Sheet Metal Laser Cutting

Quote and Engineering in One Step

If you supply a 3D model or DXF file, Northern will use an in-house software program to estimate material requirements, laser time, and press brake time. This process also completes most of the engineering/programming that is required once an order is placed and helps reduce lead times.

Northern can work with about any 2D or 3D CAD file, but here are our preferred file types:

• Solidworks Models (.sldprt, .slddrw, .sldasm)
• Autodesk Inventor Models
• .IGES
• .X_T
• .STEP
• .DXF
• .DWG
  

Maximum Material Efficiency

• Dynamic nesting allows us to nest parts from various customer orders on one sheet.
  • Nest your parts in another customer's scrap.
  • We don't have to charge for large cutouts in parts.
• Large Sheet Sizes yield better nests
  • up to 80" wide x 240" sheet sizes available
• Minimum space between parts
  • Common cutting between part edges
  • Minimum sheet border for machine clamping
    

(example from nesting software)

High Throughput, Low Labor Costs

• Fully automated Load/Unload
  • Two inline storage towers for lasers
  • Robotic stacking on punch/laser machine
  • Minimizes downtime between sheets
• Lights Out Manufacturing
  • Collision avoidance programming
  • Automatic restart on errors
  • One operator runs multiple machines

Secondary Services

• Laser Etching
• Edge Rounding on ERNST finishing machine
• Graining or Polishing
• Tumbling
• Tapping
• Bending

Other Cutting Machines

In addition to CNC Lasers, we also offer the following:

• Waterjet Cutting - various materials up to 6" thick
• Punch/Laser combination machines
• Tube Laser Cutting - up to 10" diameter

Kitting Services

Northern can kit groups of parts together for simplified assembly upon delivery. We do this for our own fabricators in-house for every order. We have even developed Kit Carts for customers to help facilitate KANBAN or JIT initiatives for some companies.

Case Study

Problem: On a Thursday afternoon, a regular customer came to us with a crisis. They had over 40 hours of laser cutting work they needed done, and they needed it by the end of the day on Monday.

Solution: While other fabricators may have balked at this situation, Northern jumped on the opportunity to nurture this relationship. Our automated CNC programming software allowed our engineers to convert CAD drawings into CNC code by mid-day Friday. We did not have to charge additional overtime labor to our customer, because our "lights out" laser cutting cell ran unattended over the weekend.

Results: The last shipment left Northern at 3PM Monday afternoon, and we cemented another customer relationship.

Our Capabilities in Pictures (view all)