The laser energy is focused leading to a clean and narrow cutting gap (kerf).

Compared to plasma cutting, the cutting thickness using laser is more limited.

Conversion rate from electrical to laser energy is low so added operating cost is high.

Shielding gas is regularly used with laser cutting.

The wavelength of the laser is unimportant, only laser power matters.

is needed on all functional surfaces.

is added to strengthen the part.

is added to make the casting have more material than the intended geometry so that some material can be removed by machining post casting to obtain the desire surface finish and geometrical tolerance.

is achieve by subtracting volume from the pattern used in sand casting compared to the final intended geometry.

may need to be increased on surfaces with draft angles.

The smelting of alumina (aluminum oxide)  to aluminum in the smelter uses an electrolysis process (Hall-Héroult process) that uses electricity for heating and reduction and thus the carbon electrode is not consumed.

Alumina (Aluminum oxide) is a fine black power.

Nearly pure molten aluminum is taken from the smelter to the casthouse for alloying (if required) and then cast into sow, ingots, billets, or slab depending on customer requirements.

Bauxite is converted to Alumina (Aluminum oxide)  through several mechanical and chemical processing stages.

The process of forming a thick and hard layer of oxide on aluminum parts.

A heat treatment process applied to welded joints to remove the residual stresses that leave the region hard and brittle.

A geometry optimization process that helps to redesign the part to reduce the maximum stresses.

Cold saw.

Machining (Metal cutting using Milling and Lathe operations)

Abrasive cutting/grinding using angle grinder or cut off saw.

Water jet cutting

Electro-discharge Machining (EDM)

Various forms of welding

Plasma cutting

Drilling

A very economical and environmentally friendly source of steel.

Steel pieces are reheated in a furnace and then rolled into the desired diameter (wire rods).

The chemical composition cannot be changed or controlled.