Here's some interesting FYI from the Facebook group "Van's Aircraft Builders":
Mike Adams
Top contributor
Disclaimer: I own a laser cutting business and I’m expanding to a second location. I do not subcontract for Vans, nor do I make aircraft production parts nor do I have any intention of getting into that space.
Some of the comments on the subject posted are beyond absurd concerning the the suitability of a laser cut part.
What I will say is it appears whoever they contracted the work to appears to be either very new to laser cutting, or has exceptionally low, sloppy workmanship and/or is using the wrong laser for the job.
It really goes beyond the scope of what concerns a builder other than there should be no compromise.
For those interested, fiber laser cutting is assisted with either air, N2, O2, or Argon.
The beam width fiber core varies and with the exception of a couple models cannot be adjusted.
The power of the generator varies.
The mode, single mode or multi mode depends on the fiber generator
The X, Y, Z motion system varies, (ball screw is more accurate than a rack drive)
The use of extra blow gas and lead in, lead out affects the final result.
From some of the photos I saw it appears the laser operator made most if not all the wrong choices.
Not all laser cuts are created equal.
I constructed most of a RV-4 airframe during the 90’s and have owned an Art Chard built -4 since 2006 (no it’s not for sale). I would have no issues building or buying a kit, or finished airplane with laser cut parts IF, the cutting parameters, laser power, beam width, assist gas, and parameters were set up correctly to produce uncompromised parts.
This was a QA fail.
The burn mark in the photo is a laser flash ricocheted off steel slats. Another example of poor work. The guy should be using new copper slats, with most of them removed to prevent flash back burn marks like that. I can’t stop shaking my head.
Another point, the fiber laser can defilm, then cut, leaving all the protective film outside the cut undisturbed, but that’s in the 201 class and the guy that did this work for Vans isn’t even up to 101.