Question 1

How much does laser cutting cost?

Accepted Answer

Most shops bill machine time plus a setup fee: roughly $1–2 per minute on a CO2 laser for acrylic, wood and MDF, $2–5 per minute on a fiber laser for steel, stainless and aluminum, with setup of $15–40 per job. A batch of 50 acrylic keychains runs $120–180; 100 flat steel brackets $320–480. See the price guide for the full tables.

Question 2

What file formats do laser shops accept?

Accepted Answer

DXF is the safest, followed by SVG, AI, EPS and vector PDF. Draw at 1:1 scale, state the units, close every path, delete duplicate lines and put cuts, scores and engraving on separate layers. A PNG or JPG can be traced, but the shop will charge for the conversion.

Question 3

Is there a minimum order?

Accepted Answer

The platform doesn't set one. One-offs and prototypes are fine to post; a shop's setup fee is what makes a single part relatively expensive. If you need one sign or one prototype enclosure, post it.

Question 4

Fiber laser vs CO2 — which do I need?

Accepted Answer

CO2 lasers cut and engrave organics and plastics: acrylic, plywood, MDF, leather, paper, and can mark coated metals. Fiber lasers cut sheet metal — mild steel, stainless, aluminum, brass — and are the right choice for brackets, panels and enclosures. Say which material you need so the right shops can bid.

Question 5

How accurate is laser cutting?

Accepted Answer

Typical tolerance is ±0.1–0.2 mm (±0.004–0.008 in) on thin sheet, with a kerf of about 0.1–0.3 mm on CO2 and 0.1–0.2 mm on fiber. If parts need to press-fit or slot together, say so and the shop will offset for kerf. Thick acrylic edges taper slightly; note it if it matters.

Question 6

Can I get engraving as well as cutting?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Raster engraving (logos, photos, names) and vector scoring (fine lines) are billed on top of cutting, usually by area or minutes. Personalized runs — place cards, tags, awards — are common; supply names in a spreadsheet and the shop will merge them.

Question 7

How long does laser cutting take?

Accepted Answer

Small acrylic, wood and MDF jobs ship in 2–5 days; sheet-metal jobs in 3–7; larger runs and anything with finishing in 1–2 weeks. Under 48 hours is a rush at +30–50%. Post early: rushed deadlines cost more.

Question 8

Do shops ship, and can I find one near me?

Accepted Answer

Shop profiles can show a location, and you can ask about shipping before you accept a bid; flat parts pack cheaply. Say 'local pickup preferred' in the post if you want to collect a large sign or check a first article in person. For bigger batches, a shop in another country can be worth it.

Post your laser cutting job

Ready? Post your job on The Spool List.