what materials should not be cut with a laser cutter

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Which materials can’t be cut with a laser cutting machine?

There are many materials that can be cut with a laser cutting machine and many that cannot. Therefore, in this article, we will introduce you to all the materials that are available and those that are worth avoiding.

Thick (>1mm) polycarbonate / Lexan

Why? It discolors, produces undesirable effects, and can catch fire. Polycarbonate is usually a flat metal sheet and as the window of a laser cutter is also made up of this material, it strongly absorbs infrared radiation. It is therefore possible that it will not provide you with the most effective option for this type of application. It can also produce fumes that can damage the optics of the machine and destroy the system itself.

HDPE/Milk Bottle Plastic

Why? It can ignite and melt. HDPE often turns viscous and can ignite. It usually does not make sense to use a laser cutter on such material.

Polypropylene

Why? Polypropylene catches fire easily and the molten droplets it produces can burn and turn into hard pebbles.

Epoxy

Why? It is extremely easy to ignite/smoke. Epoxy resin is an aliphatic resin containing cross-linked carbon chains. co2 lasers cannot cut it and the resulting flame releases toxic fumes (including the dreaded cyanide). Items coated with this resin must also be avoided.

Glass fiber

Why? It emits fumes. Fiberglass is a mixture of two materials that simply cannot be cut with a laser. The two materials are epoxy resin and glass.

Coated carbon fiber

Why? It produces harmful fumes. It is also a mixture of two materials and cannot be easily altered.

Glued material

Why? Glue can cause cracks in the lenses of your system. There are many items – including wood laminates – that you can buy, but once the manufacturer has added a peelable layer of glue to their surface, they are not suitable for any kind of laser cutting technique. This includes acrylic tiles, cork tiles, and wood laminates. The glue quickly vaporizes, which will coat it, clouding it, heating it, and potentially cracking the window.

Coated carbon fiber

You may cut carbon fiber, but not when they are already coated. Otherwise, its coating could release a mixture of toxic fumes. The hazards of these gases are more severe when inhaled by someone without a breathing mask. The fumes can even lead to all sorts of lung complications, including lung cancer.

ABS plastic

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is an amorphous polymer and an opaque thermoplastic. If you try to cut it with a laser, it could produce cyanide. Breathing or swallowing cyanide is toxic. Its effects on us humans are the most threatening in enclosed places. It is less harmful outdoors since it disperses quickly in the open air, but it is still dangerous nonetheless.

Food

In Utah, experts explain that laser cutting is not meant for cutting dough, meat, or bread. Even the most common laser cutters can contaminate food with harmful substances (e.g. acrylic smoke and wood smoke). There are specialized lasers for food, but they are mostly for direct labelings — like putting designs or product information to eliminate the use of plastic packaging. The lasers used are maintained and kept in a clean environment, like a commercial kitchen.

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is also referred to as pleather or artificial leather. If exposed to a thermal process, it produces hydrochloric acid and chlorine gas. Chlorine can corrode the laser machine, ruin the optics, and distort its control system.

Sticky glue backing

floor tiles Materials like thin wood laminate and acrylic tiles can be laser cut, but they become unsuitable for laser cutting if they already have a layer of glue. The peel-off backing at the bottom facilitates attachment. This backing vaporizes to form a coat on the lens, which can heat, cloud, or crack the lens. Glue residue is more dangerous than resin. Any attempt to remove it can break the lens.

What is the maximum thickness for a metal sheet that fiber laser cutting machines cut?

The targets of laser cutting machines include stainless steel, carbon steel, mild steel, alloy steel, aluminum plate, silver, copper, titanium brass, and other metal materials.

For different metal materials, the max cutting thickness of different power laser cutting machines has a great relationship with the cutting material. 1000 watts, 2000 watts…How thick can laser cutting machines of various powers cut? 

Generally speaking, the thickness limit value of different laser cutting machine power cutting various materials is as follows:

(For reference only, the actual cutting capacity is also related to the quality of the cutting machine, cutting environment, auxiliary gas, cutting speed, and other factors)  

  • The maximum cutting thickness of different materials by 1000W fiber laser cutting machine: the maximum thickness of carbon steel is 10mm; the maximum thickness of stainless steel is 5mm; the maximum thickness of the aluminum plate is 3mm; the maximum thickness of the copper plate is 3mm;
  • The maximum cutting thickness of different materials by 2000W fiber laser cutting machine: the maximum thickness of carbon steel is 16mm; the maximum thickness of stainless steel is 8mm; the maximum thickness of the aluminum plate is 5mm; the maximum thickness of the copper plate is 5mm;
  • The maximum thickness of a 3000W fiber laser cutting machine for cutting different materials: the maximum thickness of carbon steel is 20mm; the maximum thickness of stainless steel is 10mm; the maximum thickness of the aluminum plate is 8mm; the maximum thickness of the copper plate is 8mm;   
  • 4500W laser cutting stainless steel up to 20mm, but the quality of the cutting surface above 12mm is not guaranteed, and the cutting surface below 12mm is definitely bright surface cutting. The cutting capacity of 6000W will be better, but the price is also higher.

In the actual application process, the cutting ability of the fiber laser cutting machine is also related to the quality of the cutting machine, laser type, cutting environment, cutting speed, and other factors. The use of auxiliary gas can also improve a certain cutting ability, so there is no absolute standard that judges its cutting thickness. For example, the cutting of carbon steel mainly relies on oxygen combustion, and the cutting of stainless steel mainly relies on power. Generally, the 1000w fiber laser cutting machine can cut carbon steel plates of about 10mm, and stainless steel plates are slightly difficult to cut. If the cutting thickness is to be increased, the edge effect and speed must be sacrificed.