CNC Metal Cutting in Fort Myers: Aluminum, Brass & Copper

Tidemark started in wood — carved signs, hand-torched pine, epoxy inlay. But the same CNC precision that cuts a family name into a plank cuts metal just as cleanly. We now cut soft metals — aluminum, brass, and copper up to 1/2 inch thick — in our Fort Myers studio. This is a plain-English guide to what CNC metal cutting is, what it's good for, and how to commission a piece.

What is CNC metal cutting?

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. A design is drawn in software, then a computer-guided cutting tool follows that design exactly — the same path, the same depth, every single time. On a CNC router, a spinning bit removes material to cut shapes, letters, and patterns out of a sheet of metal.

The advantage over cutting by hand is precision and repeatability. A CNC cut holds a crisp edge on a letter, keeps every hexagon in a honeycomb pattern identical, and can reproduce the same emblem a hundred times without drift. What comes off the machine is clean, sharp, and consistent — then we finish it by hand.

Which metals can be CNC cut?

Not every metal belongs on a CNC router. The metals that cut cleanly are soft, non-ferrous metals — they machine smoothly, hold fine detail, and don't destroy tooling. Tidemark cuts three:

Aluminum

Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and weather-proof — which matters in Southwest Florida. Aluminum is ideal for outdoor letters, house numbers, business plaques, boat and dock signage, and anything that has to live in the sun and salt air without rusting.

Brass

Warm, golden, and timeless. Brass is our signature soft metal. It's the natural choice for monograms, emblems, decorative panels, address markers, and inlay pieces. Brass takes a polish beautifully and develops a rich character as it ages.

Copper

Copper starts bright and warm, then develops a living patina over time — the same blue-green character you see on weathered rooftops and statues. That aging is a feature, not a flaw. Copper is perfect for accent art, backsplashes, custom hardware, and one-of-one decorative cuts.

How thick of metal can we cut?

Tidemark cuts aluminum, brass, and copper up to approximately 1/2 inch (0.5 in) thick. As a rule of thumb: thicker stock works for bold, simple shapes, and thinner stock is better for intricate detail — fine lettering, filigree, tight interior corners. If you're not sure what thickness your project needs, send us the design and we'll tell you.

What is CNC-cut metal used for?

Once you can cut clean shapes out of metal, the uses are wide open. The most common commissions we see:

• Custom letters & house numbers — dimensional metal address markers and monogram letters.
• Business plaques & logos — a brand mark cut in brass reads as permanent and premium.
• Monograms & emblems — family crests, initials, military and first-responder insignia.
• Decorative panels & screens — geometric patterns like honeycomb, lattice, and custom fretwork.
• Custom hardware & accents — drawer pulls, brackets, trim details.
• Inlay art — metal shapes set into wood, resin, or polished concrete floors.

Cut clean, finished by hand

The CNC does the precision. The character comes from the hand-work afterward — deburring every edge, polishing brass to a shine or letting copper breathe toward patina, sealing where a piece needs protection. A cut piece straight off the machine is accurate. A finished piece is what you actually want on a wall, a door, or a floor.

How much does custom CNC metal cutting cost?

Every piece is priced per commission. The cost depends on five things: the metal, the thickness, the overall size, how intricate the cut is, and the finishing. A simple aluminum house number is a small job; a large brass decorative panel with fine detail is a bigger one.

The fastest way to get a real number: send us a design or a reference image plus the dimensions you have in mind. We usually respond with a quote within two business days.

---

Common questions about CNC metal cutting

Soft, non-ferrous metals — aluminum, brass, and copper — cut cleanly on a CNC router. Tidemark cuts these up to about 1/2 inch thick. Hard ferrous metals like steel are not cut on a wood-and-soft-metal CNC.

Aluminum, brass, and copper up to approximately 1/2 inch (0.5 in). Thicker stock is possible for simpler shapes; fine detail is best in thinner stock.

Custom letters and house numbers, business plaques and logos, monograms and emblems, decorative panels and screens, custom hardware, accent art, and inlay pieces set into wood, resin, or polished concrete.

It's priced per commission based on metal, thickness, size, cut complexity, and finishing. Send a design and dimensions for a quote, usually within two business days.

Tidemark Creative Co. is a Fort Myers studio that cuts and hand-finishes custom soft-metal pieces in aluminum, brass, and copper. Local pickup across Southwest Florida; finished pieces ship nationwide.