I assume that this has cost advantages over machining. The feature sizes are quite unimpressive:
>Minimum hole sizes depending on stock thickness
>Try to avoid designing too small holes as it might be impossible for the laser to cut through. Keep a note of the following:
1.0mm minimum hole diameter: 3.5mm
1.5mm minimum hole diameter: 4.0mm
2.0mm minimum hole diameter: 5.0mm
3.0mm minimum hole diameter: 6.5mm
this is a shortcoming of laser cutters. On material under 6.5 mm thick, there isn't enough thermal mass to soak up the heat you need to put a small hole all the way through. With birch, it catches on fire. With steel, it melts and looks bad.
The advantages are primarily no tooling, no jigs, no setup. No clamps, even, if you want to play fast and loose.
Where it loses to traditional methods is production - on quantity a handful, laser cutters are great. When you need Q144 or Q1000 you need to look at stamping or die cutting.
>Minimum hole sizes depending on stock thickness
>Try to avoid designing too small holes as it might be impossible for the laser to cut through. Keep a note of the following: 1.0mm minimum hole diameter: 3.5mm 1.5mm minimum hole diameter: 4.0mm 2.0mm minimum hole diameter: 5.0mm 3.0mm minimum hole diameter: 6.5mm