PLASTICS           WOOD-BASED          OTHER

 

 

Quick Finds

 

Material Thickness Power Speed PPI
Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) 1/8″ 85 4.0 800
1/4″ 85 2 800
vector etch 10.0 10.0 800
raster etch 25 100 500
Acrylic (Polymethyl Methacrylate, PMMA, Lucite, Plexiglass) 1/8″ 80 4.0 750
1/4″ 80 2 750
vector etch 10.0 10.0 750
raster etch 50 100 500

 


 

Plastics

 

Material Thickness Power Speed PPI                                                                       Notes
ABS (a.k.a. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) 1/16″ 80 4.5 850
1/8″ 80 3.7 850
3/16″ 80 1.4 850
1/4″ 80 1.6 850
1/3″ 100 .7 1000
3/8″ 100 .4 1000

 

Acrylic (Polymethyl Methacrylate, PMMA, Lucite, Plexiglass) 1/16″ 80 6 750  

Acrylic is probably the ideal plastic for laser cutting. The edges are sharp and clean, and it can be cut relatively quickly.

It is usually a good idea to leave the adhesive paper on the bottom side of the material, but especially when etching, you will want to remove the paper from the top surface.

 

1/8″ 80 4.0 750
1/4″ 80 2 750
5/16″ 80 .7 1000
1/2″ 80 2 pass @ 1.5 1000
vector etch 10.0 10.0 750
raster etch 50 100 500

 

Delrin (Acetal) .045 80 16 750
Mylar
Nylon
Perforated Plastic .003″ 60 100 1000
PETG 3/32″ 60 2 1000
Polyester .002 (film) 50 20 1000
1/8″ (cloth) 100 20 1000

 

Styrene
Vinyl

 


 

 

Wood-Based

 

Material Thickness Power Speed PPI Notes
Balsa 3/32″ 25 15 850
3/16″ 25 3.3 250
vector etch 80 11 500

 

Cardboard 2-ply 40 3 1000 These settings are for standard corrugated fiberboard, more commonly called “cardboard”
vector etch 9 4 500
raster etch 28 20 250

 

Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) 1/16″ 85 6 800 You’ll see that the cut edge has a burnt appearance after cutting – this is normal.

A note on raster etching: The settings on the left are 1 of many variations in speed and power. Feel free to play with different settings for different effects. An example is that a higher speed and higher power will cut material away faster and not burn the MDF; conversely a lower speed and lower power will show a deeper burnt color.

1/8″ 85 4.0 800
1/4″ 85 2 800
3/8″
vector etch 10.0 10.0 800
raster etch 25 100 500
raster etch (DARK) 10 50 500

 

Paper cut 10 10 1000 As you’d expect, paper is flammable, and care should be taken to avoid ignition!

Paper will fly away from the internal fans unless you take it down.

 

vector etch 50 100 1000
raster etch 15 80 500

 

 


 

Other

 

Material Thickness Power Speed PPI                                                                       Notes
Anodized Aluminum etch only
Carbon Fiber 2×2 Twill 100 1.0 1000
Ceramic Cloth 1/4″ 100 6.0 1000
Ceramic Fiber 1/16″ 100 20 1000
Deer Skin- Tanned cut 75 6.0 800
Fabric
Felt 3/64″ 25 15 1000
Gingerbread .36″ 100 1.3 1000
Glass etch only
Leather
Peel Ply 95 100 1000
Sandblasted Aluminum etch only 100 4-5 500-1000 Aluminum can only be etched on the lasers and must first be coated in LMM-6000 before cutting. You must obtain permission to etch metal on the lasers and may only do so after obtaining the material and having it coated. The etch settings can vary depending on what finish you are looking for but I suggest lower power and higher speeds for a crisp etch.

 

Silicone 1/16″ 100 2 1000
Stainless Steel Etching Only! 50 – 90 10 – 30 500 Steel can only be etched on the lasers and must first be coated in LMM-6000 before cutting. You must obtain permission to cut metal on the lasers and may only do so after obtaining the material and having it coated. The etch settings can vary depending on what finish you are looking for but I suggest lower power and higher speeds for a crisp etch.

 

Vegetable Fiber 1/64″ 100 40 1000 Values are for water-resistant vegetable fiber. McMaster #9453K103.

 

Neoprene/EPDM/SBR Sealing Foam 1/8″ 80 20 850 McMaster Material, good for static gaskets

 


Forbidden

 

Cutting of Fiberglass, Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Rubber, Polyvinylchloride (PVC), and any other chlorides are expressly forbidden.

Material Not Here? Parameters not working?

Please email RPL@lists.seas.upenn.edu for any material request or verifications.