Laser cut or CNC routed? The difference you can see
Ask for a cut letter or shape and there is more than one way to make it. The two we use most are laser cutting and CNC routing. They sound interchangeable, but the edge you get and the job each suits are different. Here is the plain version.
Laser cutting
A laser burns through the material with a very fine, precise beam. It is excellent for intricate detail and tight internal corners, and on acrylic it leaves a clean, flame-polished edge that looks finished straight off the bed. It suits thinner materials and fine work.
CNC routing
A CNC router cuts mechanically with a spinning tool. It handles thicker, heavier materials that a laser would struggle with, from composite panels to thick acrylics and metals, and gives a crisp, square edge. It is the workhorse for larger shapes and built-up components.
The difference you can see
Hold a laser-cut acrylic edge next to a routed one and you can spot it. The laser edge is glossy where the material has melted and re-set, the routed edge is matt and machined. Neither is better, they are right for different things, and the finish you want often decides the method.
Why we run both
Because no single method is right for every job. Running laser and CNC in-house means we pick the correct one for your brief rather than forcing the work down whichever machine we happen to have free. Same building, same team, right tool.
See the two side by side
We keep a laser-cut versus CNC-cut display in our meeting room so you can feel the difference for yourself. Have a look at our CNC and laser page, or come in and compare them.
