The component below is an example of the detail achievable by laser cutting.  Hydram Sheet Metalwork manufactured this highly decorative part from stainless steel using its CNC laser cutting machines.  Every year since Hydram launched its subcontract laser cutting service in 1997, it has designed a Christmas tree decoration to promote the company's capabilities to its customers. 

"We try to improve each year and produce something more impressive than the last," enthuses Systems Manager, Andrew Jordan.  "The designs are first produced in a vector art drawing program before they are imported into our Radan CADCAM system via DXF import."  Andrew continues, "Once we have the design inside the CADCAM program it has to be optimised for the laser cutting process.  The positions of the laser pierce points have to be carefully chosen, especially on a decorative part like this one, in order to achieve the best possible quality."

"In 2005, the design began life as a sprig of holly.  After producing a prototype we found that the edges of leaves were just too sharp and so we modified the design by cutting a hoop of stainless steel around the whole thing.  We were very pleased by the reaction from our customers," Andrew concludes.