Aluminium Laser Cutting in Melbourne
Aluminium is light, corrosion-resistant and easy to handle, which makes it ideal for panels, covers, enclosures and signs. Shug Fabrication & Design laser cuts aluminium sheet up to 2 mm thick at our Mooroolbark workshop in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, with fast turnaround and instant online quotes for prepared files.
Aluminium parts we cut
Thin aluminium sheet is well suited to:
- Enclosure panels, covers and lids
- Lightweight brackets and mounting plates
- Signs, lettering and name plates
- Decorative panels and metal art
- Prototypes before a production run
Whether you need one part or a small batch, no job is too small.
Aluminium laser cutting capabilities
| Specification | Shug Fabrication & Design |
|---|---|
| Aluminium thickness | Up to 2 mm |
| Cutting area | 1200 mm × 2400 mm |
| Accepted files | DXF (preferred), DWG, AI and EPS |
| Turnaround | Almost always within 1–5 working days |
| Alloys stocked | 5005 aluminium. Other alloys on request. |
| Machine | STYLECNC fibre laser with ±0.05 mm positioning accuracy. |
These limits apply to our service, not every laser machine. If your aluminium part needs to be thicker than 2 mm, talk to us about whether mild steel or stainless steel could do the job instead.
Why choose aluminium?
Aluminium is a popular choice for lightweight parts that are handled, carried or mounted where weight matters. Because our aluminium range is up to 2 mm, check that your part will be stiff enough for its job before ordering.
Tell us the alloy if your drawing or project specification requires one, as well as any finish you plan to add later. Most customers collect from our Mooroolbark workshop. Delivery can be arranged in advance.
Designing for thin aluminium
With sheet up to 2 mm, fine detail is possible as long as you follow a few rules from our laser cutting design guidelines:
- Keep holes and cut-outs at least 50% of the sheet thickness. In 2 mm sheet, that’s a minimum hole of about 1 mm.
- Leave at least 3 mm between cut features in sheet under 3 mm thick.
- Avoid long, narrow fingers that can flex or distort.
- Convert text to outlines and add bridges to letters with enclosed centres.
- For bolted parts, decide between clearance and tapped holes. Our guide to clearance holes vs tapped holes explains why that matters in thin sheet.
For more detail, read our aluminium laser cutting guide.
Preparing your aluminium files
Draw at 1:1 scale in millimetres and supply DXF (preferred, R12–R14), DWG, AI or EPS. Remove dimensions, borders, notes and duplicate lines, and make sure every outline is closed. Use one clearly named file for each different part and tell us the quantity of each. A photo or screenshot can’t be cut directly, so contact us about file conversion if that’s your starting point. See how to prepare a DXF file for a laser cutting quote.
After cutting
Parts are supplied flat with a raw edge. Some cosmetic marks may appear on the side that rests on the laser bed, so tell us which face is on show. Contact us to discuss deburring before ordering. We don’t currently offer bending, painting or powder coating, but we can recommend local businesses we’ve used.
Frequently asked questions
How thick can you laser cut aluminium?
We laser cut aluminium up to 2 mm thick.
Can you cut thicker aluminium?
Not at this stage. For thicker parts, ask whether steel or stainless could suit your design.
What is the smallest hole I can have in aluminium?
As a rule, holes should be at least 50% of the sheet thickness, so about 1 mm in 2 mm sheet.
Can you powder coat or finish my aluminium parts?
We don’t offer powder coating or painting. Arrange finishing with your chosen provider and read what to specify for powder coating.
How long does aluminium laser cutting take?
Almost always within 1–5 working days.
Get an aluminium laser cutting quote
Upload your DXF or DWG files to our instant quote tool, choose aluminium, thickness and quantity, and get a price in minutes. For design help or questions, call 0402 178 986 or contact Shug. Open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, with weekends and earlier times by appointment.