Difference between revisions of "LASER Cutter Materials"

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#REDIRECT [[Laser_Cutter#Materials]]
== '''NEVER CUT THESE MATERIALS''' ==
 
 
 
'''WARNING:''' Because many plastics are dangerous to cut, it is important to know what kind you are planning to use.
 
 
 
* ''...put image here of yellow material...''
 
* Detailed information to test unknown material testing
 
** [http://makezine.com/2011/09/22/identifying-unknown-plastics/ Identifying Unknown Plastics]
 
** Watch this video  [https://vimeo.com/1615418 Polymer Identification by Burnination]
 
*** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beilstein_test Beilstein test]
 
** You should read this (pdf) chemistry lab written by [David A. Katz] to learn [http://www.chymist.com/Polymer%20Identification.pdf how to identify what type of plastic it is]
 
** ...and read this on [http://www.nclark.net/Density_Column.pdf Density Column Using Recyclable Plastics]
 
 
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
|-
 
! Name !! DANGER !! WARNING
 
|-
 
| ABS || Emits cyanide gas and tends to melt || ABS does not cut well in a laser cutter. It tends to melt rather than vaporize, and has a higher chance of catching on fire and leaving behind melted gooey deposits on the vector cutting grid. It also does not engrave well (again, tends to melt).
 
|-
 
| Coated Carbon Fiber || Emits noxious fumes || A mix of two materials. Thin carbon fiber mat can be cut, with some fraying - but not when coated
 
|-
 
| Fiberglass || Emits fumes || It's a mix of two materials that cant' be cut. Glass (etch, no cut) and epoxy resin (fumes) 
 
|-
 
| Ceramic ||  || 
 
|-
 
| Ceramic ||  || 
 
|-
 
| Ceramic ||  || 
 
|-
 
| Ceramic ||  || 
 
|-
 
| Ceramic ||  || 
 
|-
 
| Ceramic ||  || 
 
|}
 
 
 
== '''Approved Materials''' ==
 
 
 
''' Organics and Plastics '''
 
If your material is not on the list, check with Mike
 
 
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
|-
 
! Name !! Engrave !! Cut !! Max thickness !! Notes !! WARNING
 
|-
 
| Acrylic (aka Lucite, Plexiglas, PMMA) || x || x || 1/2" || Cuts well, leaves a smooth polished edge. Higher powers can leave smoke/scorch marks along edges. Some people remove paper/plastic protection sheets before cutting. ||
 
|-
 
| Cardboard, cartons || x || x || thicker || Cuts well, can catch fire || FIRE hazard!
 
|-
 
| Ceramic || x ||  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
| Cloth (cotton, felt, hemp) || x || x ||  || Cuts easily || NO plastic coated or impregnated cloth!
 
|-
 
| Corian || x || x ||  ||  || 
 
|-
 
| Cork || x || x || 1/4" || Cuts nicely, the quality of the cut depends on the thickness and quality of the cork. Engineered cork has a lot of glue in it, may not cut nicely. ||
 
|-
 
| Delrin || x || x || thin || Comes in a number of shore strengths (hardness), the harder tends to work better. Great for gears! ||
 
|-
 
| Fiberglass || x || x ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
| Glass || x ||  ||  || Has a sandblasted look, green glass works best ||
 
|-
 
| Leather, suede || x || x || 1/8" || Leather is very hard to cut, can be if thinner than a belt thickness ||
 
|-
 
| MDF, engineered woods || x || x || 1/4" || May experience a higher amount of charring when cut ||
 
|-
 
| Magnetic sheet || x || x ||  || Cuts easily ||
 
|-
 
| Marble || x ||  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
| Matte Board || x || x ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
| Melamine || x || x ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
| Mylar || x || x || 1/16" || Works well if it's thin. Thick mylar has a tendency to warp, bubble, and curl || Gold coated mylar will not work
 
|-
 
| Paper, card stock || x || x || thin ||  ||
 
|-
 
| Plywood, composite woods || x || x || 1/4" || Contain glue, and may not cut as well as solid wood ||
 
|-
 
| Pressboard || x || x ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
| NON-CHLORINE Rubber || x || x ||  ||  || Beware chlorine-containing rubber! If you're not sure, assume you've got chlorinated rubber, and don't cut it.
 
|-
 
| Tile || x ||  ||  ||  ||
 
|-
 
| Wood || x || x || 1/4" || Avoid oily/resinous woods || FIRE - Cutting oily woods, or very resinous woods can catch fire.
 
|-
 
| Wood Veneer || x || x || 1/4" || Contain glue, and may not cut as well as solid wood ||
 
|}
 
 
 
''' Metals '''
 
 
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
|-
 
! Name !! Engrave !! Cut !! Notes
 
|-
 
| Anodized Aluminum || x ||  || Vaporizes the anodized layer away
 
|-
 
| Bare Metals || x ||  ||
 
|-
 
| Brass || x ||  ||
 
|-
 
| Coated Metals || x ||  ||
 
|-
 
| Painted Metals || x ||  || Vaporizes the paint away
 
|-
 
| Stainless Steel || x ||  ||
 
|-
 
| Titanium || x ||  ||
 
|}
 
 
 
* CO2 lasers will engrave metals when coated with an added metal marking solution.
 
 
 
 
 
== '''Suppliers''' ==
 
 
 
''Under construction''
 

Latest revision as of 22:25, 21 December 2015