Laser 101 · Industries
Laser cutting in aerospace and manufacturing.
In aerospace and precision manufacturing, parts have to be exact and repeatable. Laser cutting earns its place wherever a flat part needs tight, consistent tolerances.
Where a laser fits in aerospace work
Aerospace runs on precision and documentation, and while a CO₂ laser does not cut the metals and structural composites that make up an airframe, it earns its place on the non-metal side of the shop — precise, repeatable flat parts produced quickly for engineering, tooling, and prototyping teams.
Gaskets, shims, insulation and seals
Laser-cut non-metallic gaskets, shims, spacers, and insulation parts are a natural fit. The laser holds tight, repeatable dimensions across a run, so every part matches — and complex internal cut-outs that would be slow to punch or hand-cut come off the file in one pass.
Tooling, jigs and masking
Engineering teams use the laser for assembly jigs, drill and alignment templates, inspection aids, and acrylic tooling — the supporting parts that make a precise build repeatable. Laser-cut masking and paint-stencil templates produce crisp, consistent results on finishing and marking work.
Prototyping and interior mockups
Before anything is committed to expensive materials, acrylic and plywood let teams prototype panels, brackets, enclosures, and interior-component mockups cheaply and revise them fast. It is the same iterate-early logic that serves any hardware team, applied where tolerances and review cycles are demanding.
What a CO₂ laser will not do
It is worth being plain about the limits. A CO₂ laser cuts non-metals only — it will not cut aluminum, titanium, or steel, and it is not used on carbon fiber or fiberglass, whose resins give off hazardous fumes. For metal parts you need a fiber laser or waterjet. For the non-metal flat work around them, a CO₂ laser is fast, accurate, and consistent.
Common questions
Can a CO₂ laser cut metal aerospace parts?
No — a CO₂ laser cuts non-metals only. Metal parts need a fiber laser or waterjet. The CO₂ laser handles non-metal gaskets, templates, tooling, and prototypes.
Can you cut carbon fiber or fiberglass?
No. The resins in carbon fiber and fiberglass release hazardous fumes when lasered, so we do not cut them.
What aerospace-adjacent parts can you cut?
Non-metallic gaskets, shims, spacers, insulation parts, drill and alignment templates, assembly jigs, masking and paint stencils, and acrylic prototypes and mockups.
How repeatable are the parts?
Very — a laser cuts the same file identically run after run, holding tight, consistent dimensions across a batch.
Can you hold tight tolerances?
Around ±0.005″ for most work, and highly repeatable. For sub-thousandth machining tolerances, CNC milling is the right tool.
Need precision parts cut?
Industrial CO₂ lasers, beds up to 46 by 58 inches, in downtown Los Angeles. Designers, makers, and businesses welcome.