Sheet & Plate Laser Cutting in Ontario
Sheet and plate laser cutting at WeFab starts with Precision flat parts, cut and marked, at volumes from one piece to full production, often the fastest and most economical first operation for any sheet metal component.
Three fiber laser systems with automated loading, unloading, and nozzle changeover run extended unattended production, which is how we hold both short lead times and consistent per-part pricing on higher volumes.
Hole positions are held to ±0.005″ across the sheet. As a design guideline, hole diameters should be at least equal to material thickness. Our team will flag anything outside that window at quoting, so there are no surprises.
What We Cut: Sheet & Plate Laser Cutting Capabilities
WeFab laser cuts flat parts in mild steel, stainless, aluminum, and G90 galvanized steel, from thin sheet up to 1.25″ mild steel plate. Parts come off ready for forming, welding, or assembly in the same Leamington shop, with no handoff to an outside cutting vendor.
Sheet and plate laser cutting at WeFab in Leamington, Ontario, turns your drawing files into precision profiles on three fiber lasers:
BLM LS7 (12 kW), BLM LS5 (8 kW), and Bystronic BySprint Fiber 3015 (6 kW) with hole positions held to ±0.005″ across a 5′ × 10′ sheet.
Typical work includes:
- Gussets, stiffeners, and connection plates for structural steel packages
- Base plates and cap plates with bolt holes cut in place, not drilled after
- Brackets, clips, and mounting tabs for equipment supports and platforms
- Flanges and ring profiles cut from plate
- Enclosure panels and covers in stainless and aluminum sheet
- Flat blanks for parts that will be bent on a press brake or rolled downstream
Each laser carries automated loading and unloading plus automatic nozzle changeover, so the cell supports extended unattended production. The lasers also etch part IDs during the cut, so pieces stay identifiable through bending and welding.
Materials, Thicknesses, and Design Guidelines
WeFab cuts mild steel up to 1″ for best edge results and 1.25″ maximum, and stainless and aluminum up to 0.5″. Sheets up to 5′ × 10′ load automatically up to roughly 2,000 lb, and hole positions are held to ±0.005″ across the sheet.
| Capability | Specification |
|---|---|
| Fiber lasers | BLM LS7 (12 kW), BLM LS5 (8 kW), Bystronic BySprint Fiber 3015 (6 kW) |
| Maximum sheet size | 5′ × 10′ |
| Mild steel thickness | Up to 1″ for best results; 1.25″ maximum |
| Stainless steel thickness | Up to 0.5″ |
| Aluminum thickness | Up to 0.5″ |
| Coated material | G90 galvanized steel |
| Hole position tolerance | ±0.005″ across the sheet |
| Minimum hole diameter | Equal to or greater than material thickness |
| Nesting software | Lantek |
| Automated loading | Tower storage and table-switch systems, sheets to ~2,000 lb |
| Part marking | Laser etching for part IDs |
Design guidelines for laser-cut parts:
- Keep hole diameter at or above material thickness. A 1/2″ plate should carry holes of at least 1/2″.
- Plan heavy mild steel around 1″. Parts between 1″ and 1.25″ can be cut, but 1″ and under gives the cleanest edge. Thicker plate moves to waterjet cutting.
- Send the 3D model for bent parts so the flat blank can be developed to match the drawing.
Fiber laser: A cutting laser that generates its beam in an optical fiber and delivers it through a cutting head to melt and blow material out of the kerf. WeFab runs 6, 8, and 12 kW machines side by side to match wattage to thickness.
Nesting: Software layout of many parts on one sheet to use as much material as possible and set the cut order. WeFab nests every laser job in Lantek.
G90 galvanized steel: Sheet steel with a hot-dip zinc coating at the G90 designation. It is the one coated material WeFab cuts on its fiber lasers, giving corrosion-resistant flat parts without sending them out for galvanizing after cutting.
How Our Laser Cutting Process Works
Laser cutting at WeFab runs from drawing review to Lantek nesting, automated cutting, etching, and handoff into forming or welding. Next-day cutting is available when shop load allows, with hole positions held to ±0.005″.
Step 1: File review
Send CAD drawing files, a 3D model, or a full drawing package. The team checks material, thickness, hole-to-thickness ratios, and whether the part is better suited to laser, tube laser, or waterjet.
Step 2: Lantek nesting
Parts are nested in Lantek and assigned to the BLM LS7, BLM LS5, or Bystronic BySprint based on thickness and volume.
Step 3: Automated cutting and etching
Tower storage and table-switch systems load sheets up to roughly 2,000 lb. The lasers cut profiles and holes in the same setup and etch part IDs where requested.
Step 4: Handoff to forming and welding
Cut parts move straight to forming and rolling on the Bystronic Xpert 40, BLM E-Series 200, and Bystronic Xpert 250 press brakes, or to the weld bays for assembly.
Why Project Teams Choose WeFab for Laser Cutting
WeFab pairs three fiber lasers with in-house forming, welding, and delivery under one 208,000 sq ft roof in Leamington. Laser-cut parts feed directly into CWB W47.1 Division 2 welding, backed by more than 30 years of fabrication as South Essex Fabricating since 1994.
- Three fiber lasers from 6 to 12 kW, matched to each job by thickness and volume
- ±0.005″ hole positions across the full sheet
- Automated loading, unloading, and nozzle changeover for extended unattended runs
- CWB W47.1 Division 2 welding (Company Code DENDE1, held by parent company SEF) downstream of the laser
Coated-material laser cutting at WeFab is limited to G90 galvanized steel, and galvanizing or powder coating after fabrication is subcontracted rather than done in-house.
Service Area: Ontario First, US Projects by Arrangement
WeFab supplies laser-cut sheet and plate parts across Ontario. Our core service area is Windsor-Essex, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, and the Greater Toronto Area, direct from our Leamington shop, with US deliveries arranged through a customs broker relationship.
Parts ship on WeFab’s owned flatbed and step-deck fleet, no freight brokers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How thick can WeFab laser cut steel?
WeFab laser cuts mild steel up to 1 inch for best edge results and up to 1.25 inches maximum. Stainless steel and aluminum are cut up to 0.5 inch. Plate thicker than the laser ceiling can move to WeFab’s OMAX waterjet in the same Leamington shop.
What is the largest sheet WeFab can laser cut?
WeFab cuts sheets up to 5 feet by 10 feet. Tower storage and table-switch systems load sheets of roughly 2,000 pounds automatically, supporting long unattended runs on all three fiber lasers.
How accurate is WeFab’s laser cutting?
Hole positions are held to plus or minus 0.005 inch across the full sheet. For clean, round holes, design each hole with a diameter at least equal to the material thickness. A quarter-inch plate should carry holes of a quarter inch or larger.
How fast can WeFab turn around laser-cut parts?
Lead time depends on current shop workload. Next-day cutting is available when shop load allows. The estimating team confirms a realistic cut date with every quote, so flag your required date when you send files.
Request a Sheet & Plate Laser Cutting Quote
For sheet and plate laser cutting in Ontario, send CAD drawing files, a 3D model, or a drawing package to the WeFab estimating team. Include material, thickness, quantity, and any downstream bending or welding.
Call 548-919-0125 or email sales@wefab.ca to start a project.
Related capabilities: Tube and pipe laser cutting · Forming and rolling · Waterjet cutting · Welding and assembly
