[BradS.]

Aluminum Legend Cutting Process - Looking for a best cost effective solution to cut blanks and cut holes into the flat blanks of Aluminum sheet per these features:

Material - 0.020” thick aluminum laser markable (black anodined surface), has adhesive backer - Johnson Plastics AM5975
We normally buy/use a plastic sheet from them to laser the whole pieces but this is a different application needing aluminum.

Designs:
1. Blanks - have have a 9-10 shapes but for example a 3" x 10" rectangle with corner radii - geometry from AutoCAD file
2. Holes to be in Blanks - several holes and slots are cut into the blanks for toggle swtiches, push buttons, etc. - this configuration changes per order - geometry from AutoCAD file
3. Laser Engrave Text by Holes - We place the machined legends in our bench top laser engraver to run the order's text program
Our Current Cumbersome Process - We CNC mill the holes and then the outer profile from a retangle blank sheet. We then place the cut profile onto our laser engraver into a legend with corresponding cutouts to locate on the bed for lasering the text from an AutoCAD file.
Volume - it is lower volume – approx.. 4-20/day.

If need be I could buy blanks for the standard blanks we use to get away from that at least.
Place blanks into a recessed pocket and tape the blank down to hold it. CNC the holes like today.

Other options like lower cost fiber lasering or water jet cutting the blanks and the holes? Or other methods with our CNC mill?

Thanks
Brad

[JakeM]

With that volume you probably going have a hard time justifying a machine purchase, you would probably be better off having batches done at your local waterjet or laser shop.