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Plastic is one of the essential materialsin daily life, and laser cutting machines can cut and engrave it with extreme precision and perfection. However, it should be noted that not all plastic types are suitable for laser cutting and engraving technology.

This article aims to provide an in-depth look at thetypes of plastics suitable for laser cutting, how to choose the appropriate thickness of plastic for laser cutting, how to properly set up a laser cutting machine, essentials for preparing design files, and how to avoid common cutting mistakes. Additionally, we will provide you with a guide to help you find a trustworthy service provider.

What Plastics Can You Safely Cut?

Ourlaser cutting services provide precision cutting for a variety of plastic materials, ensuring high-quality surface finish and precise tolerances. Not only can we cut metals such as steel, aluminum, brass, and copper, but we can alsocut plastic materials such as acrylic, PETG, TPU, PVC, polycarbonate, and more.In this section, LS focuses on introducing to you what plastics we commonly use for laser cutting?

Plastics	Description
Acrylic (PMMA)	Commonly used in advertising, display and decoration fields, the edges are smooth after laser cutting and no secondary processing is required.
Polycarbonate (PC)	With high transparency, high strength and good heat resistance, it is an ideal material for laser cutting and is suitable for applications such as protective covers and lamps.
Polyethylene (PE)	Includes high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which are widely used in packaging and other applications, and laser cutting allows for efficient processing.
Polypropylene (PP)	It has excellent heat resistance and chemical corrosion resistance. The edges after laser cutting are neat and can be used to make high-precision plastic parts.
Polyester (PET)	It has good mechanical properties, transparency and chemical resistance, and is suitable for the production of packaging materials, electronic and electrical components, etc.
Nylon (PA)	It has good wear resistance, chemical resistance and mechanical strength, and is suitable for the processing of industrial products and parts.
Polystyrene (PS) and high-impact polystyrene (HIPS)	Although laser cutting effects may vary depending on the material, cutting can still be achieved under certain conditions and is suitable for specific application scenarios.
ABS	It has good mechanical properties, processing properties and surface gloss. It is widely used in electronic appliances, automobiles, toys and other fields. Laser cutting is suitable for making parts of various complex shapes.

How to Laser Cut Plastic?

Laser cutting plastic steps:

• Preparation:Choose a suitablelaser cutting machineto ensure that the performance meets your needs; prepare clean and flat plastic materials.
• Parameter settings:Adjust laser power, speed, focus, etc. according to the characteristics of the plastic to ensure cutting quality.
• Path design: Use CAD to design the cutting path, import it into the control system, and consider the material shape, size and sequence.
• Cutting:Start the machine, the laser beam illuminates the plastic, heats up and evaporates to achieve cutting, and auxiliary gas can be used to remove the heat from the smoke.
• Post-processing:Polish and clean the cutting edges, check the quality, and ensure that the design is met.

How to Choose the Right Thickness？

Whenlaser cutting plastics, choosing the right thickness is key to ensuring cut quality, efficiency and economy. The following are the main considerations when choosing thickness:

1.Laser power

The power of the laser directly determines the maximum thickness of the materialit can cut. Specifically, the higher the power of the laser, the greater the thickness of the material that can be easily cut. For example, 40 to 60 watt CO2 laser cutters are ideal for cutting plastics with a thickness of 1 to 6 millimeters, while devices with more than 100 watts can handle thicker cutting tasks.

2. Material types and characteristics

Different plastic materials show different characteristics during the laser cutting process, such as laser absorptivity, melting point and thermal sensitivity. For example, acrylic (PMMA) is very suitable for laser cutting due to its good laser absorption and processing performance; while PVC material may produce toxic gases during the cutting process, so it needs to be handled with special caution.

3. Cutting quality and requirements

Thinner plastic materialsare generally easier to achieve smooth edges and precise dimensions during laser cutting. However, if the material is too thin, it may be easily deformed or cracked due to the thermal effects of the laser. Therefore, the specific cutting quality and requirements need to be taken into consideration when determining the thickness of the material to be cut. For example, the model company was able to obtain smooth and precise edges when cutting 1 mm thick ABS material, while 0.5 mm thick material was prone to deformation, so they chose a thickness of 1 mm to meet quality requirements.

4. Actual testing and verification

Actual testing and verification is necessary before determining the finalmaterial thickness. By conducting cutting experiments on materials of different thicknesses, you can visually observe the cutting effect and quality, allowing you to make more accurate decisions. For example, after switching to 1.5 mm thick PET material, a packaging box manufacturer improved the material utilization rate from 75% to 85% by optimizing the cutting path, thus reducing production costs.

5.Economy and material utilization

Not only do thicker materials cost more during thelaser cutting process, they may also produce more scrap. Therefore, on the premise of meeting production needs, try to choose thinner plates for cutting. For example, after switching to 3 mm thick boards, a furniture manufacturer improved material utilization by 10% by optimizing the layout, saving about US$500 in monthly costs.

LS: Parts being precision manufactured

LS Companyrecently undertook an order from xx Company to customize 1,000 acrylic advertising signs. LS's competitors usually rely on traditional CNC engraving machines, but this method is not only inefficient but also comes with a lot of material waste. In order to improve production efficiency, LS Company decisively decided to adopt advanced laser cutting technology.

The implementation process is as follows:

Equipment selection: The company carefully selected a 60-watt CO2 laser cutting machine to meet the needs of efficient and precise cutting.
Material selection: Since 3mm thick acrylic sheet is both suitable for laser cutting and affordable, it was selected as the main material for this task.

Parameter debugging: After many tests and adjustments, the best parameter combination for cutting 3mm acrylic was finally determined - the power was set to 50 watts, and the cutting speed was controlled at 20mm/s to ensure the dual improvement of cutting quality and efficiency.
Path planning: In order to maximize material utilization, the company uses advanced nested layout software to cleverly design multiple signs on the same acrylic board, thereby significantly reducing material waste.

Data analysis shows:

In terms of production efficiency, laser cutting machines show excellent performance, and their cutting speed is about 40% faster than traditionalCNC engraving machines. Specifically, 50 signs can be cut per hour, while the CNC engraving machine can only cut 30 in the same time.
In terms of material utilization, through the use of nested typesetting technology, the material utilization rate has been greatly increased from the original 75% to 90%, which means that about 200 kilograms of acrylic sheets can be saved every month.
In terms of cost effectiveness, monthly production costs have been reduced by 15%, and the company's profit margin has also increased by 8%.

LS Company has not only achieved significant improvements in production efficiency, but also effectively reduced material waste and production costs. At the same time, faster delivery also greatly improves customer satisfaction.

How to Set Up Your Laser Machine？

Setting up a laser machineinvolves multiple steps and parameter adjustments. Here is a basic setup process for beginners:

1. Preparation and inspection before starting up

• Clean the work surface: Make sure the work surface is clean, tidy and free of clutter.
• Check grounding: Make sure the laser marking machine is safely grounded to prevent electrical accidents.
• Check the power cord: Make sure the power cord is connected correctly, reliably and without damage.

2. Boot steps

• Turn on the main power switch: After turning on the power, the work indicator light should be on and the fan should be running.
• Insert the key switch: turn it 90 degrees clockwise to the "on" position.
• Turn on the industrial control switch: the industrial control computer will automatically start.
• Turn on the computer monitor and host power switches.
• Confirm the status of the emergency stop switch: The emergency stop switch should be in the automatically closed state (that is, the switch pops up).
• Turn on the laser switch: Open thelaser marking software.
• Take off the laser galvanometer protective cover.

3. Software settings and parameter adjustment

• Open the marking software: Enter the laser marking software interface.
• Select marking file: open or create a new graphic file that needs to be marked.
• Alignment: Use the red light function for alignment to ensure that the laser head is accurately aligned with the marking position.
• Focus adjustment: place the workpiece template, check continuous marking and start it, shake the handle to adjust the Y-axis to the best laser effect (strong energy, crisp sound, bright color), and turn off continuous processing after adjustment.
• Set parameters: Set the power, speed, etc. according to the material (such as acrylic, ABS) and thickness. For example, acrylic uses 60% power and 15mm/s speed, ABS uses 50% power and 10mm/s speed. The parameters need to be fine-tuned according to the actual situation.

4. Start cutting

• Trial engraving: Before formal cutting, perform trial engraving to check whether the parameter settings are correct.
• Formal cutting: After confirming that the parameters are correct, click the "Mark" button to start the cutting operation.

5. Shutdown steps and maintenance

• Close the software: After confirming that the industrial computer is not running any software, close the laser marking software.
• Turn off the power: Turn off the industrial control, water and electricity system, laser switch, key switch and main power switch in order.
• Remove the key and keep it for safekeeping: Remove the key and keep it by a designated person for next use.
• Put on the lens cap: prevent dust from contaminating the lens.
• Regular maintenance: including cleaning optical components, checking the working status of the cooling system, etc.

How to Prepare Your Design Files？

Preparing design documents is a process involving multiple steps and details, with 3 key design rules.

• Convert text to outlines:To avoid errors or missing fonts when opening files on different software or devices, it is recommended to convert all text in your design to outlines. This ensures accuracy and readability of the text.
• Ensure closed paths:During the design process, ensure that all paths are closed. Especially for those designs that need to be cut or printed, closed paths can avoid the problem of incomplete cuts or incomplete prints.
• Add bleed margins:Bleed margins are an important consideration when printing or cutting your design files. It is generally recommended to add at least 3 mm of bleed margin around the design file to ensure that minor errors do not compromise the integrity of the design during printing or cutting. As a professional printing service provider, LS can provide free design for manufacturability (DFM) audit services to ensure the compliance and printability of design files.

How to Avoid Common Cutting Mistakes？

Mistake 1: Cutting recycled plastic

Solution: Using certified virgin materials greatly reduces the risk of cutting errors, as recycled plastics can contain impurities or inconsistent ingredients that can affect cutting results.LS insists on using strictly screenedand certified virgin materials to ensure cutting accuracy and consistency.

Mistake 2: Ignoring focal length

Solution: Focal length is one of the key factors affecting cutting quality. If the focal length is incorrect, the cut edges may appear blurry, uneven, or burnt.LS adopts advanced auto-focus technology, which can automatically adjust the laser focus to the best position to ensure the best results for every cutting. This technology not only improves cut quality but also reduces the possibility of human error.

Mistake 3: Wrong speed/power combination

Solution: The combination of speed and power is critical to cutting results. Improper settings can result in incomplete cuts, overheating, or damage to the material. To help customers avoid this mistake,LS offers a free setup cheat sheet that includes recommended speedand power combinations for different materials and thicknesses. Customers can make adjustments based on these suggestions to get the best cutting results.

How to Evaluate Cutting Quality?

Whenevaluating cutting quality, the following aspects can be comprehensively considered:

1. Edge Smoothness:A high-quality cut edge should be flat, smooth, and free of melting, burning, or burrs. This reflects the focusing accuracy of the laser beam and the stability of energy control during the cutting process.
2. Dimensional accuracy:The size of the cutting parts should meet the design requirements, and the error should be within the acceptable range. The industry standard is usually ±0.2 mm, but high-precision cutting can guarantee errors of ±0.1 mm or even less.
3. Warping and deformation:The cut material should remain flat with no obvious warping or deformation. This requires that environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, as well as parameters such as cutting speed and power, be controlled during the cutting process.
4. Heat-affected zone:The heat-affected zone refers to the range of thermal damage caused by the laser beam to the area around the material during the cutting process. High-quality cuts should ensure that the heat-affected zone is as small as possible to reduce negative impact on material properties.
5. Cutting efficiency and stability:Cutting efficiency reflects the cutting speed and the stability of the cutting process. Efficient cutting can improve production efficiency while ensuring quality, while a stable cutting process can reduce scrap and failure rates.

How to Find a Reliable Service Provider？

Whenlooking for a reliable plastic laser cutting service provider, asking the supplier these three questions can help you better evaluate their professionalism and reliability:

“Do you provide material safety sheets?”

Question Meaning: A Material Safety Sheet (MSDS) is an important document prepared by a chemical manufacturer or importer to provide safety information and handling procedures for a specific chemical or mixture. Asking this question can tell you whether the supplier takes material safety and compliance seriously.
Expected answer: Suppliers should be able to provide detailed MSDS describing the material composition, potential hazards, safe use, storage and leakage disposal information they use. Don't worry about this problem, LS contains detailed MSDS.

"What is your tolerance guarantee?"

Question meaning: This question aims to understand the supplier's quality assurance system and the level of control of the production process. By asking about tolerance guarantees (i.e., quality control standards), you can assess how seriously a supplier places product quality and accuracy on their products.
Expected answer: Suppliers can highlight their ISO certifications, such as ISO9001 and other quality management system certifications, which show that the supplier has strict quality control standards and processes during the production process to ensure product stability and reliability. With ISO 9001:2015 certification and advanced laser cutting technology, LS can ensure precise cutting of complex parts with smooth edges and excellent precision.

“Can you handle flexible plastics?”

Question meaning: The cutting of flexible plastics requires specific technology and equipment. Asking this question can understand whether the supplier has the experience and ability to handle this type of material.
Expected answer: Processing flexible plastics requires a vacuum table or other advanced cutting equipment and technology. If the supplier has this condition, it means that it can process flexible plastics and achieve high-quality cutting results. LS features a vacuum table that can handle flexible plastics and achieve high-quality cutting results

Why choose LS’s laser cutting plastic service provider?

At LS, we specialize in precision laser cutting services and specialize in providing high quality cutting solutions to a variety of industries. WithISO 9001:2015 certificationand advanced laser cutting technology, we ensure complex parts are cut with precision, smooth edges and superior precision. Whether you're working withacrylic, PC, or other plastic materials, our experienced team ensures minimal material waste and fast, consistent results. From prototyping to large-scale production, we provide cost-effective solutions tailored to your specific project needs, ensuring efficiency and exceptional quality. Looking for precision laser cutting solutions for your plastic projects? Contact us today for a free quote!

Summary

Laser cut plastic is an efficient and precise processing methodwith a wide range of application prospects. By understanding the basic principles, operating steps, advantages and precautions of laser cutting, you can better apply this technology and improve production efficiency and processing quality. With the continuous advancement and innovation of technology,laser cutting plastics will play an important role in more fields, bringing more innovations and breakthroughs to manufacturing and artistic creation and other fields.

Disclaimer

The content on this page is for reference only.LSdoes not make any express or implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or validity of the information. No performance parameters, geometric tolerances, specific design features, material quality and type or workmanship should be inferred as to what a third party supplier or manufacturer will deliver through the Longsheng Network. It is the responsibility of the buyerseeking a quote for partsto determine the specific requirements for those parts.Pleasecontact usfor moreinformation.

LS Team

LS is an industry-leading companyspecializing in custom manufacturing solutions. With over 20 years of experience serving more than 5,000 clients, we focus on high-precisionCNC machining,sheet metal fabrication,3D printing,injection molding,metal stamping,and other one-stop manufacturing services.
Our factory is equipped with more than 100 advanced 5-axis machining centers and is ISO 9001:2015 certified. We provide fast, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing solutions to customers in over 150 countries worldwide. Whether it’s low-volume production or large-scale customization, we can meet your needs with delivery as fast as 24 hours. ChoosingLS Technologymeans choosing efficiency, quality, and professionalism.
To learn more, please visit our website:www.lsrpf.com

FAQs

1.Can you cut plastic with a laser?

Laser cutting is a common processing method for a variety of materials, including plastics. The process of laser cutting plastic is to focus a high-energy laser beam on the surface of the plastic, causing the plastic to quickly heat up and evaporate, thereby achieving cutting. Plastic absorbs laser light well, so laser cutting plastic is feasible.

2. What materials cannot be cut by laser cutting machine and why?

Laser cutters are not suitable for all materials. Some materials are not suitable for laser cutting due to their high reflectivity to laser, poor thermal conductivity, or being flammable and explosive. For example: Highly reflective materials: such as mirror stainless steel, copper and aluminum. These materials will reflect most of the laser energy, resulting in low cutting efficiency. High thermal conductivity materials: such as diamond and graphite, these materials will quickly disperse the laser energy, making cutting difficult. Flammable and explosive materials: High temperatures will be generated during laser cutting, which may cause explosions or fires.

3. How thick of plastic can the laser cut?

The thickness of laser-cut plastic depends on several factors, including the type of plastic, laser power, cutting speed, and cut quality requirements. Typically, laser cutting machines can handle plastic sheets from as thin as a few millimeters to as thick as tens of millimeters. For example: thin plastics (such as PET film): can cut materials several millimeters thick. Medium thickness plastic (such as acrylic sheet): can be cut to about 10 mm. Thick plastics (such as some engineering plastics): under appropriate conditions, can be cut to tens of millimeters.

4. Why can’t I use laser to cut PVC?

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic but can release toxic gases (such as hydrogen chloride) during the laser cutting process. Hydrogen chloride is harmful to humans and may cause respiratory irritation and other health problems. In addition, PVC may burn under the action of laser, creating smoke and fire risk. Therefore, for safety and environmental reasons, it is generally not recommended to use laser cutting PVC.

Resource

1.Laser cutting

2.Laser safety