LASER CUTTING / ENGRAVING AND MARKING COST AND PROCESS EXPLAINED

What is needed by Laser-inc for Quotations/Calculation for job Costs?

1.      Design – For us to to provide you with a quotation a digital design file in a 2D / line drawing / CAD / Vector format is needed in “PDF/DXF/SVG/AI” on size, Reason for this is the Cutting/Engraving cost are determined by YOUR  UNIQUE DESIGN and the run time the machine will take to process the design. Our costs are calculated on distance travelled or time the machine would need to process your unique design, we also calculate in factors like what amount of material that is needed to process the required job as well as power and speeds we need to run the machine at to provide you with the best results needed to process your design on the various materials available or required as well the material thickness and grades on the materials suppliers stock.

2.      Design file processing – Once we have a final and on size design file we then need to further process the file in a format using specialized software that enables us to program the design file for the machines to understand what we need the machine to do.

3.      Quote Generation- Step 1 Design and Step 2 Design processing completed, we now have a final design and a programed file on hand to enable the machine to do what is needed, during this step. We are now able to determine the machine run times, distance and how much material we will need to use to complete your unique design. At this point we are able to provide you with a quotation on the required job.

4.      Getting Ready – Once the approval and quotation is accepted by our clients we now need to move to further process of the work flow, at this point we now need to queue and upload the final files to the machines, depending on what is required and Qty needed we need to set up final processes on the machines, material placement, layouts, jigs or templates that might be needed to hold the pre made items in place for cutting, engraving or marking. Generally called setting things up and machine operation by the machine operator.

5.      WHAT SUMS UP THE COST OF THE QUOTATION AND WORK FLOW…

5.1   Design – Designing Costs – Generally a per hour rate per design is charged for the time that is spent by our design team as well as the tools provided to enable the designer to create your unique design with the best and updated software money can buy. The current market rate for a designer to design or draw up a design is standard rate of R350 to R550 per hour rate, Our per hour in-house rate at laser-inc is a LOW rate of only R75 per hour per design once off fee for life, We do not charge for minor changes or improvements to your provided design in the correct file formats that is needed for a quick change or fix , We also don’t charge a design fee for a simple design that might take us under 5 minutes or 10 minutes  to do, BUT We do have a minimum charge rate of R50 per order or job  for the for the time and efforts spent to process the above 5 steps. We are glad to provide you with the final design file if you may require this for near future work that you may need done by other service providers.

5.2   File processing – The LOW rate of R75 per hour per design fee once of for life also includes the programing of the file for the final steps of the process.

5.3   Set up fees – Depending on the layout or job required on the type of media a set-up fee is charged for material placing, machine settings, jigs, sundries, templates, machine operators cost and time. Depending what is needed this is charged at different rates to enable us to complete the job that is required by the client.

5.4   Quotations and Communication – The LOW rate of R75 per hour fee also includes the resources we may need to process the work flow and all the admin involved to provide you with quotations/invoices/artwork sign offs and approvals that you require for the final steps that allows up to start the job process.

6.      General things to keep in mind – as a service provider we generally make use of the best products we source by local or international suppliers, the reason we prefer to supply the product to our client is due to the on-going support from the supplier if or any defects may accrue during the process of cutting, engraving or marking of a product. Many products may seem and look the same but the material grades may differ and the results may not come out as expected by us or the client on a non-tested item or product supplied to us by the client from a unknown source, if for any reason quotes provided to our clients on products may not be within their budget and the client is able to provide the product to us if they may find the product at a price that fits their budget,  we do require a test unit for our reference to enable us to test the product for the best results we able to get, we do make use of general programing on unknown products or unknown product grades to our best ability but doing this at times may result in failed attempts to provide the best results we able to provide the client. PLEASE NOTE supplying your own products that may have a defective result during the work process your require Laser-inc to do without providing  a sample or test unit we will not be held responsible for unknown defects or poor results that may accrue during the required process. Items like Glass when engraving may result in cracks at weak points that the naked eye may not see, we do advise if we are engraving glass that you provide a extra unit or two just in case the laser may cause the glass to crack during the process, we advise if you require glass engravings a decent quality glass and thickness of the glass is provided to us to ensure the laser engraving process has a maximum job pass rate.

 

DIGITAL PRINTING COST AND PROCESS EXPLAINED

What is needed by Laser-inc for Quotations/Calculation for job Costs?

1.      Design – We require a print ready design file in a high resolution format on size for the best results, the formats can be sent to us in a PDF, RAW,SVG or any high resolution PNG or BMP format, The cost for ECO Solvent prints or UV prints are calculated in square meters in full colour prints or a full colour print coverage for the prints at different rates for different inks or machines used for the required  job process and on what media we need to print on and what size of material is needed.

2.      Design file processing - Once we have a final and on size design file we then need to further process the file in a format using specialized software that enables us to program the design file for the machines to understand what we need the machine to do, a RIP software is used to create the print profile of the image, Please note the machine prints in a CMYK format, Due to this colours like raw metals ie Gold, Silver, Titanium etc. colour profile may not match 100% when printing,  in general allow a 10% colour variance for a onscreen approval to the actual final print.

3.      Quote Generation - Step 1 Design and Step 2 Design processing completed, we now have a final design and a programed file on hand to enable the machine to do what is needed, during this step. We are now able to determine the costs on the printing and material to provide you with a quotation.

4.      Getting Ready – Once the approval and quotation is accepted by our clients we now need to move to further process of the work flow, at this point we now need to queue and upload the final files to the machines, depending on what is required and Qty needed we need to set up final processes on the machines by loading the correct printable media that is required by the client generally called setting things up and machine operation by the machine operator.

5.      WHAT SUMS UP THE COST OF THE QUOTATION AND WORK FLOW…

a.      Design – Designing Costs – Generally a per hour rate per design is charged for the time that is spent by our design team as well as the tools provided to enable the designer to create your unique design with the best and updated software money can buy. The current market rate for a designer to design or draw up a design is standard rate of R350 to R550 per hour rate, Our per hour in-house rate at laser-inc is a LOW rate of only R75 per hour per design once off fee for life, We do not charge for minor changes or improvements to your provided design in the correct file formats that is needed for a quick change or fix , We also don’t charge a design fee for a simple design that might take us under 5 minutes or 10 minutes  to do, BUT We do have a minimum charge rate of R50 per order or job  for the for the time and efforts spent to process the above 5 steps. We are glad to provide you with the final design file if you may require this for near future work that you may need done by other service providers.

b.      File processing – The LOW rate of R75 per hour per design fee once of for life also includes the programing of the file for the final steps of the process.

c.      Set up fees – Depending on the layout or job required on the type of media a set-up fee is charged for material placing, machine settings, jigs, sundries, templates, machine operators cost and time. Depending what is needed this is charged at different rates to enable us to complete the job that is required by the client.

d.      Quotations and Communication – The LOW rate of R75 per hour fee also includes the resources we may need to process the work flow and all the admin involved to provide you with quotations/invoices/artwork sign offs and approvals that you require for the final steps that allows up to start the job process.

6.      General things to keep in mind – as a service provider we generally make use of the best products we source by local or international suppliers, the reason we prefer to supply the product to our client is due to the on-going support from the supplier if or any defects may accrue during the printing process.

 

ABOUT LASER-INC, OUR SERVICES PROVIDED, WORKMANSHIP AND TURN AROUND TIMES

LARGE FORMAT AND SUBSTRATE PRINTING:

Large format printing is the digital printing of large images on a roll of material so as to create bright eye-catching advertisements or branding products.

PRINTING DONE ON BANNERS, VINYL AND SIGNAGE.

Substrate is the base material that the image will be printed on such a plastic film, glass, paper, canvas or other textile products.

PRINTING DONE DIRECT ON METALS, PLASTIC, WOOD, GLASS AND TILES.

VINYL CUTTING AND BRANDING OF ALL SORTS DONE BY LASER-INC

LASER ENGRAVING ON VARIOUS MATERIALS:

WOOD, PLASTIC, PERSPEX, ACRYLIC, LEATHER, RUBBER, CORK

STAINLESS STEEL, MILD STEEL, COPPER, BRASS, ALUMINIUM, GOLD

STONE, TILES, CERAMICS, GLASS, GRANITE.

BRANDING AND PRINTING ON VARIOUS MATERIALS:

CO-OPERATE GIFTING, PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AND PRODUCTS, CLOTHING, VINYL STICKERS, SIGNAGE, DECOR, BANNERS, FLAGS, GAZEBO’S, FLYERS, POSTERS, BUSINESS CARDS, KEY RINGS, TROPHIES, PLAQUES, JEWELLERY, LEATHER MENU’S &  GEUESTBOOKS, DIARIES AND MANY MORE

LASER CUTTING ON VARIOUS MATERIALS:

NON METALS – WOOD, PLASTIC, PERSPEX, ACRYLIC, LEATHER, CORK, RUBBER