Choosing Materials to Laser-cut
The laser cutter can cut or etch a wide variety of materials. However some are not possible to cut with our current set-up, and other materials are dangerous - they release fumes that damage humans or the laser cutter itself. There are some materials that cannot be cut, only etched.
You are responsible for knowing exactly what your material is before you try to cut it. DO NOT cut any of the banned materials. You are liable for expensive damage to the machine or worse - you may release toxic fumes that could easily harm or kill!.
DO NOT CUT
- Materials that contain a high proportion of glue (such as particle board)
- Plastics (or any other materials) that contain chlorine (such as all varieties of vinyl like PVC).media:LaserProcessingGuide_Plastics.pdf A trace amount of chlorine, such as found in the glue in thin plywood or the resin of medium density fiberboard, is acceptable. Particle board has too much glue. You are responsible to know whether there is chlorine in your material before you try to cut it.
- "Plexiglass" - please be sure that it is acrylic and not polycarbonate. Look along the cut edge of the material, from the side. Polycarbonate is dark on this area; acrylic is light. Polycarbonate is one of the most dangerous materials you could try to laser. It instantly starts producing yellow, acrid, toxic fumes which will corrode your lungs, and the mechanisms and lens of the laser. When the lens clouds up with these fumes, it may reflect the laser back into the machine, which may melt the head and set the machine on fire. You may not be able to reach the fire extinguisher due to what is in your lungs. Both these outcomes will upset the community.
- PTFE (Teflon) will release Fluorine gas, which when inhaled by humans causes flu-like symptoms, and when mixed with hydrogen (in the atmosphere) will create hydrofluoric acid. This is corrosive and will fog up the optics of the laser.
Most dense materials can normally be cut up to about thicknesses of 3/8 to 1/2 inch in a single, slow pass. Some thicker materials can be with multiple passes. The thickest that can be practically cut through is about 1 inch (or 25 millimeters), since the focal point of the laser is just a little more than half an inch below the nozzle. You will have to get creative to cut anything thicker, such as cutting half way through, flipping the object over, and perfectly realigning it to cut from the other side.
| Material | Cut? | Etch? | Mark? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABS Plastic |
BANNED |
BANNED |
BANNED |
Warps. Decay products contain a wide range of toxins, including: cyanide, đˇ methyl styrene, phenol, phenyl cyclohexane, and benzene derivatives |
| Acrylic (Plexiglas, PMMA) | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
for cutting 2mm (300 speed, 100 power, corner 50) |
| Basswood 3/16" | Yes | Yes | Yes | cut 30, corner 20, speed 120 |
| Carbon fiber (uncoated) |
Yes |
Yes |
Not recommended |
Coated carbon fiber may contain epoxy resin (which see) |
| Ceramic | No |
Yes |
Yes | |
| Cloth (see comments) |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
See specific material, as some may be unsuitable (NPI) |
| Chipboard |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
for cutting 1-ply (120 speed, 100 power, corner 50) for scoring 1-ply (160 speed, 30 power, 20 corner) |
| Cork |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Delrin (acetyl) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Not recommended due to toxic gases. Will melt and resolidify, so prompt removal is recommended. |
| Epoxy |
BANNED |
BANNED |
BANNED |
Gas byproducts are highly toxic |
| Fiberglass |
BANNED |
BANNED |
BANNED |
|
| Glass | No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| HDPE (high density polyethylene) |
Yes |
Yes |
Not recommended |
Makes a big gooey mess |
| Human flesh | BANNED |
BANNED |
BANNED |
(yes, this has come up ) |
| Kapton (polyimide) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Some carbonization at the cut edges |
| Leather |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
ONLY natural leather; no synthetics! (see vinyl and PVC) |
| Marble | No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Masonite | See Tempered Hardboard | |||
| Matte Board | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| MDF | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Speed 10, Power 100, Corner Power 50 to cut 1/4" material |
| Melamine | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Metals |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Very thin (>0.02 inch) steel can be cut at speed 1-2, power 100, 40 psi shop air assist |
| Metals - Painted |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
See Metals. |
| Model Foam |
Yes |
Yes |
Maybe |
(expanded polystyrene) |
| Mylar |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
| Nitrile (NBR) |
Not recommended |
Yes |
Not recommended |
|
| Nylon (polyamide) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Fabric edges melt, reducing fraying |
| Particle board |
BANNED |
BANNED |
BANNED |
Not the same as MDF. Glue may produce toxic byproducts. |
| Paper |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Speed 400, Power 30, Corner Power 16 to cut bristol board with high resolution (small kerf) Speed 200, Power 30, Corner Power 16 to cut bristol board with low resolution-across long edges |
| PLA (PolyLactic Acid) |
Yes |
Yes |
Not recommended |
Like Delrin, may melt and resolidify, so remove promptly. Watch for green flame color on a test piece due to pigment or additives. If present, stop and avoid that color. |
| Plywood |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
We've even recently had success with 3/4" birch plywood at speed 2.5, power 100, 20 PSI. though better luck might be had with lower power, higher speed, and several passes. |
| Polycarbonate (Lexan, Plexi, etc.) |
BANNED |
BANNED |
BANNED |
Does not cut well, with discoloration and charring. Produces toxic fumes and a strong, unpleasant odor. |
| Polyester (resin) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Polypropylene | Yes | Probably? | Not sure | |
| Polystyrene sheet | Yes | Yes | No | Also known as Styrene, and used in the Vacuum Former. The 0.03" sheets cut easily at speed 50, power 100, corner power 60. |
| PTFE (Teflon) |
BANNED |
BANNED |
BANNED |
Cuts well, but can produce fluorine gas |
| PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) |
BANNED |
BANNED |
BANNED |
see above |
| Records (aka 'Vinyl' aka PVC) |
BANNED |
BANNED |
BANNED |
see vinyl, below |
| Rubber (non-chlorine containing) |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Make sure it does not contain chlorine |
| Tempered hardboard |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Tile |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Vinyl or PVC of any kind |
BANNED |
BANNED |
BANNED |
Produces chlorine gas which is poisonous and corrosive to the machine |
| Wood, veneer |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Wood, natural |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Wood, Plywood, Birch - 1/8" thick |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Cut - 40 (First pass, minimal char, some stray strands.) |
| Anything not in this list |
BANNED |
BANNED |
BANNED |
If you think it's safe, ask the zone coordinator for approval. |
External references on laserable materials
- Cutting vinyl: bad idea!
- Cutting PVC, Lexan, polycarbonates: bad idea!
- List of what can and cannot be cut, and some notes about each.
- How to identify polymers in your material through burnination.
- Laser Cutter Materials from ATX Hackerspace
- Bad materials for laser cutting
- Common laser cutting materials
- Best plastics for laser cutting
