What are the maximum sheet size and thickness limits for your laser cutting service?

Our primary flatbed laser system, the Trotec Q400 industrial CO2 laser, accommodates sheet sizes up to 1030 x 630mm with a maximum workpiece height of 200mm. We can cut materials up to 10mm thick, depending on the substrate.

What engineering tolerances can Ashford Lasers achieve?

Our system achieves processing tolerances of up to ±0.1mm, depending on the material thickness and type. High repeatability and OptiMotionTM dynamic path control ensure precise cutout for gaskets, control panels and mechanical components.

What file formats do you accept for laser cutting and engraving?

We accept standard 2D vector files, including: .AI, .SVG, .CDR, .DXF, .DWG, .EPSNote: All vector lines should be set to 1:1 scale with text converted to curves/outlines.

Can a CO₂ laser mark or engrave raw metals like stainless stell or brass?

Yes, through Chemical Metal Marking (CerMark/LaserBond integration). While CO2 lasers vaporise non-metals, applying a thermal bonding compound allows us to fuse a permanent, high-contrast black mark onto raw stainless stell, brass and aluminium without altering the structural wall thickness or temper.

What is the difference between vector scoring and raster engraving?

Vector Scoring: The laser follows single line vector paths at high speed to score or trace outlines without cutting through, idea for fold lines, panel schematics and rapid branding. Raster Engraving: The laser scans left-to-right to vaporise surface material layer-by-layer across solid shapes or textures, perfect for recessed text, 3D wood reliefs and Traffolyte plates.

How does 360ᵒ rotary engraving work for cylindrical items?

Using a dedicated rotary attachment, cylindrical objects (such as drinkware, flasks, tubes or round machine parts) rotate in exact synchronisation with the laser head. This enables seamless, continuous wrap-around marking without visual distortion.

Does laser cutting cause heat distortion or leave rough edges?

Because laser processing is entirely non-contact, fragile, ultra-thin or soft materials suffer zero mechanical stress, clamping distortion or edge crushing. Furthermore, acrylics achieve clean, flame-polished edges directly off the machine bed.

Do you handle prototype orders as well as high-volume orders?

Absolutely. Our Kent workshop is structured to accommodate everything from single bespoke prototypes to large-scale batch manufacturing runs for industrial buyers and engineering contractors.

INDUSTRIAL CAPABILITIES

LASER TECHNOLOGY & CAPABILITIES

Our laser technology combines industrial-grade CO₂ laser cutting, high-resolution raster & vector engraving, 360ᵒ rotary cylinder marking and chemical metal bonding to deliver precision components manufactured to tight engineering tolerances.

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MACHINE OVERVIEW

TROTEC Q400 LASER

At Ashford Lasers, our primary flatbed production runs on the Trotec Q400 industrial CO₂ laser system.

Purpose-built for precision and reliable commercial output, our Kent workshop is structured to handle everything from bespoke prototyping to high-volume batch manufacturing runs for engineers, buyers and industrial contractors.

Capable of cutting sheets up to 1030mm x 630mm and up to 10mm thick, we handle a wide range of materials with speed and accuracy.

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THE MECHANICS OF CO2 LASER TECHNOLOGY

NON-CONTACT THERMAL PROCESSING WITH EXACT DIGITAL REPLICATION

The Trotec Q400 CO₂ laser fires a concentrated gas-laser beam redirected via high-precision flying optics onto a 1030 x 630mm processing bed.

High Focal Energy

The beam is focused through specialised optical lenses to a sub-millimetre focal spot, creating precise localised heating.

Material Interaction

Depending on power, speed and frequency settings, the thermal energy cleanly vaporises, cuts or etches the target material without physical tool wear or mechanical tooling fees.

Zero Mechanical Stress

Because laser processing is entirely non-contact, fragile, soft, ultra-thin, or flexible materials are processed without clamping distortion, crushing or edge degradation.

Dynamic Motion Control

OptiMotion™ path trajectory software ensures seamless curve velocity, producing ultra-smooth vector edges and rapid raster cycle times across complex geometries.

CORE MANUFACTURING METHODOLOGIES

FIVE DISTINCT PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

High-precision profiling across sheet materials with smooth, sealed edges and tight dimensional accuracy.

Mechanic: Full-penetration laser cutting along continuous vector paths (.AI, .SVG, .CDR, .DXF, .DWG, .EPS).

Applications: Precision component manufacturing across technical plastics, acrylics, rubbers, hardwoods, timber laminates, high-density EVA foams, card/paper media, Mylar stencils and motor industry gaskets/trim parts; serving industrial engineering, automotive, electrical contracting, architectural models and commercial branding.

Key Benefit: Narrow kerf width allows micro-intricate internal cutouts, tight inner-radii and pristine flame-polished acrylic edges directly off the machine bed.
High-resolution surface vector scoring for branding, layouts and panel legends.

Mechanic: High-speed, low-power vector tracking that scores the material surface without cutting through the substrate.

Applications: Folding lines for packaging, panel schematics, alignment marks, circuit board outline scoring, motor wiring loom tags and rapid line-art branding.

Key Benefit: Significantly faster than raster engraving for linear geometries, drastically reducing machine time and unit costs on high-volume runs.
High-resolution surface etching, depth-controlled wood relief for branding, layouts and panel legends.

Mechanic: The laser system converts solid vector shape fills into high-resolution left-to-right scanning passes, vaporising flat surface material layer-by-layer to a specified depth.

Applications: Recessed text, Traffolyte multi-layer colour exposure, 3D textured wood/acrylic, architectural model surfaces, corporate awards, motor dashboard faceplates and signage etching.

Key Benefit: By driving raster movement using vector mathematics instead of pixel bitmaps, logos and text maintain crisp, sharp edges regardless of scale.
Specialised attachments allowing continuous, wrap-around marking on round metallic, glass or wooden items.

Mechanic: The material is mounted on specialised motor-driven rotary attachments that rotate cylindrical products in exact synchronisation with the laser head firing along the axis.

Applications: Full 360ᵒ wrap-around laser engraving on s

tainless steel drinkware, insulated flasks, glassware, round motor shafts, cylindrical industrial components, metal tubes and timber rods.

Key Benefit: Enables precise, distortion-free circular marking and engraving around curved surfaces that standard flatbed laser systems cannot process.
Baking bonding compounds via CO₂ laser heat to leave permanent, industrial-grade identification marks on bare stainless steel, brass and aluminium.

Mechanic: A specialised ceramic/metallic compound formulation (CerMark)is applied to raw or stainless metal surfaces. The CO₂ laser beam thermally fuses the compound directly into the metal lattice, leaving a high-contrast, permanent black mark.

Applications: Stainless steel valve tags, CE/UKCA rating plates, asset tags, QR code and barcode serialisation, automotive component tags and industrial machine fascias.

Key Benefit: Achieves extreme chemical, heat, UV and salt-spray resistance without altering the structural integrity, temper or wall thickness of the base metal.