Laser cutting and engraving to order: how to work out the cost
Cutting, engraving, marking: what is the difference
Laser cutting goes right through the material. It is used for parts made of plywood, acrylic, leather and thin metal. Engraving leaves a design on the surface: lettering, logos and patterns on wood, glass or leather. Marking puts identification marks on a surface, for example on metal. These operations are often combined: the item is cut out and marked in one go.
It is important to understand that what is possible depends on the type of laser. A fibre laser works well with metal, while a CO2 laser works with wood, acrylic, leather and glass. So state the material at the start, and the workshop will pick the right equipment.
What to put in your request
- Type of work — cutting, engraving, marking or a combination.
- Material — steel, stainless steel, aluminium, plywood, MDF, acrylic, leather, glass.
- Thickness in millimetres.
- Drawing or layout — whether you have a vector file (DXF, DWG, AI, CDR) or need one made.
- Quantity of parts.
- Dimensions of the part or the engraving area.
- Whose material — yours or the workshop’s.
- Deadline, city and budget.
Example: “I need 50 parts of 200×100 mm cut from 3 mm plywood, with a logo engraved on each. I have a DXF file, and the workshop will supply the plywood. Shah Alam, within 3 days, budget up to RM 390.”
Prepare your file properly
The most common cause of delays and extra charges is a wrong layout. Cutting needs vectors, closed outlines and real dimensions in millimetres, not a picture from the internet. If you have no file, the workshop can draw a layout from a sample or sketch, but that is a separate service. Ask them to state its cost separately.
How ordering works on BlaBlaPrice
You write a request on BlaBlaPrice and, if needed, add a photo of a sample. Workshops in your area reply with offers in the chat: what they will do, for how much and when the parts will be ready. Workshops can see where their offer ranks and compete on terms, so the price often comes out better. Contacts are opened only to the one you choose.
What affects the price and how to compare
The cost usually depends on the length of the cut and the machine time, not only on the area: a complex outline with many holes costs more than a simple shape. Thickness increases the time and the demands on the equipment. For metal, the cost of the sheet is added if the workshop supplies the material. For a batch, how the parts are laid out on the sheet matters, because a good layout saves material.
When comparing offers, check that the material, thickness and quantity are the same, and whether edge finishing, cleaning and packing are included. Ask about edge quality: on some materials there is soot or scorching, and it can be limited by the settings.
If you also need finishing after cutting, see powder coating and sandblasting. For precise metal parts, turning and milling is a good fit, and for plastic prototypes, 3D printing. How the service works is described on the “How it works” page.
