The purpose of microjoints in laser cutting

The more parts we cut out of a piece of sheet metal, the less stable it will be in the machine. An important – and essential – aid to tackle this problem is the ‘microjoint’. We tell you more about them in this blog post.

What are microjoints?

Microjoints – also known as tabs and bridges – are small temporary joints between the cut part and the rest of the sheet metal. They hold the small cut parts in place and ensure that the cut parts do not shift during laser cutting or fall out of the sheet metal when it is moved.

What are the benefits of microjoints?

Here are all the benefits:

• The cutting process can be faster.
• Sorting is easier (the parts aren't mixed up).
• Small parts are less easily lost.
• Parts and machines are less likely to collide and cause damage.

What are the drawbacks of microjoints?

• The parts must be detached from the sheet metal.
• There may be marks and burrs on the metal.

This means additional processing (such as filing or grinding) is often required.

What do microjoints mean for me?

Larger parts that are cut out of sheet metal generally do not need microjoints, but smaller parts do.

Experience has shown that this isn’t a problem in many cases, for example if the part isn’t visible and/or this doesn’t cause functional problems. However, it can be a problem if the part has an aesthetic function and the edge must be smooth for the part to operate and/or be assembled correctly.

If you wish to remove the joints from the parts, you must use a file or angle grinder yourself.

How do we minimise the use of microjoints?

While we cannot entirely avoid microjoints, we do our best to minimise them for you. Based on years of experience, our operators only add the most essential microjoints. The number required and the thickness of the bridges depends on factors including the material, sheet thickness and size and shape of the part.

If a microjoint is placed, it is always located at the starting point of the cutting path. With flat parts, you can set the starting point yourself in Sophia®, or indicate it on your drawing.

Do you have any questions?

Please contact our Customer Service centre. We will be happy to assist you!