Tips For New Laser Owners
30 Nov 2022
So you’ve just bought a new laser cutting machine… what next?
A laser cutting machine is a big investment. Depending on the features included, they can be north of $1 million, so you want to be gaining maximum value from your investment. But how do you know what to charge? What are your expenses vs your hourly rate? For new players, it can be hard to know where to start.
Top tips for laser cutting machine owners
Firstly, if you want to maximise the return on your laser cutting machine, make sure you have a fast and accurate laser cutting quoting software in place (more on this later), but first, here are some of the considerations when setting up parameters with your quoting software, to customise it to your job shop:
1. Calculating cost.
I’d recommend using the “full absorption costing” method. This is a managerial accounting method that considers all the costs associated with manufacturing a particular product. There are direct costs, like materials and labour, and indirect costs like rent, insurance, power, and maintenance. Basically, you want to cover everything it takes to run the machine when calculating your hourly rate.
2. Factoring in the cost of Nitrogen.
This one is so easy to overlook, but if you’re cutting materials like stainless steel, you’ll probably use something like a 3mm nozzle with 20 Bar of Nitrogen. For thicker cutting jobs, it can cost $70-$80 per hour for the Nitrogen alone! If that isn’t included in your hourly rate, you may not end up making a profit on some jobs but costing money to do the work. You know that bad feeling when you win a big job, and you think, “I wonder if I’m making money on this?”
3. Factoring in material wastage.
This is unavoidable – it’s all about minimising waste, accurately calculating the percentage of waste, and making sure you’ve charged for it. Even in an ideal setup with 100x100mm x10mm square nested parts, you’ll need to have 10mm around each part, and 10mm around the edge of the metal sheet, which equates to about 21-22% material wastage, which can’t be beaten. Other shapes will likely have a higher percentage of wasted material, so you need to include this in your laser-cutting quotes to customers.
In the example below, we have taken a 3000mm x 1500mm sheet, with nested square parts of 100mm x 100mm each. This gives 27 parts per row and 13 per column, with a total of 351 parts.
The top diagram shows these parts with 10mm around each part, as well as 10mm around the edge of the sheet.
The bottom diagram shows this same sheet if all parts were common line cut– with the grey part visually showing the total material wastage. In this example, it is approximately 21.37% material waste. (Now imagine if the parts aren’t squares, and don’t sit so neatly together…)
4. Don’t forget the cost of maintenance.
Every machine will experience wear and tear over time and will need some sort of maintenance or consumable parts replacement to keep it running at optimum efficiency. You might remember to do this, but did you factor that into your hourly rate and your laser cutting quotes? If you do this from the very start, you build up a buffer, so that if something does go wrong, you have charged sufficient money to cover those costs. It may not be next week, but over the machine’s lifetime, it’s bound to happen eventually.
5. Get the setup right.
And don’t let the installation technician leave until it’s right. You want to make sure they set up the technical tables correctly before they leave. If these tables are based on “laser plate” (a material made to cut on a laser, and has very good cutting parameters), the technical tables won’t be accurate if a different material is used. As they are setting up the machine, ask them to show you how to upload parts, nest them, and then cut – record this! It’s the most useful thing you can do. You can customise it through a huge range of settings these days, but for the overwhelming majority of jobs, this is all you need to do.
6. Fix machine issues before playing around with the settings.
If a laser cutting machine isn’t working the way it should, the temptation is always to adjust the settings until it does what you’d like it to do. But that machine should provide the right output without adjustments – and if not, it’s a sign something needs to be fixed. As a general rule, you should not adjust the feed rate more than 5% either way. Another big temptation will be to slow down the feed rate when cutting stainless steel – this can actually make it worse.
Laser cutting quoting software – make the most of your machine
Once you’ve got all your set-up completed, and you’ve understood the full absorption costs of your machine, it’s time to figure out how you’ll get quotes out to your potential customers to win business and grow your job shop.
30 minutes or less quotes should be a bare minimum these days, but there are much faster methods out there. Sheet metal estimating software has come a long way in recent years, and it can make the difference between a job shop just meeting demand, and a job shop being able to grow and expand. If your job shop is not an expanding business or doesn’t have room for growth, then all you did is buy yourself a job.
Using a cloud-based laser cutting quoting software like Tempus Tools, an average quote (5.5 parts) takes just two minutes! That’s 15 times faster than the industry average, which is around 30 minutes.
And quotes developed within Tempus Tools are accurate and repeatable because all the data is saved, ready for the next quote. No more problems with inconsistent pricing, or errors from miscalculations. And, if the price of materials changes, for example, simply change this within Tempus Tempus ToolsToolsTools, and it will automatically update the quote.
As a job shop, you want to spend most of your time using your machine to fulfil orders. You don’t want to spend half your day developing and responding to a Request For Quotes (RFQs) – especially when the typical win rate is about 30-40% of all jobs quoted for.
Tempus Tools features
- Quick and easy set up (typically under 30 minutes)
- Easy to use – no specialised skills or training required
- No CAD or CAM programs or expertise required
- Integration with Xero, Quickbooks and available on the AutoDesk app store
- Extract and unfold 3D parts at the click of a button
- Fix drawing errors and export cleaned DXF or DWG files
- Folding Calculator, which is rules-based with your parameters
- Unlimited secondary processes
- Multiple cutting technologies …and other features designed to save you time
If you’re looking for a rules-based, front-end, sales-focused laser cutting quoting software, Tempus Tools could be the ideal solution to help grow your business.
Try Tempus Tools for free for the first 14 days to see just how easy it can be.
About the author
Bruce Thomas is Product Executive at Tempus Tools. He began his career in the laser industry in 1971, and has worked for a major laser machine manufacturer, then helped set up and run new job shops, before becoming CEO of a major Laser job shop with multiple sites throughout Australia, a company with 11 laser cutting machines. Bruce’s practical, hands-on experience in the industry has helped guide his contributions to Tempus Tools, as he steers product development to ensure the laser cutting quoting software provides features that job shops will gain the most benefit from.
See how Tempus Tools helps fabricators quote faster and smarter.
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New integration: Tempus Tools + ECI M1 – from quote to order to ERP, seamlessly
At Tempus Tools, we know that speed and accuracy are everything in a laser cutting job shop, and today we’re announcing a new integration that makes both even easier.
We’re now fully integrated with ECI Software’s M1 ERP system.
What does that mean for your job shop?
It means you can now send quotes, order details, and production-ready drawings directly from Tempus Tools into your M1 ERP — no more double handling, no more data entry errors, no more jumping between systems.
This integration eliminates any “dead zone” between quoting and production. You get the specialist laser quoting power of Tempus Tools (like lightning-fast nesting, material cost accuracy, and margin control) combined with the operational backbone of M1.
It’s quoting that talks to your shop floor.
We’ve talked about how integrations like Google Drive can supercharge job shop workflows, and this M1 integration is another great example.
Want to learn more or set it up? If you want to avoid the limitations in the generic quoting functions in ERP/MRP software, but still use the rich planning and production features in ERP/MRP software, then get in touch today.
Book a demo or email us at support@tempustools.com and we’ll help you get connected.
Tempus Tools + M1 = quoting to production, finally in sync.
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Tempus Tools’ Google Drive integration: 6 ways to supercharge your job shop efficiency
Tempus Tools’ new Google Drive integration automatically saves your quote data and part files to Drive, opening the door to faster, smarter workflows. In this post, we highlight six clever ways job shops are already using it to boost efficiency.
Last month Tempus Tools released a powerful new feature: seamless integration with Google Drive.
Since then, we’ve heard from lots of customers about the innovative ways they have implemented this integration in their job shops, and we wanted to share the best six with you to inspire you to use the feature in your shop.
First, a quick recap: with the Google Drive integration, all your quote data (in CSV format) and production-ready part files can be automatically saved to your chosen Google Drive folder. From here, they can be exported to any number of programs or that data can be manipulated for many use cases, opening up a world of automation, reporting and connectivity for your job shop. We’ve also put together a quick video to show the integration in action.
1. Automate quote data collection for reporting
With every quote automatically saved, you can easily compile and analyse your quote performance over time. Use Google Sheets or your favourite analytics tool to track:
- win/loss rates
- performance across material types
- average order size
- breakdown of secondary processes contributions
This data-driven approach helps you identify trends, optimise pricing and improve customer response times.
2. Connect with ERP/MRP and other business systems
Some apps have native integration with Google Drive, which makes taking in quote data and parts easy, but many need a formal API. Luckily, Google Drive comes with its own API.
Some users have used the Google Drive API to build automations that push quote data directly into ERP, MRP or order management systems. This can streamline order processing, reduce manual data entry and ensure your production schedule is always up to date.
3. Organise your orders by material type
Use the exported quote data to create a parts planner that groups jobs by common material type. This enables you to:
- batch similar jobs for more efficient material usage
- reduce changeover times on machines
- optimise purchasing and inventory management
A simple Google Sheets script or integration with a dashboard tool can make this process nearly automatic.
4. Integrate with project management tools
Connect your quote data with popular tools like ClickUp, Monday.com or Airtable. Build custom dashboards and planners for your factory, visualise job statuses and assign tasks to your team-all based on real-time quoting data. These tools don’t require coding or a developer and anyone can work wonders. These types of projects boost collaboration on the shop floor and keep everyone aligned on priorities.
5. Create a scheduling calendar from time calculations
Use the time estimates in your quote data to automatically populate a production calendar. With a Google Calendar integration, you can:
- visualise machine and operator workloads
- identify bottlenecks before they happen
- easily adjust schedules as new jobs come in
This proactive scheduling helps you deliver on time, every time.
6. Enable automated notifications and workflows
Set up Google Drive triggers (using tools like Zapier or Google Apps Script) to notify your team when new quotes are confirmed as orders, or to kick off downstream processes-like updating CRM records or ordering materials.
Getting started is easy
- Go to Settings > Organisation settings > Integrations in your Tempus Tools Tempus Tools account
- Connect your Google Drive and select your preferred folder
- Choose the quote statuses that will trigger automatic file saving
- Start building automations and workflows that fit your shop’s needs
This integration is designed to be flexible-whether you want to automate reporting, connect with business systems, or simply keep your files organised, Tempus Tools and Google Drive make it possible.
Ready to enhance your job shop efficiency? Try the new Google Drive integration today.
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Is expensive, non-dedicated software holding you back from effortless laser cutting quoting?
Many laser cutting job shops still rely on generic or overly complex software, slowing down RFQ response times and creating bottlenecks that hurt profitability. Tempus Tools offers a fast, intuitive, and purpose-built quoting solution—with powerful features, simple setup, and transparent pricing—to help shops quote accurately, streamline production, and stay competitive.
Laser cutting is a precise task, requiring machinery tailored to specific requirements. Profitability is significantly boosted by the ability to be able to respond quickly to customer requests for quotes (RFQs), and efficiently deliver the product.
“With the time and energy often spent on selecting the right laser cutting machine, it’s amazing how often software is overlooked as a driver of productivity,” says Tempus Tools Head of Global Sales, Mark Washington.
“Sometimes laser cutting companies are stuck using software that wasn’t specifically designed for job shops, but it’s all that their team is used to using. Other times, expensive software is implemented, but only a small fraction of the features are actually used,” he says.
“And in many cases, it becomes so complex that a specialist is hired to manage quoting via the software – but what happens if they leave the company?”
Tempus Tools is the creator of dedicated quoting software, Tempus Tools, which can provide fast, accurate, and consistent laser cutting quotes that are professionally presented, ready to send back to the customer.
“Using software that isn’t specifically designed for laser cutting is like using a cricket bat to play tennis. It might get the job done, but it would be far more efficient and accurate with the tools designed for the job!” says Mark (pictured, right).
“In addition to providing quotes in minutes, Tempus Tools can also produce production documents with the click of a button, to add further efficiency to running a job shop floor,” he adds.
A shift in the industry
With customers demanding faster service, the industry is shifting to tailored laser cutting quoting solutions, to enhance their RFQ response times, and Mark sees this as part of a larger global trend.
“It’s evident across a number of industries – smarter players want to utilise technologies specifically targeted to their industry to out-pace competitors. And laser cutting job shops are enthusiastically getting on board with this trend,” he says.
“Tempus Tools has been specifically designed for laser cutting job shops. It’s quick to set up, intuitive, and user-friendly, so the entire team can use it with minimal training, instead of relying on one specialist.”
Tempus Tools cloud-based laser cutting quoting software can be set up with information on material price, cutting time, labour, and other relevant information, to generate quotes quickly and accurately, with repeatability.
“The Tempus Tools team has decades of experience in the laser cutting industry, from the shop floor, through to management, and running their own laser cutting enterprises, so we know the industry inside out – and we can support through setup and every step of the journey, for no additional charges,” adds Mark.
“A major inhibitor of laser cutting quoting software has often been cost, with powerful software that can do it all costing thousands per month. But if you only need dedicated laser cutting quoting software, our plans start from US$100 per month, and are packed full of features you will actually use,” he says.
Switching software – overcoming challenges
Even with the knowledge of the benefits of dedicated laser cutting quoting software, job shops can be hesitant about the time involved in switching, says Mark. He notes some of the main concerns:
- Time – often job shops have tried other software implementations and it’s taken months, and they just cannot afford to spend that time again. But Tempus Tools isn’t like other software. For a job shop with one laser, press brake, and standard secondary processes, set up takes less than 90 minutes.
- Staff training – job shops often believe their staff don’t have the time or capacity to learn a whole new software. But again, Tempus Tools is different. It’s designed to be user-friendly, easy to learn, and staff end up doing their jobs more efficiently, and enjoying the features right away.
- Hidden costs – this is a big factor for any software, and job shops are highly alert to cheap upfront costs, followed by lots of add-ons. No one likes to be “nickel and dimed”. For Tempus Tools, it’s a monthly or yearly subscription, and that’s all. No extra charges for support, upgrades, or training. Features all have a set pricing that’s clear from the outset.
- Too many programs – some job shops have two, three, or more different software programs – why add more, especially if they don’t talk to each other? That’s a totally valid concern. Tempus Tools outputs a CSV as standard with all the quote data, making integration seamless and easy.
“The Tempus Tools leadership team has decades of experience working from the shop floor to the top floor, so they understand the pain of changing software, and have designed Tempus Tools to be effortless and simple,” says Mark.
Tempus Tools features
Tempus Tools features that have been specifically designed for laser cutting job shops include:
- 3D model extractor. Identify, extract and unfold sheet-metal parts directly from 3D assemblies without a 3D software package.
- PDF to CAD convertor. Convert a vector PDF into a CAD file instantly. No tracing, no CAD package, just click on a part and extract it into your quote.
- Tube quoting. Easily drag and drop rectangular, square or round hollow sections into the tube module. It quickly calculates highly accurate cutting time and material consumption for pricing.
- Web Store. Let your customers get instant pricing and place orders from your website 24/7 with an online quoting portal.
- Secondary processes. Get accurate and consistent folding prices quickly using the built-in folding algorithm developed by specialists with decades of experience using brake presses.
- Drawing Doctor®. Upon upload of a 2D DXF or DWG file, Drawing Doctor® automatically corrects for double lines, dimensions, and small end points that are hidden in some drawings.
- Part Library. Part Library allows you to save parts that you’ve produced for a customer for re-use. Saves time on repeat orders and quotes, by dropping an existing part straight into the quote, ready to calculate, based on the latest pricing.
“These are just a few of our most popular features, but there are lots more within Tempus Tools, and our development team is constantly listening for customer feedback to determine what new features can be added,” says Mark.
“So for effortless laser cutting quoting, don’t let software hold you back, let it be the catalyst that drives business growth. We offer an obligation-free trial of Tempus Tools so that laser cutting job shops can see the difference for themselves.”
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