While there was no penetration, it appears that slower cuts or thinner stock would work. Polycarbonate is a poor choice for laser cutting. You need to use the right tool and technique that will not crack up the tube, and that will give you a nice clean cut. Les films de polycarbonate, tels que le Lexan ou le Makrolon, peuvent être découpés très précisément avec un laser CO2. Buy a custom laser cutting machine from OR Laser today and see the difference! New vs Old Welding Techniques In a Modern Age. Polycarbonate is a poor choice for laser cutting. Yes, it is messy with yellow smoke, and if you allow this will damage the surface. Using a laser to cut polycarbonate. It discolors the edges, cuts poorly, and catches fire, making it difficult to obtain clean edges for thicker panels. The size required should be marked on the cover film using a clearly visible marker, it is important that you measure accurately because once the material has been cut … La découpe laser est rapide et sans contact. Our rules for cuttying polycarbonate are: 1. Can Solid Polycarbonate Sheets Be Laser Cut? Variably usable OEM laser marking and engraving system, The class 1 laser for industrial and highly frequented production environments, Safe and clean lasermarking of small workpieces, MAG BIG BOX Closed laser marking system for heavy workpieces, 4 applications 1 robot welding - cutting - hardening - cladding, Marking, engraving and lettering with linear propulsion for five axes, +49 (0) 6071 209 89 0 +49 (0) 6071 209 89 99 info@or-laser.com. We laser cut polycarbonate all the time on our 35 watt Universal M300. See more on cut widths and Kerf (how much the laser takes away.) You can see the fiber marking came out fantastic but the cutting of polycarb looks very rough, this is why polycarb is a tough material to cut or engrave using a CNC laser. Copyrighted Awesomeness Since 1976CNCROi.com. Initially, the substance was only used to create electrical components and accessories for commercial industries. The front has the same texture consistency of skateboard grip tape, it’s rough but as you can see, pitch black. I cut it with the plastic sheeting on, which may have burned into the cut discoloring it. Today, you can find polycarbonate materials all over the world in everyday objects. Cutting a polycarbonate tubing, however, is an all different affair. Likewise, can you cut polycarbonate with a jigsaw? How do laser cutting works? You can use a circular saw to make straight cuts on thicker sheets. The nature of material, complexity, and thickness of your components can change the process of production. Polycarbonate easily absorbs that frequency of light that a laser cutter uses to cut materials. A German man, Dr. Hermann Schnell, and an American man, Dr. Daniel Fox, discovered polycarbonate in 1953. Source(s): plastics laser cut releasing toxic fumes: https://bitly.im/cWX0w. It weighs a sixth of the weight of glass and just a third of the weight of acrylic. Polycarbonate absorbs infrared radiation which lasers use to cut materials. Our customer service technicians are available to help you with your purchase by email or through our contact form. If you do not mind the discoloration and fumes, you can laser cut very thin sheets of less than 1mm using a 10.6-micron CO2 laser. Polycarbonate has been used to create a wide variety of items. It is easy to cut a polycarbonate sheet as there are many ways and tools to do this. We will help you find the perfect laser cutting machine based on the quantity, quality, and size of the polycarbonate you wish to cut. March 10, 2015 No matter how you shop with OR Laser, you can be sure of our professional customer service and knowledge of the laser manufacturing industry. Off Research on the applications of the CO2 laser is still an ongoing process, of which experimentation plays an important role: only experimentation provides us with certainty about the possible applications . Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. In case of thicker material, laser cutting should not be used. Usually, the laser beam is hot enough to make the material vaporise. 0 0. euler. Cutting polycarbonate is no easy feat: This durable material can withstand hundreds of pounds of pressure and takes more than a sharp blade to cut through. Why? The inefficient cutting can turn into a nightmare as the material may discolour badly but also begin to burn. Laser Cut Polypropylene. 2. It can however be cut on a CNC machine. Polycarbonate is a poor choice for laser cutting. Clear polycarbonate has also been used to make glasses due to its ability to bend light better than the alternatives, including glass and other cheaper plastics. Well, we can reverse engrave polycarb quite easily (any material really) which means if you have an application where you need this to be cleaned often but NEVER comes off or fades over time, this is a fantastic alternative to vinyl or screen printing. Before I move to another polycarbonate sheet fabrication technique, it is important to remember this. Keep in mind though, we only take-on the best clients! We can go smaller (see cut width image above) but this can make your components quite fragile which might not be suitable for the application. Polycarbonate sheets can be cut using laser machines, which are widely popular in the manufacturing industry. While other materials can be extremely hazardous to either humans or the machine itself (like PVC and ABS). Jon We use cookies, with your consent, to personalize the Websites and to display customized advertisements here or on other sites. Very few materials showcase the incredible advantage CNCROi.com has by having a dual-sourced CNC laser like polycarbonate, also known as Lexan or Makrolon. This material is almost unbreakable and lightweight. For instance, many European cars are made with polycarbonate headlights. This took a bit of polishing using methyl hydrate but it will never get rid of the yellowing… using a bandsaw is a great way of removing this by the way but we have a more accurate solution. Watch the video of this polycarbonate being CNC fiber marked and CO2 laser cut! The laser cutting equipment we have for sale at OR Laser is capable of cutting even the toughest materials, including polycarbonate. Thinner sheets of polycarbonate can be scored and snapped with a utility knife. For example, using a fiber laser can produce different effects than a CO 2 laser machine, and you can easily create permanent, high-quality marks on many different plastics such as polycarbonate, ABS, polyamide, and many others. Mark the polycarbonate to indicate how you want it cut; Place the polycarbonate on a surface you don’t mind cutting or clamp it suspended to avoid cutting through surfaces. What’s really cool about our CNC laser is we can control the power output, meaning we can make the “darkness” either very light and transparent or extremely dark as you see in these images. You will learn how to control the cutting process. Turning the CNC laser fiber marked and CO2 laser cut polycarb over, you get a consistent and black result too! It also does not engrave well (again, tends to melt). This material has a better fire classification than acrylic: Bs1d0. Laser cut polycarbonate sheet may look burnt. Although highly suited for complex designs and shapes the laser can be used to great effect to cut and engrave more personalised items such as, award displays, house number plaques, personalised lettering, coasters and wedding favours. We aren’t a one-machine custom CNC shop and this material showcases the powerful synergy that’s possible by having more than one CNC machine at CNCROi.com! You can see the fiber marking came out fantastic but the cutting of polycarb looks very rough, this is why polycarb is a tough material to cut or engrave using a CNC laser. © 2017 O.R. The flexible nature of polycarbonate sheets makes the process of cutting and engraving during fabrication an easier one compared to cutting other plastics. Lasers are powerful optical beams that can slice through any object as long as it is designed. Clear acrylic parts get edges that is completely transparent and they rarely required more machining. Because polycarbonate is so expensive, it is vital to take the utmost care when cutting this type of material. Of course, we can play with the settings to no end, so make the image using a grayscale for darker outlines and lighter “insides”. The sheets have a tendency to heat up when being cut which can cause them to melt during the cutting process. This is the frequency of light the laser cutter uses to cut materials, so it is very ineffective at cutting polycarbonate. Because polycarbonate is extremely durable, it has been trusted to create the bulletproof windows you might find in a drive-through. ABS Emits cyanide gas and tends to melt ABS does not cut well in a laser cutter. Polycarbonate cannot always be laser-cut. I hope this offers just a glimpse as to what CNCROi.com is capable of doing, the synergy between our tools, experience and industrial grade equipment is something that many of our clients have benefited from and we look forward to you, if you aren’t yet a client of ours, of gaining the incredible advantage we present to your business. ii. Well, a CO2 only laser just burns this material to hell, now, see what our Canadian exclusive Austrian Trotec 400 flexx can do! It creates long stringy clouds of soot that float up, ruin the optics and mess up the machine. All rights reserved. Click to see full answer If you are like me, the cooked and yellowed edge isn’t the most attractive finish for most applications. Solution? Yep, that’s why we have an industrial CNC router too! Polycarbonate is a plastic that is extremely durable. Polycarbonate sheeting can be cut with a basic pair of hand shears if the thickness of the sheet is less than 0.125 inches (1/8 of an inch). Of course, this is due to the high temperature. With a CO 2 laser, you can also engrave and cut plastics precisely and efficiently for a variety of applications. ABS Melts / Cyanide ABS does not cut well in a laser cutter. Polycarbonate (PC) is a durable, impact resistant, thermoplastic polymer. Thicker sheet material will have to be cut by means of a mechanical saw. Contact us and let’s get the ball rolling! Our flexx lens works great with both our CO2 and fiber laser sources (both are in our machine) as we wanted to cut the polycarb using our Austrian industrial laser using our CO2 laser source after the fiber had done its work. Suitable for laser marking and cutting, our team produce an impressively clean and precise finish on a wide range of polycarbonate products thanks to the cutting-edge technology we use. Straight cuts can be performed by using a circular saw. Why is this so awesome? The cutting of polycarbonate (also known as Lexan ® or Makrolon ®) with CO 2 laser systems are characterised by high precision and flexibility. Lv 4. Brand names: Makrolon® and Lexan® Laser machines cut polycarbonate sheets using a beam directed at the sheet. Laser cutting can give you the above results. To learn more about cookies and consent revocation options, click here. : Design Engrave Cut Build :. The varied offer of eurolaser is in particular suitable for the laser cutting of polycarbonate foils. 4. It tends to melt, leaving a messy working table and a cut with a quality that does … You can also place your order with us online. Colored acrylics can in most cases by laser cut with excellent result. If you want to cut angles or odd shapes into your polycarbonate, you can use a jigsaw. CNC Laser, CNCROi.com News, Plastic Products. As an example, many of the plastics you see listed here can be cut using laser or standard die cutting. It … As you can see from the reverse picture, it has a pretty cool cut pattern. It tends to melt rather than vaporize, and has a higher chance of catching on fire and leaving behind melted gooey deposits on the vector cutting grid. Please contact your equipment’s manufacture to see if your laser is able to cut polycarbonate and for recommendations on the process. Check below. Why? Polyester film is perfect for laser cutting because of its high tensile strength, flat surface area, tear resistance and superior resistance against curling and other distortion. Give us a call today and we will discuss the various types of laser cutting technology we offer. The hardness, thickness and complexity of the part determine the best method. Stop and clean the laser every 4 to 5 hours. Cut slow with full power. In fact, some laser cutters are not able to cut it because it ruins the lens and requires frequent stopping and cleaning. Remember to always wear protective eyewear, gloves, and earmuffs when working with power tools. Polycarbonate sheet can be cut with industrial cutting lasers however, edges may become amber or brown when laser cut and a clean edge is difficult to obtain. 4 years ago. Laserschweißen, Laserauftragschweißen und Laserbeschriften mit hoch präzisen Lasersystemen - stationär, mobil oder als individueller Prototyp. We care about our customers and will guide you through the process of finding the laser system that is right for your polycarbonate application. 2. Here is a list of materials that are not laserable: Artificial leather containing chromium (VI) Carbon fibers (Carbon) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Polyvinyl butyrale (PVB) Polytetrafluoroethylenes (PTFE /Teflon) Beryllium oxide. From bulletproof vests to CDs, you have probably come across polycarbonate more often than you might have thought. , the laser industry for decades, and is fairly easy to cut.. 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It because it ruins the lens and requires frequent stopping and cleaning of skateboard grip tape it.