FAQ
Every question we hear, answered.
Aggregated from every capability and industry page. If your question isn't here, ask us directly.
Capability questions
Capability questions
- What is the maximum sheet size you can cut?
- Our standard fiber laser bed accommodates flat sheet up to 1500 × 3000 mm (60 × 120 in). For larger formats we offer drop-and-tab nesting and downstream welding to combine pieces.
- What thickness of stainless steel can your laser cut?
- We cut stainless steel up to 6 mm with our 3 kW fiber laser, using nitrogen assist for a clean weld-ready edge. Cut quality stays in ISO 9013 range 2 across the full thickness envelope on stainless — the lower power produces a cleaner cut on thinner gauge stock at the cost of top-end thickness.
- What tolerance can I expect on a typical flat sheet part?
- Position tolerance is ±0.05 mm on parts up to 1 m in any dimension. Profile tolerance is also ±0.05 mm. We hold tighter tolerances (±0.025 mm) on critical features upon request and document them on the inspection report.
- Do you offer first-article inspection and PPAP?
- Yes. First-article inspection (FAI) reports are included on all production orders. Full PPAP (level 1–4) is available on request and is standard for automotive and aerospace customers.
- How quickly can you turn around a prototype?
- 48–72 hours for parts up to 5 mm thick and 500 × 500 mm in standard materials, assuming files are quote-ready (DXF or STEP). Same-day turn is occasionally possible for true emergencies — call ahead.
- Can you laser cut coated or painted sheet without damaging the finish?
- Yes. We use protective film handling and nitrogen assist gas to preserve coated finishes on the cut side. We can also cut from the unpainted side when geometry allows, eliminating any thermal effect on the cosmetic face.
- What is the maximum round tube diameter you can laser cut?
- 220 mm outside diameter on our five-axis tube cell, with a wall thickness up to 12 mm and length up to 6.2 m (244 in). For larger round profiles we coordinate with a partner facility rather than force the geometry — call to confirm your part.
- Can a tube laser cut saddle (fishmouth) copes on round tube?
- Yes — this is round tube's signature capability. Where one round tube meets another, the joint needs a saddle profile, and the rotary axis cuts that exact fishmouth, including compound angles, in the same program as the holes and slots. The joint arrives weld-ready with no coping machine or hand grinding.
- How accurately are holes positioned around a round tube?
- ±0.1 mm feature-to-feature regardless of how many features the part carries, because every hole and cope is located off one datum in one setup. Length holds ±0.2 mm. That is tight enough for bolt patterns and cross-connections that must register against mating parts.
- What materials do you cut as round tube?
- Mild steel tube (HSS, ERW, and DOM), stainless 304 and 316, and aluminum round tube and extrusion (6061, 6063). Wall thickness up to 12 mm across all of them; tell us the alloy and wall and we confirm the cut.
- Is round tube laser cutting worth it for a simple cut-to-length?
- For a plain length with no features, a saw is faster and cheaper — we will say so. Round tube laser earns its keep the moment the part carries copes, angled ends, or two or more holes, where one setup replaces the saw, layout, drill, and coping operations.
- Can you laser-etch part numbers on round tube?
- Yes. Part numbers, lot codes, and orientation marks are etched in the same pass as the cut geometry, so traceability is built into the part rather than added as a separate stamping step.
- What size square and rectangular tube can you laser cut?
- From 15 × 15 mm up to 200 × 200 mm section, with a wall thickness up to 12 mm and length up to 6.2 m (244 in) on our five-axis tube cell. For sections larger than 200 × 200 mm we coordinate with a partner facility — send the part and we confirm the geometry.
- Can you cut holes and slots on all four faces of a square tube?
- Yes. The five-axis cell indexes the tube and cuts holes, slots, and profiles on every face and around the corners in one program, off a single datum. Features that wrap a corner — a slot that turns from one face to the next — are just coordinates in the program, no re-fixturing.
- What is tab-and-slot design and why does it matter for frames?
- The laser cuts interlocking tabs on one member and matching slots on another, so the parts self-locate and self-square when assembled — like flat-pack furniture. A frame that used to need a custom welding jig now clamps to itself, which cuts fixturing time, tightens repeatability, and lets a less specialized welder run the joint.
- How accurate is the fit-up on a laser-cut frame?
- Hole position holds ±0.1 mm feature-to-feature and length ±0.2 mm, because every feature is located off one datum in one setup rather than re-fixtured on a saw and drill. That eliminates the tolerance stack-up that pulls saw-and-drill frames out of square.
- What materials do you cut as square and rectangular tube?
- Mild steel HSS (square and rectangular), stainless 304 and 316, and aluminum extrusion (6061, 6063), plus structural angle and channel. Wall thickness up to 12 mm across the range.
- When should I use square tube instead of round?
- Square and rectangular tube is easier to join, mount to, and weld into flat-sided frames, so it is the default for cabinet skeletons, racking, and equipment frames. Round tube is the choice for railing, hoops, and where the look or load distribution calls for it — we cut both.
- What's the maximum tube diameter you can laser cut?
- 220 mm outside diameter on round tube, and up to 200 × 200 mm on square or rectangular section. For larger profiles we partner with a sister facility — call to confirm geometry.
- Can you cut weld-ready joint preparations directly on the tube?
- Yes. Our 5-axis cell cuts compound miters, weld bevels, and saddle joints in the same setup as the through-holes and slots. The downstream welding cell receives parts that need zero pre-weld prep beyond cleaning.
- What's the longest tube you can process?
- 6.2 m (244 in) standard on our 2-chuck auto-loader. For stock longer than the bed we coordinate with partner facilities on a per-program basis — call to discuss.
- Do you offer mark-and-cut for part identification?
- Yes. Laser-etched part numbers, lot codes, and orientation marks are cut in the same pass as the geometry. Standard practice is light-etch for traceability; deeper engraving available on request.
- How is tube laser cutting more cost-effective than sawing plus drilling?
- For any part with 2+ holes, slots, miters, or angled cuts, single-setup tube laser eliminates the saw-then-drill-then-deburr workflow — typically a 60–80% reduction in piece-part labor and 90%+ on setup cost amortized across the lot.
Industry questions
Industry questions
- Are you AS9100 certified?
- No — Nevatronix operates under ISO 9001:2015 and is not AS9100 certified. For aerospace-flagged prototype work we follow an AS9102-format first-article inspection and full material-traceability cadence; AS9100-certified production is outside our current scope.
- Can you do FAI per AS9102?
- Yes. We produce AS9102-compliant FAI reports on every aerospace job, including critical-feature dimensional verification and a documented material certificate trail.
- Can you cut large architectural panels without seams?
- Yes — up to 1500 × 3000 mm in a single piece on our 3 kW fiber laser cell. For larger formats, drop-and-tab nesting plus downstream welding produces effectively seamless installs.
- How do you preserve the cosmetic face on decorative panels?
- Cut-from-back orientation, protective film handling, and nitrogen-assist gas. Visible faces ship unmarred and ready for finish.
- Can you do cut-pattern designs for architectural perforations?
- Yes. Any CAD-defined pattern — repeating motifs, gradient densities, custom shapes — translates directly to the laser. We can also generate pattern files from artwork on request.
- What materials do you recommend for outdoor architectural use?
- Stainless 316 for coastal environments, 304 for most outdoor use, aluminum 5052 for lightweight applications, and Corten / weathering steel for patina effects. We have run all four for southwest US installs.
- Are you ITAR registered?
- No — Nevatronix is not ITAR registered. Our laser cell supports non-ITAR parts within tier-2/tier-3 defense supply chains, cut from MIL-spec materials with full material certification and FAI/PPAP documentation. ITAR-controlled work falls outside our current scope.
- What materials can you cut for defense programs?
- Within our 3 kW fiber laser envelope, we cut MIL-spec carbon and stainless grades to ~6 mm, plus aluminum and coated steels in standard production gauges. We document process qualification per material per program; armor plate and exotic-alloy work routes through partner shops with higher-power lasers.
- What documentation do you provide for defense customers?
- Mill certs, in-process inspection records, first-article inspection (AS9102 format), and full lot traceability are standard. PPAP (level 2–4) on request. Process flow diagrams and control plans available for program-locked work.
- How do you handle Nellis AFB and DoD-adjacent suppliers?
- We work with several Nellis-area defense contractors as tier-2/tier-3 component suppliers. Geographic proximity is a real advantage — most local programs ship within 24 hours of release.
- Can you hit connector-grade position tolerance on hole patterns?
- Yes. Position tolerance is ±0.05 mm at the cell standard; for D-sub, USB, RJ45, and similar connector patterns we hold ±0.03 mm on critical features. Verified at first article with CMM inspection.
- What materials are typical for server and networking enclosures?
- Cold-rolled steel for cost-sensitive volume, aluminum 5052 for weight-sensitive applications, and pre-painted / pre-plated stock when downstream finishing is undesirable. We hold tight tolerances across all three.
- Can you laser-cut EMI shielding patterns and gasket landing features?
- Yes. Shielding-aperture cut patterns, EMI gasket grooves (laser-cut, not formed), and ground-pad clearings are routine.
- How do you handle high-volume server-rack programs?
- Program-locked nesting for material utilization, automatic sheet loading for unattended runs, and statistical-sample inspection through the run. Our data-center customers run lots of 500–2,000 per month with locked-in cycle times.
- Do you cut security-rated steel grades?
- Yes, within the capacity of our 3 kW fiber laser — up to 12 mm mild steel and 6 mm stainless. Specific high-tensile and security-rated grades supported on request at the appropriate gauge; our gaming/fintech customers often specify UL 291 (level 1 safe) or equivalent grades, which we cut at the appropriate gauge for the cell's envelope.
- Are your parts compatible with UL Listed assemblies?
- Yes. Our ISO 9001:2015 process produces parts that integrate into UL Listed finished products at our parent Nevatronix facility. Documentation requirements vary by UL category — we'll coordinate with your UL agent on traceability.
- Can you hold cosmetic-face quality through laser cutting?
- Yes. We cut from the unpainted side with protective film on the cosmetic face, or use nitrogen-assist gas to eliminate oxide on the cut edge. For class-A decorative panels, post-cut deburr and edge break is included.
- Do you support serialized lot traceability for compliance?
- Yes. Lot serialization with laser-etched part IDs is standard for our gaming customers. Each cut part can carry a unique identifier that follows it through the entire downstream workflow.
- Are you ISO 13485 certified?
- No — Nevatronix is ISO 9001:2015 certified, not ISO 13485 certified. Components from our laser cell are produced under ISO 9001 controls with a documentation cadence that maps to ISO 13485 traceability requirements; finished-device ISO 13485 programs are outside our scope.
- Can you provide material certs and traceability per ASTM/AMS standards?
- Yes. We hold mill certs on every material lot, document material certificate-to-part lineage on every job, and produce traceability packets on request. Standard for our medical device customers.
- Do you cut 316L stainless and other medical-grade alloys?
- Yes. 316L stainless is one of our most-run materials. We also cut 304/316 stainless, aluminum, and coated steels to medical-grade documentation with appropriate process qualification.
- How do you handle parts requiring sterilization compatibility?
- Nitrogen-assist cutting eliminates oxide layers; deburred and edge-broken parts are compatible with autoclave, gamma, and EtO sterilization. We can also passivate stainless in-house when specified.
- How fast can you turn around a smart-automation prototype?
- 48–72 hours for flat sheet parts up to 5 mm thick, 5 business days for tube-laser-cut frame elements. The same file moves to production without re-quoting.
- Can you scale from 10 prototype units to 10,000 production units?
- Yes — that's the typical smart-automation customer journey. We hold the program file, document the first-article inspection, lock the cycle time, and ramp the same workflow to production cadence. Material utilization improves with quantity through smarter nesting.
- Do you cut galvanized steel for outdoor solar applications?
- Yes. Pre-galvanized G90 stock cuts cleanly with nitrogen-assist and ships with the galvanized coating intact at the part edges (no post-cut re-coat required for most applications).
- What's typical volume for solar racking parts?
- Solar OEMs run 5,000–50,000 part lots per program, with program duration measured in years. Our cell is sized for the volume and configured for the cost-per-part optimization those programs require.
- Can you cut aluminum extrusions for racking systems?
- Tube laser cuts standard aluminum extrusion profiles up to 200 × 200 mm OD section, 8 mm wall, 6.2 m length. Hole patterns, slots, and end-mitres included in single setup.
- How do you handle the variation between roof-mount and ground-mount programs?
- We hold the program file, the material spec, and the inspection record per program. Switching between roof-mount and ground-mount programs is a CAM-program change with documented first-article re-verification.