MEAM.Design - Laser Cutting - List of Approved Materials and Cutting Parameters
The following materials are approved for cutting. If what you want to cut is not listed here, you must check with RPL staff before using the laser. Note that the settings listed as raster etch should provide a relatively light marking. To vary the depth/strength of the engraving, adjust the laser power or speed accordingly.
These settings are for the PLS 4.75 Lasers.
Note: Cutting of Fiberglass, Polypropylene, Polyethylene (sheet), Rubber, Polyvinylchloride (PVC), and any other chlorides are expressly forbidden. Again - if the material is not listed, you must check with staff before using the laser!
Plastics
| Material | Thickness | Power | Speed | PPI | Notes |
| ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) | 1/16" | 90 | 5.0 | 850 | Material Properties
ABS emits strong fumes, so it is a good idea to let the fumes vent before taking out your part. |
| 1/8" | 80 | 3.7 | 850 | ||
| 3/16" | 80 | 2.0 | 850 | ||
| 1/4" | 90 | 1.2 | 850 | ||
| 3/8" | 100 | 0.4 | 1000 | ||
| Acetal (Delrin®) | 0.045" | 80 | 16 | 750 | Material Properties
Acetal, commonly known by the trade name Delrin®, cuts fairly similarly to Acrylic. Extruded Acetal tends to warp due to the internal stresses formed during manufacturing. |
| 1/8" | 80 | 4.0 | 750 | ||
| 1/4" | 80 | 2.0 | 750 | ||
| Vector Etch | 10.0 | 10.0 | 750 | ||
| Raster Etch | 50 | 100 | 500 | ||
| Acrylic (Polymethyl Methacrylate, PMMA, Plexiglas®) | 1/16" | 80 | 6.0 | 750 | Material Properties
Acrylic is probably the ideal plastic for laser cutting. The edges are sharp and clean, and it can be cut relatively quickly. It is usually a good idea to leave the adhesive paper on the bottom side of the material, but especially when etching, you will want to remove the paper from the top surface. |
| 1/8" | 80 | 4.0 | 750 | ||
| 1/4" | 80 | 2.0 | 750 | ||
| 5/16" | 80 | 0.7 | 1000 | ||
| 1/2" | 80+ | 1.5 (2 passes) | 1000 | ||
| Vector Etch | 10 | 10 | 750 | ||
| Raster Etch | 50 | 100 | 500 | ||
| Mylar | |||||
| Nylon | |||||
| Perforated Plastic | 0.003" | 60 | 100 | 1000 | |
| PETG | 0.020" | 25 | 10 | 850 | |
| 3/32" | 60 | 2.0 | 850 | ||
| Polyester | 0.002" (film) | 50 | 20 | 1000 | |
| 1/8" (cloth) | 100 | 20 | 1000 | ||
| Polyethylene Foam (Nomafoam®) | 1/2" | 20 | 6.0 (2 passes) | 850 |
Thick sheets (1/2"+) can be cut in one pass with higher power and/or lower speed but will result in a greater taper at the cut. |
| Styrene | |||||
| Vinyl | Sign Vinyl - Kiss Cut | 50 | 10 | 500 | |
| Sign Vinyl - Raster Etch | 100 | 75 | 500 |
Wood-Based
| Material | Thickness | Power | Speed | PPI | Notes |
| Balsa | 3/32" | 25 | 15 | 850 | |
| 3/16" | 25 | 3.3 | 250 | ||
| Vector Etch | 80 | 11 | 500 | ||
| Cardboard | 2-ply | 40 | 3.0 | 1000 | These settings are for standard corrugated fiberboard, more commonly called "cardboard" |
| Vector Etch | 9 | 4.0 | 500 | ||
| Raster Etch | 28 | 20 | 250 | ||
| Foamcore | Top Layer Only | 23 | 3.2 | 200 | You only want to cut through the top layer of paper using the laser. If you try to cut all the way through, the foam near the cut will vaporize, leaving a relatively deep void area along the cut, and the bottom paper can ignite. |
| MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) | 1/16" | 85 | 6.0 | 800 | You'll see that the cut edge has a burnt appearance after cutting - this is normal.
A note on raster etching: The settings on the left are 1 of many variations in speed and power. Feel free to play with different settings for different effects. An example is that a higher speed and higher power will cut material away faster and not burn the MDF; conversely a lower speed and lower power will show a deeper burnt color. |
| 1/8" | 85 | 4.0 | 800 | ||
| 1/4" | 85 | 2.0 | 800 | ||
| Vector Etch | 10 | 10 | 800 | ||
| Raster Etch | 25 | 100 | 500 | ||
| Raster Etch (DARK) | 10 | 50 | 500 | ||
| Paper, Letter Size | 0.004" | 10 | 10 | 1000 | As you'd expect, paper is flammable, and care should be taken to avoid ignition! Paper will fly away from the internal fans unless you tape it down. |
| Vector Etch | 50 | 100 | 1000 | ||
| Raster Etch | 15 | 80 | 500 |
Metals
You must first obtain permission to etch metal.
| Material | Thickness | Power | Speed | PPI | Notes |
| Aluminum | Etch Only | 100 | 10-15 | 500 | Aluminum can only be etched on the lasers and must first be coated in LMM-6000 etching compound. The etch settings can vary depending on what finish you are looking for and may require some trial and error. |
| Brass | Etch Only | 100 | 5-10 | 500 | Brass can only be etched on the lasers and must first be coated in LMM-6000 etching compound. The etch settings can vary depending on what finish you are looking for and may require some trial and error. |
| Copper | Etch Only | 100 | 4-8 | 500 | Copper can only be etched on the lasers and must first be coated in LMM-6000 etching compound. The etch settings can vary depending on what finish you are looking for and may require some trial and error. |
| Stainless Steel | Etch Only | 100 | 25-30 | 500 | Steel can only be etched on the lasers and must first be coated in LMM-6000 etching compound. The etch settings can vary depending on what finish you are looking for and may require some trial and error. |
| Titanium | Etch Only | 100 | 40-50 | 500 | Titanium can only be etched on the lasers and must first be coated in LMM-6000 before cutting. The etch settings can vary depending on what finish you are looking for and may require some trial and error. |
Other
| Material | Thickness | Power | Speed | PPI | Notes |
| Carbon Fiber, 2x2 Twill Weave | 0.012" | 100 | 1.0 | 1000 | Carbon fiber should not be cut after applying epoxy resin. |
| Ceramic Cloth | 1/4" | 100 | 6.0 | 1000 | |
| Ceramic Fiber | 1/16" | 100 | 20 | 1000 | |
| Deer Skin - Tanned | cut | 75 | 6.0 | 800 | |
| EPDM | 1/16" | 80 | 4.0 | 850 | Good for gaskets and seals. |
| Felt | 3/64" | 25 | 15 | 1000 | |
| Gingerbread | 0.36" | 100 | 1.3 | 1000 | |
| Glass | Etch Only | ||||
| Leather | |||||
| Nylon Release Peel Ply | 0.005" | 95 | 100 | 1000 | |
| Silicone | 1/16" | 100 | 2.0 | 1000 | |
| Vegetable Fiber | 1/64" | 100 | 40 | 1000 | Values are for water-resistant vegetable fiber. McMaster #9453K103. |
| Neoprene/SBR Sealing Foam | 1/8" | 80 | 20 | 850 | McMaster material, good for static gaskets. |