Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper

Looking for reliable Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper? VT machining manufactures Beryllium Copper parts to tight tolerances and consistent quality. Beryllium Copper is high strength with good conductivity and fatigue life, so the process is set up specifically for the material.

Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper at VT machining
Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper — produced in-house at VT machining

Laser Cutting Capability for Beryllium Copper

  • Fiber source 1–6 kW
  • Kerf width 0.1–0.3 mm
  • Contour tolerance ±0.05 mm
  • Assist gas (N₂/O₂) selected per alloy

Beryllium Copper Material Data

Beryllium Copper — typical properties, quoted for C17200 (TH04/AT)
Density8.25 g/cm³
Tensile strength1140–1380 MPa
Yield strength (0.2%)1000–1200 MPa
Hardness36–42 HRC
Melting point866–980 °C
Thermal conductivity105–130 W/m·K
Thermal expansion17.8 ×10⁻⁶/K
Electrical conductivity22%
Machinability (C36000 = 100%)20–35%
Grades we runC17200, C17300, C17510 (high conductivity), C17410

Published typical values for C17200 (TH04/AT). Other grades in the family differ — the certificate supplied with your order carries the actual heat-lot figures.

Machining Beryllium Copper — what actually causes trouble

Machined in the solution-annealed state and age-hardened afterwards, which shrinks the part by roughly 0.1–0.2%. That shrink is compensated in the program.

How Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper Works

A focused fibre-laser beam melts and blows material from the Beryllium Copper sheet along the programmed contour. Power, focal position, nozzle stand-off and assist-gas pressure are tuned to the alloy and thickness for a clean, square edge.

Programming is driven directly by your 3D model or print. Work-holding, tool selection and the cutting strategy are planned around the critical features and the material before the first chip is cut. First-off inspection confirms the process is centred before production continues.

Achievable Tolerances for Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper

Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper — achievable tolerances
FeatureStandardPrecision
Contour dimension±0.10 mm±0.05 mm
Hole diameter±0.10 mm±0.05 mm
Kerf width0.20 mm0.10 mm
Squareness of cut edge0.5°0.2°
Heat-affected zone0.15 mm0.05 mm (N₂ assist)
Minimum hole diameter1.2 × thickness1.0 × thickness
Edge conditionlight drossburr-free, N₂ cut

Standard is what a normal quotation assumes. Precision is available on nominated features and is priced separately, because it needs extra setups, in-process gauging and CMM verification. Call out only the features that need it — blanket-tightening a drawing is the single most common reason a quote comes back expensive.

Secondary Operations & Finishing

Finished Beryllium Copper parts can move straight into secondary operations under one roof. Typical add-ons are deburring, passivation, anodising, plating, blasting, polishing and laser marking. We coordinate the whole chain so you receive complete, inspection-ready parts.

Design Tips for Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper

We are happy to suggest design tweaks that improve manufacturability. Keeping holes no smaller than the material thickness, allowing for kerf, and grouping features sensibly improves edge quality and nesting yield on Beryllium Copper. If you send your model early, we will return practical DFM feedback before you commit to production.

Working with Beryllium Copper

As a material, Beryllium Copper is high strength with good conductivity and fatigue life. Our setup reflects the alloy's machinability so the finished part is accurate and free of avoidable defects.

We verify the exact grade and condition before machining, and traceable mill certs are available on request. We can work to your nominated material source or specification when required.

Laser Cutting Tolerances & Surface Finish

Laser-cut Beryllium Copper holds contour tolerances around ±0.05 mm depending on thickness, with a narrow kerf and a clean, near burr-free edge.

Exact achievable figures depend on the alloy, the feature size and the part geometry. Tell us which dimensions are critical and we will advise feasibility up front.

Laser Cutting Quality & Inspection

We control quality throughout the process, not just at the end. In-process checks plus final inspection — including CMM where specified — keep every Beryllium Copper part to print. Inspection reports, material certificates and first-article documentation can be supplied on request.

Applications of Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper

Customers order Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper components for everything from instrumentation to structural and functional assemblies. Whether you need a single prototype or recurring production volume, the same process discipline applies.

How to Order Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper

Getting a quote is simple. Share your model, the material grade, your quantity and target tolerances. You receive a clear quotation with lead time and honest manufacturability feedback.

Parts We Have Run in Beryllium Copper

Three representative Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper jobs, with the callouts that actually drove the process plan. Yours will differ — these are here so you can judge whether your part is in our range before you spend time on an RFQ.

Machine guard panel

Material
Beryllium Copper
Size
900 × 600 × 3 mm
Key callouts
Slot pattern ±0.10 mm, hole-to-edge 6 mm
Batch
150 pcs

Cut with common-line pairs to halve the pierce count.

Gasket / shim set

Material
Beryllium Copper
Size
Ø120 × 0.5 mm
Key callouts
ID/OD ±0.05 mm, no heat discolouration
Batch
3,000 pcs

Small-diameter holes below 1.2 × thickness are punched, not lased.

Battery busbar

Material
Beryllium Copper
Size
180 × 30 × 2 mm
Key callouts
Contour ±0.08 mm, hole ±0.05 mm
Batch
2,000 pcs

Copper is cut on the fibre laser with a reflective-material head; not every shop can run it.

Finishing Options for Beryllium Copper

Finishing options available with this material
FinishThickness / effectWhy it gets specified
Deburr / edge break0.05–0.3 mmAll parts unless the drawing says otherwise
Bead blastRa 1.6–3.2 µmUniform matt finish, hides tool marks
Laser markingPart number, lot code, data matrix
Free — no sign-up

No drawing yet? Build one in the browser.

Set the metal, dimensions and features, watch the 3D model update as you type, then switch to the 2D sheet to add dimensions and tolerances. Download it or send it straight to us with your RFQ.

Open the 3D + 2D Builder

What We Need to Quote Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper

  • GeometrySTEP or IGES for the 3D model, plus a PDF drawing if you have tolerance callouts. A dimensioned sketch is enough to start.
  • MaterialThe exact Beryllium Copper grade and condition — temper, heat-treat state or hardness. If you are not sure, tell us the function and we will suggest one.
  • QuantityPrototype count and the expected annual volume. Both change how the part is made and therefore what it costs.
  • TolerancesWhich features are critical. Everything else runs to our standard tolerance, which is what keeps the price sensible.
  • FinishSurface treatment, cosmetic requirements, and any faces that must be masked.
  • DocumentsWhether you need a material certificate, dimensional report, FAIR or PPAP with the shipment.

Missing something from the list is not a problem — send what you have. We will come back with the specific questions rather than a generic form.

Other Metals for Laser Cutting

Other Processes for Beryllium Copper

Send the drawing, the Beryllium Copper grade and the quantity. You get pricing, lead time and any DFM notes back — usually within one business day.

Request a Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

What tolerances can you hold for Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper?

Achievable tolerances for Beryllium Copper cutting depend on the alloy, geometry and feature size. Laser cutting holds contour tolerances to around ±0.05 mm depending on thickness. Exact figures are confirmed against your drawing callouts.

How clean are the edges produced by Laser Cutting on Beryllium Copper?

Laser cutting leaves Beryllium Copper with a narrow kerf and a clean, near burr-free edge and only a small heat-affected zone.

Does Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper require dedicated tooling?

Most Beryllium Copper cutting work uses standard cutting tools and CNC programs; dedicated fixtures are made only when geometry or volume requires them.

Which industries use Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper parts?

Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper parts are used across aerospace, medical, automotive, electronics, semiconductor and general industrial sectors — anywhere precise Beryllium Copper components are required.

What is the typical lead time and minimum order for Laser Cutting Beryllium Copper?

Laser Cutting prototypes for Beryllium Copper can be produced quickly and scaled to series production. Send your drawing and quantity and we will advise lead time and any minimum order.