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I have an upcoming job where i need to do a fair bit of laser cutting sheets of thin steel or brass. Does anyone know of any reliable shops in the north east (pennsylvania/new york region)?

Nobody?

I would suggest you ask around on the PC modding forums (like Bit-Tech) or on RC modding forums. Those guys use laser-cutting all the time.

Depends on what you meen by "Job" exactly. I could point you to a good shop but they have large minimum orders...

I know a guy in Massachusetts who's been known to sell some custom-cut steel movement trays for Warhammer. Is that the kind of thing you're thinking of?

It's for theatrical design work. We need a number of small intricate flat model pieces cut out of thin flat stock metal. Think similar to architectural models, but for stage sets instead. It's one of my multiple day jobs.

Hmmm... I know the person I'm thinking of works at a company which makes stages and displays. Like the displays for a museum exhibit. I'll see if I can point him this way.

Okay, heard back from my friend. He says they use a waterjet, which is slower and not as well-suited for the work you want.

He recommends Maley Laser, in Rhode Island. He says his company used to work with them and had good luck with them, and the only reason they don't still is because they got their waterjet, so don't need to.

http://www.maleylaser.com/

Great! Thanks.

For anyone out there still looking around, you might want to talk to talk to any students/staff you know in an engineering department at a nearby university. Engineering machine shops I've had access to in the past have had universal lasers that students can use for free, provided they have gone through shop safety training and schedule machine use ahead of time.

All you would need to do is produce an image file beforehand that you would then hand off to whoever has laser access. They would then etch/cut up whatever material you like.

Some shops are extremely reluctant to allow you to cut up metal. I think some lasers are capable of cutting through metal sheets, but you would have to take some care in your setup so as not to damage metal components of the universal laser itself. I've never used them to cut metal, so do so at your own risk!