Post-Cut Finishing Time Cheat Sheet
Quick reference guide for estimating finishing, deburring, and post-processing time after laser cutting. Use these benchmarks for accurate labor planning and quotations.
Why Finishing Time Matters
Laser cutting is often quoted by machine hour, but finishing labor can add 30-200% to total cycle time. Thin materials with nitrogen cutting may need minimal finishing (30 sec/meter), while thick oxygen-cut steel can require extensive deburring (5-15 min/meter).
Bottom Line: Finishing time directly affects delivery schedules and labor costs. Accurate estimates prevent underpricing and missed deadlines.
Deburring Methods Comparison
Choose deburring method based on part complexity, quality requirements, and production volume. Times shown are per linear meter of edge.
Manual Deburring (Hand File/Grinder)
2-8 min/mBest For:
- • Low-volume production (1-10 parts)
- • Complex geometries with tight corners
- • Parts requiring selective deburring
- • Prototype and custom work
Considerations:
- • Labor-intensive, inconsistent quality
- • Operator skill dependent
- • Risk of over-deburring/damage
- • Ergonomic concerns (repetitive strain)
Time by Material Thickness:
Belt/Disc Grinder
1-3 min/mBest For:
- • Medium-volume (10-100 parts/batch)
- • Flat or gently curved edges
- • Parts with long straight sections
- • Consistent edge radius requirements
Considerations:
- • Faster than manual, more consistent
- • Limited access to tight internal features
- • Requires operator attention per part
- • Dust generation (ventilation needed)
Time by Material Thickness:
Brush Deburring Machine
0.3-1.5 min/mBest For:
- • High-volume production (>100 parts)
- • Flat sheet parts (single-pass)
- • Light burr removal only
- • Batch processing of similar parts
Considerations:
- • High throughput, low labor per part
- • Capital investment ($5K-25K)
- • Limited to relatively flat parts
- • May not remove heavy burrs
Time by Material Thickness:
Tumbling/Vibratory Finishing
Batch: 1-4 hrsBest For:
- • Very high volume (>500 parts/batch)
- • Small to medium-sized parts
- • Uniform deburring + surface finish
- • Parts that can tolerate mass contact
Considerations:
- • Minimal labor (load/unload only)
- • Long cycle time (1-4 hours per batch)
- • Cannot be used for fragile/precision parts
- • Media cost and disposal
Typical Batch Capacity & Time:
Finishing Time by Cut Quality
Cutting parameters and assist gas dramatically affect finishing requirements. Times are for manual deburring per linear meter of edge.
Nitrogen Cut - Stainless Steel (Clean, oxide-free)
| Thickness | Burr Type | Finishing Required | Time/Meter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2mm | Minimal/none | Light brush or none | 0.5-1 min |
| 3-5mm | Small bottom burr | Light deburring tool | 1-2 min |
| 6-10mm | Moderate burr | Hand file + deburring | 2-4 min |
| 12-15mm | Heavy burr + dross | File + grinder both sides | 4-6 min |
Oxygen Cut - Mild Steel (Oxide edge, heavier burr)
| Thickness | Burr Type | Finishing Required | Time/Meter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2mm | Light oxide burr | Brush + light deburr | 1-2 min |
| 3-5mm | Moderate oxide + burr | File + wire brush | 2-3 min |
| 6-10mm | Heavy burr + oxide | Grinder + file both sides | 4-6 min |
| 12-20mm | Very heavy burr/dross | Angle grinder + cleanup | 6-10 min |
Aluminum (Nitrogen) - Typically clean cuts
| Thickness | Burr Type | Finishing Required | Time/Meter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3mm | Very light burr | Brush or none | 0.5-1.5 min |
| 5-8mm | Small to moderate | Light file/deburr | 1.5-3 min |
| 10-15mm | Moderate burr | File + grinder | 3-5 min |
Note: Times assume experienced operators. First-time or unskilled labor may take 1.5-2× longer. Complex geometries (small holes, tight internal corners) add 20-50% time.
Additional Finishing Operations
Cleaning & Residue Removal
Wipe-down (dry cloth)
Remove dust and loose particles
15-30 sec/part
Solvent cleaning
Remove oil, cutting residue, marking ink
1-3 min/part
Ultrasonic cleaning
Deep clean complex parts (batch)
5-15 min/batch
Blast cleaning (media)
Remove oxide, scale, surface prep
2-5 min/part
Surface Treatment & Coating
Powder coating prep
Mask, hang, prepare for coating line
3-8 min/part
Passivation (stainless)
Chemical bath to restore corrosion resistance
20-60 min batch cycle
Oil/rust preventive
Apply protective coating for storage/shipping
30-90 sec/part
Edge sealing (aluminum)
Seal cut edges before anodizing
2-4 min/part
Inspection & Quality Control
Visual inspection
Check for defects, proper deburring
30-60 sec/part
Dimensional verification
Caliper check critical dimensions
1-3 min/part
Surface roughness test
Profilometer measurement (sample)
2-5 min/sample
Full CMM inspection
Critical features, first article, aerospace
15-60 min/part
Packaging & Preparation
Basic wrapping (paper/plastic)
Prevent scratches in transit
30-90 sec/part
Individual bagging (poly)
Separate parts, add labels/barcodes
1-2 min/part
Custom crating/padding
Foam, cardboard dividers for fragile parts
5-15 min/shipment
Labeling & documentation
Part tags, certs, packing lists
2-5 min/order
Real-World Cost Impact Example
Job: 50 brackets, 6mm mild steel (oxygen cut), 2 meters of edge per part
Key Insight: In this scenario, finishing labor costs 2.7× more than the actual laser cutting. Underestimating finishing time by even 20% would eliminate most profit margin. This is why nitrogen cutting (cleaner edges, less finishing) often justifies higher gas costs.
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