, oxide-free edge that is weld-ready without post-processing. Because the process is thermal, there is a small heat-affected zone, but on thin sheet the affected area is minimal and does not meaningfully change the mechanical properties of the part. The kerf is narrow and precise, which keeps tolerances tight and allows complex patterns in a single pass.
You send us a vector CAD file (DXF, AI, DWG, SVG) or a PDF with embedded vectors. We review material, thickness, quantity, and any tolerance or finish requirements, and identify file prep work if needed.
We nest your parts into the optimal sheet layout to minimize material waste, set the cutting parameters (speed, power, assist gas) for your specific material and thickness, and generate tool paths.
The laser runs the nest. Sheet-to-sheet changeovers are fast. Acrylic runs give flame-polished edges; metal runs give clean weld-prep edges ready for downstream processing.
Parts are inspected against the drawing, deburred if requested, and staged for pickup at our Orange, CA facility or packed for nationwide shipping.
Laser cutting spans industrial sheet metal production, signage and display fabrication, custom enclosures, architectural panels, prototype electronics chassis, signage and point-of-purchase displays, hobbyist and maker runs, and precision non-metal work like acrylic displays and wood inlays. The laser runs thin aluminum enclosure parts in the morning and acrylic award blanks in the afternoon with nothing more than a parameter change.
Brackets, panels, enclosures, and chassis components in mild steel, stainless, and aluminum for OEMs and fabrication shops.
Illuminated channel letters, metal signage, acrylic dimensional displays, and point-of-purchase builds for sign companies and designers.
Decorative metal panels, custom partition screens, wood inlays, and ornamental cutouts for architects and interior designers.
Chassis, faceplates, and brackets for electronics manufacturers, with tight feature tolerances and laser-cut hole patterns for fasteners and connectors.
Single-piece prototypes and low-volume runs for product designers and engineers iterating through design revisions.
Thin rubber, cork, and foam gaskets in custom profiles, cut clean and ready to ship.
Custom acrylic and wood award blanks, paired with laser engraving in the same shop for turnkey fulfillment.
Anodized aluminum labels, brass name plates, and custom acrylic plaques with crisp laser-cut edges.
Laser cuts from vector art. The cleaner the vectors, the faster we quote and cut. Ideal submissions: DXF, AI, DWG, or SVG with outlined fonts, expanded strokes, and no stray geometry. PDFs with embedded vectors work too. If you’re working from raster art (JPG, PNG), we can vectorize in-house but clean supplied vectors are always cheaper. Include material, thickness, quantity, and any deadline or finish requirement.
Most laser quotes go out the same business day. Standard lead time runs 3–7 business days depending on queue and job complexity. Rush work is available regularly; call 714-278-9874 and describe your deadline. We’ll tell you honestly whether we can hit it. Pickup is available from our Orange, CA shop (1410 N Manzanita St) during business hours (Mon–Fri 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM). We ship nationwide via standard freight, palletized or crated as needed.
A cross-section of recent laser work. Browse the gallery for more examples across the full range of our fabrication capabilities.
Send your file, tell us what you need, and we’ll get back to you fast.