// materials guide
Material selection for laser cutting
The material you pick drives the look, the cost, how the part performs and how fine the detail can be — and, on a rush job, whether it's in stock to cut today. This guide compares the four families we cut daily. For grades and maximum thicknesses, see the materials page.
Start with the job, not the metal
Four questions usually settle it:
- Will it corrode? Outdoors, wet, food-contact or marine pushes you toward stainless, or mild steel with a coating.
- How much does weight matter? Aluminium is roughly a third the weight of steel for the same volume.
- Does it need to look a certain way? Brushed stainless, decorative brass and coated steel each have a distinct finish.
- What's the budget and quantity? Mild steel is the most economical by a distance; brass and thick stainless cost most to buy and to cut.
Mild steel — the everyday workhorse
If a part doesn't need to be stainless or light, it's probably mild steel. It cuts fast and clean on a fibre laser — ideal when you need it today — folds and welds well, and is by far the cheapest option. Bare steel rusts, so most parts are coated or plated afterwards.
- Grades we cut: CR4 cold-rolled (smooth surface, good for visible/coated parts) and S275 hot-rolled (structural, for brackets, base plates and gussets).
- Best for: brackets, frames, base plates, gussets, enclosures, general fabrication and most rush replacement parts.
- Detail vs thickness: holds fine detail well up to ~6 mm; cuts cleanly to our 20 mm maximum with features sized to the thickness.
Stainless steel — corrosion resistance and a clean look
Stainless resists corrosion without any coating and keeps a bright, hygienic surface — hence food, marine, architectural and medical work. It's denser and tougher than mild steel, so slightly slower and dearer to cut.
- 304: the general-purpose grade — indoor and most outdoor use, kitchens, splashbacks, trim.
- 316: adds molybdenum for better resistance to salt and chemicals — marine, coastal and harsh environments.
- Finishes: 2B (smooth mill finish) or brushed/grain. We can keep a protective film on visible faces to avoid scratches.
- Best for: fascia panels, food and hygiene equipment, marine fittings, architectural detail.
Aluminium — light, conductive, corrosion-resistant
The go-to when weight matters or you want natural corrosion resistance without the cost of stainless. About a third the density of steel, and it conducts heat and electricity well — hence enclosures, heatsinks and panels. More reflective, so very thick aluminium is harder to cut; within our range it cuts cleanly.
- 1050: nearly pure, soft, excellent corrosion resistance and formability — trim, panels, conductive parts.
- 5251 / 5083: stronger magnesium-alloyed grades that fold and weld well — structural panels, enclosures, marine.
- Finish: mill finish as standard; can be anodised (out-sourced) for colour and a harder surface.
- Best for: enclosures, heatsinks, lightweight brackets, panels, signage.
Brass — decorative and electrical
Chosen for how it looks — that warm gold tone for signage and architectural detail — and for its electrical properties. The priciest of the four and, being reflective, limited to thinner sections, but the laser holds crisp internal detail ideal for lettering and logos.
- CZ108: the common cold-working brass we stock.
- Best for: signage, nameplates, decorative panels, electrical contacts and busbars.
Thickness vs detail — the trade-off in one place
Across every material, finer detail lives in thinner stock. As plate gets thicker the smallest hole, slot and text stroke all grow — full breakdown in the design guide. The table below is the quick comparison.
| Material | Max thickness | Corrosion | Relative cost | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild steel | 20 mm | Needs coating | Lowest | Brackets, frames, plates |
| Stainless | 20 mm | Excellent | High | Food, marine, architectural |
| Aluminium | 15 mm | Very good | Medium | Enclosures, panels, light parts |
| Brass | 10 mm | Very good | Highest | Signage, decorative, electrical |
From stock or your own sheet. We hold a wide range of grades and thicknesses so most rush jobs cut the same day, can source specialist grades, and are happy to cut material you supply. Unsure which to pick? Tell us what the part does and we'll recommend a grade — start a quote or call us.
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