The laser can cut or etch.
Laser cut hdpe.
The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood paper cork and some kinds of plastics.
Consider masking tape but unless it sticks to the plastic really well then pull it all off again as loose tape encourages fire.
In particular acrylic is ideally suited to laser cutting.
It melts rather than vaporizing and it tends to hold enough heat that the parts fuse back together after the laser has passed by.
Laser cutting of polyethylene.
Hdpe is a huge mess to cut in anything thicker than about 1mm.
Etching can be done on almost anything wood cardboard aluminum stainless steel plastic marble stone tile and glass.
Hdpe melts rather than cuts and i needed a lot of air assist to remove the melt then the final cut looked a bit like it had been cut with a plasma torch.
Another effect is slightly darkened edges as a result of the laser beam.
Cutting of polyethylene can be performed with a co 2 laser to produce a clean non discolored cut with a slight raised edge near the point of ablation.
Pe foam comes in a variety of thicknesses compressions and colors.
From my experience hdpe machines beautifully with cnc but when it comes to laser cutting that s another story.
As the focussed laser beam slices through the plastic the edge re solidifies immediately after being vaporised and often a glassy edge is the final result.
It loves to burn so watch out.
All plastics cut with a smooth clean and burr free edge.
However due to the relatively low.
The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood paper cork and some kinds of plastics.
Polyethylene does not readily absorb the energy of a 1 06 micron fiber laser.
You could have a hdpe cutting board in your kitchen.
Hdpe is cut resistant and milky white in color.
I chalked this up as a failure and decided hdpe and lasers are not good friends.
It can be efficiently cut by laser but it recedes slightly during the cut kerf is relatively wide.
Etching can be done on almost anything wood cardboard aluminum stainless steel plastic marble stone tile and glass.
Like most thermoplastics the heat generated while you are cutting it will cause the plastic to melt and fuse together behind.
Safe materials the laser can cut or etch.
Hdpe is similar to candle wax.
Molten plastic on the surface each side of the cut can be a problem particularly if the air assist blows it around.
