The Shop > Composites & Plastics
Scratch Resistant & Laser Cuttable Plastic
awemawson:
Interesting facts there Phil, many thanks.
As usual I'm over thinking this, and trying to solve the general case not just this specific job. This job is merely a 93 mm square of 1.5 mm transparent material with 3 mm radiused corners. I can cut it on my guillotine and file the corners, or if I really want to waste time cut it out on the CNC mill. But I wanted to play with my new toy - a 60 watt Chinese laser engraver / cutter. It cuts acrylic nicely but I wanted something a bit better. I've made and fitted an acrylic window temporarily, cut on the laser, but the bit I had to hand was rather grotty and will need replacing.
I'll get a few Petg samples and have a play :thumbup:
John Stevenson:
Andrew,
I cut Lexan all the while on my little laser cutter.
OK fumes a bit but the extractor take it outside. If the brown edges are a problem they can be cleaned up with a hot air gun and fine nozzle.
awemawson:
John that's really useful to know. All the bits I've read on the web say don't as the fumes are acidic and ruin the machine. What sort of thickness's are you cutting? And what sort of speed of cut and power level are you using.
I keep meaning to make up a test file of a grid of squares of increasing speed in X and power in Y to test any new to me material easily. Another round tuit I suppose :scratch:
millwright:
Andrew, just remember to clean the lenses after every use . Don't let the lens get smoked up or the laser will actually burn a mark in the centre of it. The stronger the extraction at source the better to pull the smoke away before it rises up to the lens. I don't know if you have gone the carbon filter route with yours? Unless you got a good deal on replacement filters. I would suggest junking it for good strong extractor to vent outside preferably where fumes cant be pulled back inside the building. Also that makes it better for you cutting polycarbonate.
John
.
John Stevenson:
--- Quote from: awemawson on August 02, 2015, 03:11:00 PM ---John that's really useful to know. All the bits I've read on the web say don't as the fumes are acidic and ruin the machine. What sort of thickness's are you cutting? And what sort of speed of cut and power level are you using.
I keep meaning to make up a test file of a grid of squares of increasing speed in X and power in Y to test any new to me material easily. Another round tuit I suppose :scratch:
--- End quote ---
Been cutting 3mm and 5mm. the 5mm is at 100% power and speed was 8 if I remember right, 3mm can go at about 10 or 11. It's basically about 1/2 of perspex.#
Not read about that and know quite a few who do cut it. I thought the no-no material that generated the acidic fumes was PVC ??
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version