Laser Cut Hdpe

Etching can be done on almost anything wood cardboard aluminum stainless steel plastic marble stone tile and glass.

Laser cut hdpe. Molten plastic on the surface each side of the cut can be a problem particularly if the air assist blows it around. Hdpe is similar to candle wax. The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood paper cork and some kinds of plastics. Hdpe is a huge mess to cut in anything thicker than about 1mm.

The laser can cut or etch. However due to the relatively low. It melts rather than vaporizing and it tends to hold enough heat that the parts fuse back together after the laser has passed by. Thin carbon fiber mat can be cut with some fraying but not when coated.

Consider masking tape but unless it sticks to the plastic really well then pull it all off again as loose tape encourages fire. Hdpe melts rather than cuts and i needed a lot of air assist to remove the melt then the final cut looked a bit like it had been cut with a plasma torch. From my experience hdpe machines beautifully with cnc but when it comes to laser cutting that s another story. Laser cutting of polyethylene.

Pe foam comes in a variety of thicknesses compressions and colors. Another effect is slightly darkened edges as a result of the laser beam. I chalked this up as a failure and decided hdpe and lasers are not good friends. As the focussed laser beam slices through the plastic the edge re solidifies immediately after being vaporised and often a glassy edge is the final result.

Cutting of polyethylene can be performed with a co 2 laser to produce a clean non discolored cut with a slight raised edge near the point of ablation. Polyethylene does not readily absorb the energy of a 1 06 micron fiber laser. It loves to burn so watch out. You could have a hdpe cutting board in your kitchen.

Laser engraving and laser marking of polyethylene are possible using a co 2 laser. High density polyethylene hdpe is a versatile fda and usda approved food grade plastic. All plastics cut with a smooth clean and burr free edge. In particular acrylic is ideally suited to laser cutting.

Like most thermoplastics the heat generated while you are cutting it will cause the plastic to melt and fuse together behind. It can be efficiently cut by laser but it recedes slightly during the cut kerf is relatively wide. Safe materials the laser can cut or etch.