What is laser cutting?

Laser cutting is a way to cut precise patterns in metal, plastic, wood, and practically every other material that man works with. It allows a level of accuracy and complexity impossible with conventional machining tools. Laser cutting works by exciting a gaseous medium, commonly carbon dioxide, causing it to amplify light reflected back and forth multiple times within the laser chamber. The light emerges from an aperture and is focused by a lens onto a specific point.

A typical process laser has a beam about a 1/5 of a millimeter in width, focusing 1000 to 2000 watts of energy. This is enough to melt most common materials. Because lasers become less focused and lose energy as they penetrate through a material, there is a limit of about 20 mm for the deepness of the cut. Laser cutting machines are integrated into a larger CAD/CAM (computer-aided-design, computer-aided-manufacturing) system that takes a design file and implements it on a workpiece. These machines represent a stepping stone in the continuing trend away from hands-on manufacturing, putting human workers in a more removed, creative design role.

What is Pressing?

A press brake is a special type of machine press that bends sheet metal into shape.  Some press brakes have CNC controls and can form parts with accuracy to a fraction of a millimetre.

What metal thickness can your laser cut?

Mild Steel = Up to 20mm

Stainless Steel = Up to 12mm

Aluminium = Up to 8 mm

Do Grenville have a modern slavery policy?

Although Grenville Engineering does not fall under the requirements of section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (turnover less than 36 million), we all have a responsibility to be alert to the risks, however small, in our business and in the wider supply chain.  Employees are expected to report concerns and management are expected to act upon them.

We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our business or supply chains or in any part of our business.

Read our full policy here  Modern Slavery Policy 2023