Laser cutter/Materials: Difference between revisions

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== Introduction ==
= Introduction =
This page contains a list of materials that can be cut or engraved on the 'NEW' Nottinghack A0 laser cutter from Just Add Sharks, along with information on cutting speeds and power settings. There is a more complete list of materials pinned above the laser computer, although you should be aware that this list does not contain every material known to man, so will be incomplete. If you are uncertain as to whether a material is safe to use, first look up it's material safety data sheet (MSDS), which should be available online, and/or ask on the Google Group or #laser channel on the Nottinghack Slack.


This page is a list of materials that can be cut or engraved on the Nottinghack laser cutter, along with information on cutting speeds and power settings. Other useful information is also provided.
You can see a reasonably complete list of what is laser safe [http://www.cutlasercut.com/laser-cutting-materials-laser-engraving-materials here] and [http://www.atxhackerspace.org/wiki/Laser_Cutter_Materials here].


This page is currently being updated as we now have the 000-999 dial for power settings. Always make sure the zero position is showing as 000, if not, adjust the below values accordingly.
There is usually a small supply of laser-safe perspex (acrylic), mdf and ply available for sale next to the laser cutter, up to 600x400mm in size. A wider selection of sizes, colours and thicknesses is available online, although the stock in the 'space is sourced from [https://www.kitronik.co.uk/ Kitronik], which is based near the Glaisdale Royal Mail depo in Nottingham.
 
The laser can do three things - cut, mono etch and grayscale etch. The settings below will be for a specific action. If you use another material of method, update this page with your findings!


The values on this page have been tested, but are '''guidelines'''.  Always stay with the laser when it is running, and use your common sense!
The values on this page have been tested, but are '''guidelines'''.  Always stay with the laser when it is running, and use your common sense!
=DO NOT CUT=


== Wood ==
* Vinyl, PVC - Contains chlorine, which generates glass and metal damaging acid fumes when burned!
 
=== 3mm Birch Laser Ply ===
 
This is the plywood available by the laser cutter.
 
==== Cutting ====
 
350 power, 12 mm/s gives a nice clean cut.  If there are knots in the ply it may not cut all the way through, you can reduce the speed to 14mm/s to compensate for this.
 
==== Mono Etching ====
 
 
 
==== Grayscale Etching ====
 
400 power, 200mm/s with Bottom Depth = 1 and Top Depth = 250 gives a nice image with a black depth of around 0.5mm and white depth of 0.  This will require sanding afterwards.
 
At 350 power but all the other settings the same, the black depth is around 0.35mm.  This will work fine for high contrast images.
 
=== 3mm MDF ===


This is the MDF available by the laser cutter.
* Polycarbonate - clear polycarbonate looks just like acrylic!


=== Veneer ===
* Anything that produces fumes, e.g. glued woods (except laser-safe MDF/ply), many types of plastic.


Plain and coloured veneer available by the laser cutter.
* Anything you're not sure about. Check the websites [http://www.cutlasercut.com/laser-cutting-materials-laser-engraving-materials here] and [http://www.atxhackerspace.org/wiki/Laser_Cutter_Materials here], email [mailto:laser@nottinghack.org.uk] for advice or ask on the [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/nottinghack Google group].


Colours: ''Black, Light Blue, Light Green, Medium Green, Red, Brown, Blue, Medium Blue, Dark Green, Pink, Yellow, Hay Yellow, Grey, Orange, Dark Orange.''
=Wood=
==Greyscale Engrave==


For coloured veneer, please consider free to use for small amounts. For larger cuts, please consider a donation to the space (rough cost of veneer: 15p per square inch).
==Monoscale Engrave==


== Paper and Card ==
==Cutting==


=== Thin Cardboard ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Type
! Power
! Speed
|-
| 3mm birch ply || 65% || 55mm/s
|-
| 3mm birch ply || 65% || 55mm/s
|}


*Cutting Speed: 30 mm/s
==Veneer==
*Laser Current: 4mA
These values were found using with 160gsm black card. Other gsm values may require changes to the speed and power.


== Plastic ==
==Paper and Card==


Go fast and run test cuts! Then help us by documenting what worked for you.


== Metal ==
=Plastic=
==Acrylic/Perspex==


[[Category:Tools and Equipment]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Type
! Power
! Speed (mm/s)
|-
| 3mm Acrylic || 65% || (see whiteboard)
|-
| 5mm Acrylic || 65% || (see whiteboard)
|}
=Metal=
==Anodised aluminium==
Anodised aluminium can be etched (removing the anodising) at 20% power, 600mm/s. This has not been thoroughly tested, so be prepared to experiment.

Latest revision as of 10:03, 10 July 2022

Introduction

This page contains a list of materials that can be cut or engraved on the 'NEW' Nottinghack A0 laser cutter from Just Add Sharks, along with information on cutting speeds and power settings. There is a more complete list of materials pinned above the laser computer, although you should be aware that this list does not contain every material known to man, so will be incomplete. If you are uncertain as to whether a material is safe to use, first look up it's material safety data sheet (MSDS), which should be available online, and/or ask on the Google Group or #laser channel on the Nottinghack Slack.

You can see a reasonably complete list of what is laser safe here and here.

There is usually a small supply of laser-safe perspex (acrylic), mdf and ply available for sale next to the laser cutter, up to 600x400mm in size. A wider selection of sizes, colours and thicknesses is available online, although the stock in the 'space is sourced from Kitronik, which is based near the Glaisdale Royal Mail depo in Nottingham.

The values on this page have been tested, but are guidelines. Always stay with the laser when it is running, and use your common sense!

DO NOT CUT

  • Vinyl, PVC - Contains chlorine, which generates glass and metal damaging acid fumes when burned!
  • Polycarbonate - clear polycarbonate looks just like acrylic!
  • Anything that produces fumes, e.g. glued woods (except laser-safe MDF/ply), many types of plastic.

Wood

Greyscale Engrave

Monoscale Engrave

Cutting

Type Power Speed
3mm birch ply 65% 55mm/s
3mm birch ply 65% 55mm/s

Veneer

Paper and Card

Go fast and run test cuts! Then help us by documenting what worked for you.

Plastic

Acrylic/Perspex

Type Power Speed (mm/s)
3mm Acrylic 65% (see whiteboard)
5mm Acrylic 65% (see whiteboard)

Metal

Anodised aluminium

Anodised aluminium can be etched (removing the anodising) at 20% power, 600mm/s. This has not been thoroughly tested, so be prepared to experiment.

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