Laser cutting is so popular mainly because of its versatility. Laser cutters can cut materials from paper, wood, cork, acrylic, foam to all kinds of metal. When using a laser cutting machine, we should understand the characteristics of each material and pay more attention to the actual use process.
What materials can a laser cutting machine cut?
different metals
Laser cutters can cut all kinds of metals, from mild steel, stainless steel, to non-ferrous metals. Aluminum alloys and other reflective metals are more difficult to cut, and fiber lasers are a better choice at this point. Today, metal cutting thicknesses can even reach 100mm, depending on the power of the laser.
wood
Laser cutting can be used on all types of wood (including plywood and MDF), but some oily woods are a fire hazard and should be used with special care.
paper and cardboard
We can see some intricate and delicate laser-cut wedding invitations, most likely made by laser cutting.
plastic products
Both PMMA and Lucite’s acrylic are clear plastics. Using laser cutting guarantees a good edge finish that looks like cream cut with a knife.
POM
POM is a highly utilized plastic that can be used in the engineering field, utilizing the ability of lasers to make complex cuts for gears, guide and sliding elements, medical devices, food packaging, and more.
Glass
Laser cutting glass and reflecting, laser cutting glass seems like an impossible task. However, laser cutters can cut glass.
laser cutter
What can’t be cut?
It may seem that a laser can cut almost anything, but this is not the case, the material is not a cutting list, but various plastics.
PVC
PVC cutting emits sour and toxic fumes, which are harmful to both the machine operator and the laser cutter itself. Therefore, PVC cutting should use mechanical methods.
polycarbonate
Laser cutters can try polycarbonates under 1mm, but will cause discoloration of the material.
Laser cutting cannot be used. If the material is thick, it will not only be inefficient, but also cause serious fading of the material and cause burning.
HDPE ABS
In general, the laser is hot enough to vaporize the material, but it does not support ABS, HDPE, and other materials. It’s more prone to melting than evaporating, leaving a messy bench and inferior cuts.
Polystyrene and polypropylene foam
are easy to catch fire.
glass fiber
Fiberglass is a mixture of two materials – glass and epoxy. Glass alone is notoriously difficult to cut, and if adding resin to the mix would cause haze, it would be a nightmare.