Although the application range of laser cutting machines is relatively wide, it does not mean that all materials are suitable. There are also many materials on the market that cannot be cut by laser cutting machines. Next, we will analyze which materials cannot be cut by laser cutting machines.
1.PVC (polyvinyl chloride)/vinyl/artificial leather/artificial leather
Do not cut this material as it will damage optics, cause machine corrosion of metals, release chlorine, and damage motion control systems.
2. Thick (>1mm) polycarbonate/Lexan
Polycarbonate is generally a flat, sheet-like material. The window of the laser cutter is made of polycarbonate because polycarbonate strongly absorbs infrared radiation! This is the frequency of light that the laser cutter uses to cut the material, so it is very ineffective at cutting polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a poor choice for laser cutting. It produces long plumes of soot that float in the air, damage optics, and confuse machinery.
3. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
ABS does not cut well on a laser cutter. It tends to melt rather than evaporate, and has a higher chance of catching fire and leaving a melted sticky deposit on the vector cut mesh. It also doesn’t carve very well (again, melts easily). Cutting ABS plastic releases hydrogen cyanide, which is unsafe at any concentration.
4.HDPE/plastic feeding bottle
it melts. It becomes sticky. It catches fire. Don’t use it.
5. Styrofoam
It catches fire fast, burns fast, and melts fast, leaving only thin shards. This is the first material to start a laser fire!!
6. Polypropylene foam
Like polystyrene, when it melts it catches fire, and the molten droplets continue to burn, turning into rock-hard droplets and pebbles.
7. Epoxy resin
Epoxy resin is an aliphatic resin with strongly cross-linked carbon chains. CO2 lasers can’t cut it, and the mess created by burning produces toxic gases (like cyanide!). Items that are epoxy coated or cast epoxy should not be used in laser cutters.
8. Fiberglass
This is a mix of two materials that cannot be sheared. Glass (etched, not cut) and epoxy (smoke), smells.
There are also some highly reflective materials, such as copper and other rare metal materials. Although this type of material can be cut by a fiber laser cutting machine, because these materials are not within the ideal absorption range of these materials for laser light, they will reflect Part of the energy burns out the protective lens, which also needs attention.
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