Describe what the part needs to do
An indoor bracket, an outdoor panel and an enclosure with visible faces can have different priorities. Describe the service environment, contact with other materials, weight and appearance requirements. If the design specifies a particular material grade, retain the designer’s specification. Replacing steel with aluminium or one stainless grade with another requires a review of the part’s function; identical thickness does not guarantee identical behaviour.
Steel: specify the grade and final protection
For steel laser cutting, state the grade from the drawing, such as S235JR or S355, rather than just “sheet metal”. Say whether the part will be bent, welded or coated. For outdoor service, discuss surface protection as part of the project. LaserMet’s steel cutting limit is 12 mm. This describes sheet cutting and does not automatically confirm bending at that thickness or the strength of the finished assembly.
Stainless steel: order the grade and finish together
Describe stainless steel by both its grade and required surface. State the AISI or EN grade from the drawing, a 2B, brushed or other finish, and the visible faces. If the brushing direction must align across several parts, mark it on each drawing. Film, handling protection, weld grinding and edge finishing are discussed separately. We laser-cut stainless steel up to 8 mm; grade and finish availability are confirmed in the quotation.
Aluminium: review the alloy before bending
For aluminium, alloy designation and temper matter when planning subsequent operations. Send the EN AW specification when present in the design and show which areas will be bent, welded or machined. Do not assume every aluminium sheet can be bent to the same radius. LaserMet’s cutting limit is 6 mm. Bend radii, holes and functional surfaces are reviewed against the complete drawing, not only the external outline.
Compare quotations against the same specification
Prepare one file per part and a list of material, thickness, quantity and revision. Our nominal sheet format is 3,000 × 1,500 mm; process margins must also be checked. For a useful comparison, quotations need to cover the same operations, finishes, shipping and tax treatment. Upload the project for an estimate where sufficient data is available. Price, available material and lead time are confirmed after LaserMet review.