SERIES 01Laser cutting
In productionLaser cutting
Understand the cut. Learn how geometry, assist gas, and edge quality affect the finished part.
8 planned lessonsExplore series
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PROCESS STUDY / 01LASER CUTTING
Featured seriesIn production
From file.
To finished part.
Understand how laser cutting works and the design choices that shape your result.
Cutting profilesEdge qualityPart geometry
Explore laser cutting 8 planned lessons / Series 0101 / The library
Find your next skill.
Video lessons are in production. Explore the planned topics, or use our written guides today.
Design guidelinesIn productionSERIES 02Bending
In productionCNC bending
Design around the bend. Explore tooling, flange length, springback, and flat patterns.
7 planned lessonsExplore series
SERIES 03Materials
In productionMaterials
Choose the right starting point. Compare alloys, thicknesses, and material properties.
6 planned lessonsExplore series
SERIES 04CAD & design
In productionCAD & file preparation
Give your design a clean handoff. Prepare cutting profiles, export files, and plan for hardware.
9 planned lessonsExplore series
SERIES 05Finishing
In productionFinishing
Plan the final surface. Learn how coating, anodizing, and deburring fit into your design.
5 planned lessonsExplore series
SERIES 06Quoting
In productionQuoting & ordering
Know what comes next. Follow the path from your first quote to production and delivery.
5 planned lessonsExplore series
Laser cutting Lesson 01
How Fiber Laser Cutting Works
An inside look at how high-powered fiber lasers vaporize sheet metal with precision down to ±0.005″.
Laser cutting Lesson 02
Nitrogen vs Oxygen Assist Gas
Why gas choice matters for edge quality, and when to use each for steel, aluminum, and stainless.
Laser cutting Lesson 03
Kerf Width & Tolerances Explained
Understanding kerf compensation and how to design holes and slots for correct fit after cutting.
Laser cutting Lesson 04
Maximum Part Size & Nesting
How we gang multiple parts onto one sheet and what max sizes are supported by our machine bed.
Laser cutting Lesson 05
Minimum Hole & Slot Sizes
Design rules for minimum hole diameters relative to material thickness. When tapping becomes an option.
Laser cutting Lesson 06
Edge Quality & Deburring
What to expect on a raw laser-cut edge, and when deburring is needed for assembly or aesthetics.
Laser cutting Lesson 07
Cutting Aluminum vs Steel vs Stainless
How cutting parameters and edge characteristics differ across our three main material families.
Laser cutting Lesson 08
Common Design Mistakes That Add Cost
The 8 most common DXF errors that slow down production or cause scrap — and how to avoid them.
CNC bending Lesson 01
How CNC Press Brake Bending Works
A walkthrough of the air bend process, die selection, and how bend angle is controlled to ±0.5°.
CNC bending Lesson 02
Bend Allowance & K-Factor
The math behind how material stretches during bending, and how K-factor affects your flat blank length.
CNC bending Lesson 03
Springback & How to Compensate
Why metal springs back after bending, how springback varies by material, and how our CNC brake compensates.
CNC bending Lesson 04
Minimum Flange Length Rules
Why short flanges are a problem and how to calculate the minimum flange for your gauge and die width.
CNC bending Lesson 05
Inside Bend Radius Selection
How to choose the right inside bend radius for your material and thickness to avoid cracking.
CNC bending Lesson 06
Designing Multi-Bend Enclosures
How to design boxes and chassis that can physically be bent on a press brake — avoiding tooling clashes.
CNC bending Lesson 07
Bend Layout & Flat Pattern Basics
Reading and creating flat patterns — how to communicate a bent part clearly in your DXF file.
Materials Lesson 01
Aluminum 5052 vs 6061 — Which to Use?
The most common choice engineers get wrong. Learn the real differences between 5052 and 6061 for sheet metal.
Materials Lesson 02
Cold-Rolled vs Hot-Rolled Steel
A1008 CRS vs A36 HRS — surface finish, tolerances, weldability, and when to choose each.
Materials Lesson 03
Stainless 304 vs 316 — A Real World Guide
Going beyond the specs. When does the molybdenum in 316 actually matter for your application?
Materials Lesson 04
Reading a Material Datasheet
How to read and apply a material spec sheet — UTS, yield, elongation, and what they mean for fabrication.
Materials Lesson 05
Selecting Material Thickness for Your Part
A systematic guide to choosing the right gauge — accounting for load, bend radius, and weight.
Materials Lesson 06
Brass, Copper & Exotic Sheet Metals
An overview of C260, C360, and C110 copper for specialty applications — properties, limitations, and cost.
CAD & file preparation Lesson 01
DXF File Setup Basics
The right way to set up a DXF file for laser cutting — units, layers, line types, and what to avoid.
CAD & file preparation Lesson 02
Common DXF Errors That Cause Rejections
Open contours, duplicate lines, small gaps — the exact issues that flag your file and delay your order.
CAD & file preparation Lesson 03
Exporting from SolidWorks for Laser Cutting
Step-by-step: how to export a flat DXF from SolidWorks sheetmetal with correct scale and layer setup.
CAD & file preparation Lesson 04
Designing Rack Panels (EIA-310)
How to design 1U–8U 19″ rack panels to spec — hole patterns, tolerances, and connector cutouts.
CAD & file preparation Lesson 05
Designing for Countersinks
82° vs 90° countersinks, design rules, and how to call out countersinks correctly in your file.
CAD & file preparation Lesson 06
Tapped Holes in Sheet Metal
When tapping is viable, thread engagement minimums by gauge, and how to indicate tapped holes in a DXF.
CAD & file preparation Lesson 07
Hardware Insertion: PEM Nuts & Studs
How press-fit hardware works, what standoffs are available, and how to prepare your DXF for them.
CAD & file preparation Lesson 08
Designing for Anodizing
Design considerations for anodized aluminum — masking, racking holes, and avoiding finish inconsistencies.
CAD & file preparation Lesson 09
GD&T Basics for Sheet Metal
Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing applied to laser-cut sheet metal. What actually matters on a 2D flat part.
Finishing Lesson 01
Powder Coating 101
How electrostatic powder coating works, what surface prep is needed, and what thicknesses to expect.
Finishing Lesson 02
Anodizing Types — II vs III Hardcoat
The difference between standard Type II anodizing and Type III hardcoat for wear resistance.
Finishing Lesson 03
Anodizing Color Options & Matching
Available anodize colors, how Pantone matching works on aluminum, and what colors are achievable.
Finishing Lesson 04
Tumbling & Deburring Process
What happens in media tumbling, which materials are compatible, and how edge quality compares to hand deburring.
Finishing Lesson 05
Preventing Rust on Carbon Steel Parts
Proven approaches for preventing oxidation on steel — oils, conversion coatings, and powder coat timing.
Quoting & ordering Lesson 01
How to Get a Quote from Xeon NC
A live walkthrough of the quoting process — what information to include and what makes a quote quick.
Quoting & ordering Lesson 02
Volume Pricing & Gang Sheet Savings
How gang sheeting works and how to structure repeat orders to maximize material efficiency and savings.
Quoting & ordering Lesson 03
Lead Times: What Affects Your Production Speed
What factors speed up or slow down production — material availability, complexity, and secondary services.
Quoting & ordering Lesson 04
Understanding Your Quote Breakdown
Line by line: how to read a quote, what each cost component means, and where to look for savings.
Quoting & ordering Lesson 05
Shipping, Packaging & Inspection
How your parts are packaged, what quality checks happen before shipping, and what to do if parts arrive damaged.
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01 / FILES
Prepare your CAD file.
Export steps for Onshape, Fusion 360, AutoCAD, and SOLIDWORKS.
Open the file guide 02 / TOOLSWork through the details.
Explore bend calculations, sheet utilization, and design reference charts.
Explore the tools 03 / MATERIALSStart with the right stock.
Compare materials, thicknesses, and the processes available for your part.
Browse materialsFrom your file to finished parts