Wood is a reliable and sustainable option. What materials should not be cut with a laser cutter? If we increase our power, we can also increase our cutting speed without fear of not cutting through all the way. So in this post, we’re running through all the options available to you, as well as those worth avoiding. It is fairly easy to work with and it can be useful in many different projects. Polycarbonate is a poor choice for laser cutting. By directing a constant stream of compressed air at the point where the laser meets the material, flaming, scorching and charring is reduced on materials such as wood, acrylic and rubber. Laser fusion cutting involves melting material in a column and using a high-pressure stream of gas to shear the molten material away, leaving an open cut kerf. Paper is an excellent material to cut, score, and engrave with a CNC laser cutter engraver. Wood will not damage the laser cutter in the way other materials that are not approved can. A CNC laser cutter can work on a wide range of materials. Power is how powerfully the laser fires regardless of speed. Before you attempt to laser cut any material, you need to know exactly what it is and how it will react to a laser. Mistake 1: Engraving Fabric but the Laser Burns through the Material. ABS Emits cyanide gas and tends to melt ABS does not cut well in a laser cutter. The first step in avoiding burning fabric with a laser engraving/cutting machine is to understand which fabrics can withstand the process and at what temperatures. Some of the materials that CNC laser cutters can cut are anything from wood, acrylic, cork, paper, and foam to different types of metals. Cutting out intricate geometric shapes in a reasonable time is possible due to the thin and soft nature of paper. Some materials, when heated, vaporize into gases that are highly toxic to humans or highly corrosive to the components of the machine. Compressed air (up to 4 bar / 58.02 psi) is used in most laser cutting applications to remove heat and combustible gases from the top material surface. There are plenty of materials that can be cut with a laser cutter , and plenty that cannot be. Why are these materials unsuitable for laser engraving and cutting? FOr this chapter, we will identify materials that should NEVER be cut with a laser. If the aforementioned materials are laser engraved or laser cut, dusts or gases may be produced that endanger the laser user or the functionality of the laser machine. For this reason, we do not recommend using these materials. This material is a very popular choice for laser cutting and is used often. INFORMATION A laser cutter is a cutting device which focuses a high energy laser beam onto a material resulting in a high quality and dimensionally accurate cut. The more power, the darker and deeper your engravings will be and the thicker the materials we'll be able to cut through. 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