Laser Cut Hdpe

In particular acrylic is ideally suited to laser cutting.

Laser cut hdpe.

It melts rather than vaporizing and it tends to hold enough heat that the parts fuse back together after the laser has passed by. Like most thermoplastics the heat generated while you are cutting it will cause the plastic to melt and fuse together behind. Hdpe is similar to candle wax. I chalked this up as a failure and decided hdpe and lasers are not good friends.

Another effect is slightly darkened edges as a result of the laser beam. Molten plastic on the surface each side of the cut can be a problem particularly if the air assist blows it around. Etching can be done on almost anything wood cardboard aluminum stainless steel plastic marble stone tile and glass. You could have a hdpe cutting board in your kitchen.

Laser engraving and laser marking of polyethylene are possible using a co 2 laser. Safe materials the laser can cut or etch. The laser can cut or etch. Laser cutting of polyethylene.

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. Hdpe is a huge mess to cut in anything thicker than about 1mm. Thin carbon fiber mat can be cut with some fraying but not when coated. All plastics cut with a smooth clean and burr free edge.

Consider masking tape but unless it sticks to the plastic really well then pull it all off again as loose tape encourages fire. Hdpe is cut resistant and milky white in color. High density polyethylene hdpe is a versatile fda and usda approved food grade plastic. It loves to burn so watch out.

The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood paper cork and some kinds of plastics. The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood paper cork and some kinds of plastics. It can be efficiently cut by laser but it recedes slightly during the cut kerf is relatively wide. Polyethylene does not readily absorb the energy of a 1 06 micron fiber laser.

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. However due to the relatively low. From my experience hdpe machines beautifully with cnc but when it comes to laser cutting that s another story.