Learn more. But even this tends to result in patches of discolouration. First, ablative laser cutting can be used to make partial cuts in a material, whereas laser fusion cutting can only be used to cut all the way through it. Did you already work with these materials? POM. These properties make it a good substitute to wood to produce parts with a soft surface aspect, lightweight and resistant. Also, you can make thinner parts with Water jet cutting, but with a laser, you have the possibility to drill, engrave, ablate or weld. Acrylic is ranked first when it comes to the quantities that is laser cut. Laser Power – Must be selected based on the processes that will be performed. I've read a few articles about the materials that can be laser cut, there are some really interesting materials that I didn't know about! Plastic, which at its core is a synthetic or semi-synthetic material, is heated to a high temperature by a high-powered beam of light particles (the laser). You can choose from 17 different colors and 4 different thicknesses. POM is a highly utilised plastic in the engineering sector, finding usage in gears, guiding and sliding elements, medical instruments, food packaging, etc. Because the type of plastic varies, the wavelength needed for the laser will vary as well. Etching can be done on almost anything, wood, cardboard, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, marble, stone, tile, … There are other problems as well. Also, the cutter must have a cooling system. All of them also leave a great finish when laser cut. Immediate pricing and short lead times all over the UK. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. 2.1. Our available materials (MDF, Plywood, PMMA, Cardboard); Other material possibilities: metal, foam, paper, textile; And which materials you cannot use for Laser cutting. Usually, the laser beam is hot enough to make the material vaporise. I cut it with the plastic sheeting on, which may have burned into the cut discoloring it. Each of them can be declined, in different types, colors, and thicknesses, amounting altogether to more than 60 materials options. Plastics. Quick, clean, accurate and adaptable, laser cutting plastics is the preferred method for many businesses across a wide range of industries. Thin (under 1 mm) polycarbonate is okay to cut. It’s easy and economical to produce, and light to convey. But aside from that, tube laser cutting can also tackle a wide range of profiles, from square tubes to open channels. Laser Marking Has a Bright Future in Plastics; Can Lasers Make the Cut For Trimming Complex Parts? With a Fiber laser, you can mark many different commercially used plastics, such as polycarbonate, ABS and polyamide with a … The two main metal material you can use with laser-cutting are: Using Foam for laser-cutting is especially suitable for suitcase inserts, padding or seals. Laser cutting is so popular largely because of its versatility. To start 3D printing or Laser Cutting, you'll need to create an account here. The ability to perform complex cuts with lasers definitely contributes to POM’s variety of use-cases. Laser Cutting Polymers. Polycarbonate absorbs infrared radiation which lasers use to cut materials. Lasers can be used for more things than you think. Therefore, PVC cutting should be left for mechanical methods instead. But fire should be enough to stop you from trying to either use laser marking or cutting those materials. Not yet available at Sculpteo, but possible to laser cut, you can use other kinds of plywood such as Red oak, Cherry, Holly; and other types of wood: Balsa, Birch…. With a CO 2 laser, you can also engrave and cut plastics precisely and efficiently for a variety of applications. PMMA is an amazing material to work with because it is both transparent as glass but resistant as plastic. Fig. At present, a wide number of industries…. Well, Plywood consists of several sheets of wood, glued one on top of another, alternating the wood grain on adjacent layers. Using our service you will be able to choose between two different kinds of plywood and thicknesses. Fiberglass is a mix of two materials – glass and epoxy resin. For most laser cutting purposes you just want to know if you can cut the piece you have in hand, and the important bit is whether the material contains chlorine. All industrial sectors that need to process these different materials can thus use the laser CO2 for a faster, smoother, and more precise cutting process. While there was no penetration, it appears that slower cuts or thinner stock would work. Cutting polyvinyl chloride results in the emission of acids and toxic fumes. Two-tone acrylic, which means that the core material color is different from the top one. Lasers can cut a wide variety of plastics of varying thickness to just about any shape. This means that even filigree details can be cut, and breakages and waste are kept to … The cuts that went deepest did not seem to re-weld, and so this might be a good candidate for laser cutting if you need a clear plastic that is stronger than acrylic. It is recycled, recyclable and biodegradable. You can even make name badges and tags, business gifts and custom promotional products by laser cutting plastic. The laser cutter has the ability to accurately cut or etch numerous materials such as wood, paper, cork, and some kinds of plastics. If you desire to make parts in paper with laser-cutting we can offer you 3 differents cardboard choices and 4 different thicknesses. OTHER PLASTICS Thickness: Various. For example, using a fiber laser can produce different effects than a CO 2 laser machine, and you can easily create permanent, high-quality marks on many different plastics such as polycarbonate, ABS, polyamide, and many others. It varies based on the power of the laser as well as the expertise of the machine operator. 40 to 50 Watts (Fiber laser) is best for plastic laser marking. Other kinds of plastic are also possible to Laser cut: Whether you need an original business card or communication tools, laser-cutting cardboard can provide you a quick, affordable and unusual way to create astonishing marketing material. Plastics can be marked or engraved with lasers in a variety of ways. We offer 4 main materials for laser cutting: plywood, MDF, acrylic, and cardboard. YAG lasers are primarily used for cutting and scribing metals and ceramics. Add a fume-inducing resin into the mix and you should stop right there. Another plastic laser cutters can cut. These are harmful to both the operator of the machine but also the laser cutter itself as they can be a source of corrosion. Laser cutting plastic Acrylic (also known as Plexiglas, Lucite, PMMA) PMMA is an amazing material to work with because it is both transparent as glass but resistant as plastic. In this article, we’ll give you a short tour of our materials, and the other options that laser cutting offers. POM is a highly utilised plastic in the engineering sector, finding usage in … The maximum thickness, however, depends on the laser cutting service. Laser cutters can cut a wide variety of materials – anything from paper, wood, cork, acrylic and foam to different types of metals. In 2019, its global production reached over 52 million tons. The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood, paper, cork, and some kinds of plastics. The plastics that can be cut on a laser cutting machine vary depending on the company machining. It is the process of using a laser beam to mark or engrave on a…, What is Stainless Steel? Made from wood fiber, cardboard is also especially ecological. An interesting twist of physics is that what appears transparent to visible light is not necessarily transparent to infrared light. Leather, Glass, Wood and Foam are some of the less common materials that can be cut with lasers. Plastics. More reflective metals like aluminium are more difficult to cut. Have you ever worked with another kind of materials? Fusion cutting. Although it seems like lasers can cut pretty much anything, there are some limitations. Almost anything, from jewelry, wedding decorations and electronics enclosures to robots, signs and more. However there are some plastics not suitable for laser cutting as the fumes kill our operators! Not only can lasers easily cut fiber-reinforced plastics, they can also mark and perforate them. 3—Vector scanning with computer-controlled galvanometers moves the laser beam for direct marking or machining of parts. Order your sheet metal fabrication online. The majority of thermoplastic polymers are cut by fusion of the material , , , . Figure 1: These plastic key chains were cut with a Co2 laser, welded with a diode laser, and marked on the back with a uv neodymium: solid-state laser. All of them also leave a great finish when laser cut. Still, there are some materials that would seemingly fit well into this list but should never be cut using a laser cutter. CO₂ laser systems are an excellent tool for cutting and engraving numerous plastics with top precision. Sizes: Any size up to 1000mm x 600mm. In case of thicker material, laser cutting should not be used. Etching can be done on almost anything, wood, cardboard, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, marble, stone, tile, and glass. Acrylic. By browsing our website, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. By clicking Create Account, I agree to the Terms of Services and Privacy Policy. Laser cutting offers a range of possibilities which, even if they’re not part of our materials options for now, are worth mentioning. Feel free to share with us your experience we will be pleased to learn more about your projects! Plastics can be marked or engraved with laser marking machines in many ways. Suitable for laser marking and cutting, our team produce an impressively clean and precise finish on a wide range of polycarbonate products thanks to the cutting-edge technology we use. 3 differents cardboard choices and 4 different thicknesses. The bulk of the materials you should not try to cut are different plastics. They can also be used to weld and cut plastics and cut and engrave organic materials such as wood, leather, rubber and cardboard. 25 to 150 Watts (CO 2 laser) is best for plastic laser cutting and plastic laser engraving. Acrylic, PMMA and Lucite are all see-through plastics. Cutting However, laser cutters can cut glass. You can cut the precise shape of the object you need to protect and create a housing made-to-measure. At Sculpteo, we offer translucent PMMA but also more opaque colors to provide you with a wide range of possibilities. It tends to melt, leaving a messy working table and a cut with a quality that does not really satisfy anybody. Polymethylmethacrylate and other acrylic plastics. Leather, fabric, wallpaper and similar products. At Sculpteo, we offer translucent PMMA but also more opaque colors to provide you with a wide range of possibilities. Most metals. Textile is one of the latest material used with laser cutting, but the results are already astonishing. It is possible to classify plastic materials according to which of these three processes prevails when they are cut. Still, the range of fabric you can use is limited at the moment. Because fiber laser cutting machine is belong to hot-processed. Any material containing chlorine as ; PVC , Vinyl. The contactless cutting enables you to create flexible contours and filigree details. Thus, it is not wood from the block but this structure gets a great mechanical resistance (for structures, buildings), flexibility (furniture), aesthetic beauty, water resistance, and lightness. All polymers can be cut by means of a combination of three processes: fusion, vaporization and chemical degradation , . Laser Cutting Plastics Plastics, particularly Acrylic, cut really well with a laser. Silicone will have different needs than acrylic, for example. Compared to machining with sawing or milling machines, workpieces do not need to be clamped. Ask us if … You can read the last paragraph as HDPE reacts to lasers in a similar way to ABS. With our laser-cutting service, you can make wood parts in MDF with 7 colors options and 4 thickness options from 3 to 10 mm. As previously stated, once acrylic has been laser cut, it will produce a fine, polished edge. Should you buy a 3d printer or use a 3d printing service, How to Choose Between 3D Printing Services. Secondly, the fiber laser cutting machine cannot cut the MDF, which mainly include fiberboard, wood fiber, and plant fiber, and some materials are made of urea-formaldehyde resin and artificial board made of adhesive. The thickness of the metal can be anywhere up to 30 mm. The inefficient cutting can turn into a nightmare as the material may discolour badly but also begin to burn. However, cardboard has a low resistance to humidity and fire, unless it receives a specific treatment. PVC cutting should be left for mechanical methods. A key factor in determining if a material can be cut is the level of the absorption of the material to 1µm Laser light. Not yet available at Sculpteo, but possible to laser cut, you can use other kinds of plywood such as Red oak, Cherry, Holly; and other types of wood: Balsa, Birch… 2. Different types of wood, including plywood and MDF, are suitable for cutting. So let’s further explore the possibilities. We all know from watching Bond films that they can cut; they can also engrave, mark, weld, harden and even 3D print metals. Subscribe and receive news about Sculpteo and 3D printing every week. Once done, you'll be able to upload your files and get live quotes of yours parts, Posted By Nicolas Sadeghi on Jul 20, 2016 |. Not with ABS, though. Acrylic, PMMA and Lucite are all see-through plastics. That’s exactly how the popular intricate wedding invitations are made. Polymers are ideal for laser processing; they respond extremely well in the ultra violet range of the light spectrum. Laser cutting glass is a seemingly impossible task because of the fragile and reflective properties of it. Remember, we are talking only about materials here. Some of them need extra attention when cutting. Easy to work with, it can be cut, folded and allows different types of assembly (glue, staples, etc.). Laser cutting is an amazing technology to use with wood materials because it allows you to give flexibility to a rigid material and get a precise cut. Laser micromachining is based on photodecomposition of the material—it is clean, non-contact without heat affected zones or … What is the difference between wood and Plywood? Laser cutters can cut all types of metals, from mild steel to stainless and also non-ferrous metals. What can you make by laser cutting plastic? Which plastics can be laser cut? Properties and Applications, The demand for stainless steel is increasing at a whopping 5% each year. Fractory Ltd, Barclays Eagle Lab, Union, Albert Square, Manchester M2 6LW, Laser Marking - Methods, Materials and Applications, Lasers are suitable for performing a variety of operations. The Panels are then formed by applying high temperature and pressure to create aesthetic light beige panels with a fine texture. Yes, also suitable for laser cutting. This material is Isotropic, inexpensive, resistant, light, and compares to real wood. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our website, to show you personalized content and targeted ads, to analyze our website traffic, and to understand where our visitors are coming from. Allowing the possibility to create a digital embroidery, the technology is time and money saving compares to the traditional means of production. You should, however, be aware of oils or resin, as they pose a threat of catching fire. At first, it might be surprising because metal is one of the most used material in laser-cutting. Cookies help us deliver our services. With a fiber laser, laser marking plastic, such as polycarbonate, polyamide, and many more with a permanent, quick, high-quality finish is possible. The edges are melted in a way that they seem polished. The reflectiveness of glass poses requirements to the power of your laser cutting equipment. The below table details which plastics can be laser marked and / or cut. In addition to the power source, the type of gas flow can affect performance as well. The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood, paper, cork, and some kinds of plastics. Plastics can be marked or engraved with laser marking machines in a variety of ways. Cutting fiber-reinforced plastics with a water jet often results in the coating coming off, meaning that fibers and synthetic resin separate. Applications. Notes: Available in almost any colour imaginable, we can cut most plastics including; ABS, Styrene & Polypropylene but we cannot cut any PVC due to the toxic chlorine content. Water jet cutting vs. laser cutting. With a fiber laser, you can mark many different commercially used plastics, such as polycarbonate, ABS, polyamide, and many more with a permanent, quick, high-quality finish. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, ABS for short, is a thermoplastic that can be excellently processed with laser. The main differences between the two processes are the technology used (laser or water jet) and the precision and finish. 2 lasers are used for industrial cutting of many materials including titanium, stainless steel, mild steel, aluminium, plastic, wood, engineered wood, wax, fabrics, and paper. Partly because it gives extremely good result, partly because acrylic is used in so many areas. Getting an instant online price quote for laser cutting and laser engraving plastic is easy. Nevertheless to use it, it is imperative to get a thin sheet. If you have any trouble logging in to your account, contact us. Lens – A 2.0 lens is the best general process lens for … The edges are melted in a way that they seem polished. The laser can cut or etch. For instance, a part cut with CO2 laser will have a risk to be deformed, while there is no thermal stress with water-jetting. This mostly depends on the extraction available for this machine as some plastics give off toxic fumes when laser cut. Food and plants. Polycarbonate (PC, Lexan) You can try to use this material with laser cutting but be aware that the fumes are really noxious. In those instances, fibre lasers are the better option. *We do not disclose your email address to third parties and we will not send you unsolicited email. For metals, laser-cutting is often compared to Water-jetting technology. Yes, also suitable for laser cutting. Because a laser machine requires minimal set-up and provides … Thus, the majority of thick metal are unsuitable for laser cutting. Laser etching can produce great results on almost any organic material. One of the biggest advantages of laser cutting is the ability to cut a wide range of materials. Trotec Laser Cutting & Laser Engraving Machines. Gateway Laser Services uses several types of laser technology for laser micromachining plastics, thin films and multi-layered materials. Stop wasting time on admin! Thanks to the low set-up times and flexibility a marking laser offers, you can mark even small batch sizes economically. The main materials shops will process will include wood, cardboard, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, tile, marble, anodized aluminum, stone, and glass. That’s exactly how the popular intricate wedding invitations are made. If you visit our materials page, you’ll find specific design guidelines. The Pulsed Fiber Laser can also be used to cut a wide range of non metallic materials such as plastics and even rubbers. You can definitely cut clear plastics on a laser. Only then can the machine operator have full control over the direction of the fracture at every step, resulting in a good finish. As we already know, cutting glass on its own is difficult. What advantages does cutting fiber-reinforced plastics with a laser have, compared to alternative methods? Among the long list of wood you can laser-cut the most used are MDF and Plywood: Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is an engineered wood product made with wood, wax and resin binder. Laser marking is one of them. At the same time, you should be aware of the properties of each material. Another plastic laser cutters can cut. Glass, it can be engraved with laser, but not cut. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) thicker than 1/16. There are a number of plastics that can be laser cut, although each will require individual treatment based on their unique properties. You can … Both catch fire very easily. Ultra-high precision and contactless cutting makes CO 2 laser systems an optimum tool for plastic processing. Thermoplastics (melting) use toxic liquid plasticizers to help them melt easier and give off lots of fumes as these plasticizers vaporize. Here is a quick run-through of the most commonly treated plastics. Non metallic materials such as plastics and even rubbers or use a 3D printer or a. Already know, cutting glass on its own is difficult varies, the laser will as! Cutting, but not cut poses requirements to the power source, the range of fabric you choose! Square tubes to open channels worked with another kind of materials this article, we ’ ll give you short... The absorption of the light spectrum make it a good finish printing Services laser light an! Marking or cutting those materials the plastic sheeting on, which may have burned into the mix you! Less common materials that the laser can also engrave and cut plastics and! 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But the results are already astonishing is stainless steel is increasing at a whopping %.