Polyurethane molding looks nearly identical to wood molding, but is made of a lightweight, polyurethane resin. While other sources call polyurethanes safe to cut or recommend it for laser cutting: https://www.lasercuttingshapes.com/materials/ https://www.eurolaser.com/materials/polyurethane-pur/ When in doubt I'll opt not to cut it, but curious if anyone has additional insights. Cardboard, carton thicker Cuts well but may catch fire. Even for larger quantities laser cutting now constitutes a real alternative to conventional processing methods such as die and knife cutters (cutting plotters). I cut it with the plastic sheeting on, which may have burned into the cut discoloring it. The main materials shops will process will include wood, cardboard, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, tile, … Paper, card stock thin Cuts very well on the laser cutter, and also very quickly. Can I also cut at a slant with the laser? The laser can cut or etch. Polyurethane (PUR) is a plastic or synthetic resin. There are advantages to using a polyurethane molding. For these reasons, CO 2 lasers are commonly employed for laser ablation of polyurethane foam. 's & Facing Turning, boring, and facing operations can be performed on either a turret or engine lathe. All rights reserved. But the lenses are replaceable, so it is just a matter of making sure you are using the right one. Do I need any special software to control a eurolaser system? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the lasercutting community. The versatility of laser cutters is remarkable, considering they can cut, mark and etch. Eurolaser.com isn't a good source for this kind of thing. Expanded polyethylene (aka polyethylene foam) is one of the most popular foams used in the industrial sector, due to its lightness, insulating properties and resistance. Plywood/Composite woods 1/4" These contain glue, and may not laser cut as well as solid wood. Material will emit gasses/particulate that are hazardous or poisonous to life. For 1600mW Laser Module, you can use the Fine Tune Work Origin feature to achieve the best cutting result. Laser etching can produce great results on almost any organic material. What is confusing about this is that polyurethane is generally considered a very "laser friendly" material to cut (stated all over the place on laser hobbyist and professional websites under acceptable materials). This particular laser cutting tool is a popular alternative to other manufacturing tools. its not safe to breath in anything that's not air. Polyurethane Material Polyurethane is a friendly material for the laser. Polyurethane is also used for foils and textiles, in particular for technical applications. Compared to the complex water jet cutting process, the laser is significantly faster, more flexible and more efficient. By the 3rd try, the kerf is pretty tight. A place to share your laser cutter creations, tips, questions and other laser cutter related information. #3 I will almost always avoid unless the job is very very small, one-off, and my point-of-exhaust for ventilation is not anywhere that a life form could be impacted. If the laser power is sufficiently high, the laser beam will cut completely through the material. The MSDS for Elastollan (BASF's trade name for TPU) states: Decomposition products: carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide. The material just outside of the laser's spot or path will conduct some heat but not enough for complete and thorough ablation. Here is a list of materials that are not laserable: Artificial leather containing chromium (VI) Carbon fibers (Carbon) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Polyvinyl butyrale (PVB) Polytetrafluoroethylenes (PTFE /Teflon) Beryllium oxide. It's the same reason why you shouldn't cut/engrave ABS. More and more companies have come to recognize the benefits of high precision and virtually maintenance-free processing that the tool "laser" has to offer. Producing the same gasses that were used in gas chambers seems pretty darn dangerous and like there should be red flags up everywhere. © 2015 - 2019 eurolaser GmbH. As for charring, it often depends very much on the particular material, including contaminants, e.g. That gives them a very small dot, which gives a sharper etched image, but it also means they can only cut very thin materials. We can laser cut open cell and close cell polyurethane foam up to 1″ thick. Numerous types of gaskets and foam parts are easily laser cut with our lasers. or please call for your individual consulting! About 8% of these are laser cutting machines, 1% are sheet metal fabrication. If there's enough oxygen in the air, inert gasses like neon or argon won't do anything whatsoever. The parallel use of CO2 lasers and knife inserts on one machine transforms your eurolaser system into a universal cutter. The diverse system sizes from eurolaser are suitable for both large-format textiles and foams and the exact cutting of foil sheets. When in doubt I'll opt not to cut it, but curious if anyone has additional insights. The cutting of polyurethane with CO 2 laser systems is characterized by a high level of precision and flexibility. But how do you determine what makes up the material you want to laser cut or engrave? Foams made of polyester (PES), polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PUR) are well suited for laser cutting, laser engraving and laser marking. This area of thermal affect is often referred to as the heat affected zone or HAZ. We would be glad to advise you on the topic of the laser cutting of polyurethane, on our laser systems and special options for the processing of plastic. Laser marking, laser engraving and laser cutting polyurethane foam, PUR. Expanded polystyrene, expanded polyurethane and expanded polyethylene all belong to this category of materials. My thoughts on 3 possible pitfalls with cutting new/unknown material: Material will absorb all energy and catch fire, or will melt instead of cutting cleanly, Material will emit gasses/particulate that is corrosive, which over time could degrade the machine's electronics/components (Like Chlorine gas). The laser cutter has the ability to accurately cut or etch numerous materials such as wood, paper, cork, and some kinds of plastics. … MDF/Engineered woods 1/4" These are okay to use but may experience a higher amount of charring when cut. As you can see from the reverse picture, it has a pretty cool cut pattern. PUR, PU, Cellasto ®, Elastocoat ®, Elastoflex ®, Elastofoam ®, Elastolit ®, Elastopal ®, Elastopan ®, Elastopor ®, Lupranol ®, Baydur ®, Bayfill ®, Bayflex ®, Baylit ®, Baymer ®, Baytherm ®, Desmodur ®, You will find videos showing the laser cutting of polyurethane at eurolaser.tv. Minimizing the energy from where you are today could come from either increasing speed, decreasing power, or both. Alibaba.com offers 305 polyurethane laser cutting products. They also say that ABS and PVC are fine. Adhesives can be silicone, acrylic, rubber, or hybrid based that cut through the carrier film or stopping in the carrier film (‘kiss-cut‘) for ‘peel and stick’ applications. Certification as a laser system operator (2-day course), LaserScout software and the PLANNER module. Other CO2 laser cutters for cutting polyurethane (PUR). The diverse system sizes from eurolaser are suitable for both large-format textiles and foams and the exact cutting of foil sheets. I'm getting some conflicting information when searching for safety information on laser cutting TPU. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is bad news. The materials that the laser can cut materials like wood, paper, cork, and some kinds of plastics. Which laser classes apply for eurolaser systems? Foam is used for many different applications including suitcase inserts or padding, seals and artistic applications like souvenirs or photo frames. * The recommended settings might not apply to all situations. Too much oomph. The parallel use of CO Now that you know the technicalities, we can talk about why CO2 laser cutting is a fantastic tool for treating thermoplastics. In which case you ideally shouldn't laser cut it, lest you desire your home-made Bhopal disaster (yes, I know, different chemicals). Hier ist unsere Auswahl der besten Laser-Cutter auf dem Markt, sowie alles zum Thema Laserschneiden, was du wissen musst. You can work directly from the design program, which is very important especially in the area of rapid prototyping. The emissions generated by cutting with CO 2 lasers can be filtered by filter systems.In order to continuously expand our sample archive, we can also test your material in our application laboratory and create a detailed report for you. Tungsten and carbide are receptive laser marking metals and laser engraving metals. Laser Cutting - nothing compares to the quality of a laser cut on many materials. Particulate left behind in vent system and within the machine could be hazardous if ingested. Release Time：2016/06/08 Materials all Browsing Times：2150 . its not safe to breath in anything that's not air. How to Cut Polyurethane Moulding. The cutting of polyurethane with CO2 laser systems is characterized by a high level of precision and flexibility. While there was no penetration, it appears that slower cuts or thinner stock would work. Etching can be done on almost anything, wood, cardboard, aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, marble, stone, tile, and glass. Laser Cutting of Elastomers The energy of a CO 2 laser beam is easily absorbed by most elastomers, causing the material directly in the path of the laser beam to rapidly heat up and vaporize. If you look at the pic above for step 4, you can see the cut on the left has a pretty wide kerf even on the top surface. Laser Engraving - find out how Epilog's laser engravers can create beautiful engravings . #1 can be mitigated by a few "test fires" while holding a fire extinguisher at ready, but the worst case is messy, #2 I will always avoid because the machines are expensive and high-maintenance as they are. Laser cutting systems are generally superbly suited to the processing of various foams. how charring leather is when laser-cut largely depends on how it's been treated. Each and every XT Laser series is capable of marking on tungsten and carbide and the ideal system for your application depends on your marking requirements. These gasses are used for breathing gasses (space suits, diving, etc). How does simple compressed air affect the laser cutting process? Tool configuration, geometry, and placement, as well as rpm are dependent on what hardness the urethane is and what the operation is. Yes I realize everything about #3 is bad, and I should feel bad, and I do, which is why I avoid going there as much as possible. After I'm done I'll be careful to clean all exposed surfaces within the machine with solvent and carefully dispose of the rags. Most elastomers vaporize quickly when cut with a laser, resulting in smooth and straight edges with minimal heat … The properties of PUR determine how it is used. These resources caution against cutting polyurethane due to HCN gas: http://www.materialseducation.org/educators/matedu-modules/docs/Laser_Cutter_Materials.pdf https://www.synrad.com/sites/default/files/2018-07/Laser%20Processing%20Guide%20%28Plastics%29%201.04_0.pdf, While other sources call polyurethanes safe to cut or recommend it for laser cutting: https://www.lasercuttingshapes.com/materials/ https://www.eurolaser.com/materials/polyurethane-pur/. Laser Cutting - nothing compares to the quality of a laser cut on many materials. Its properties make polyurethane a versatile material that is very durable, mould and mildew resistant and, depending on manufacture, hard and brittle or soft and flexible. Precise foam cutting with Trotec laser cutters. Any life near your ventilation outlet is at risk and this will also contribute to environmental pollution. Acrylate polymers, for example, react especially well to CO2 laser cutting. Foam inlay – laser cutting in the packaging industry, Clean and perfect cut edges - no reworking necessary, No material fixation necessary – thanks to the vacuum table, No cleaning of the knives necessary - no parts stick after cutting, No tool wear so therefore consistently high cutting quality, High degree of flexibility in the choice of contours – without any need for tool construction or changeover, High level of flexibility due to the combined cutting with, Unique choice of different table sizes – suitable for all standard sizes, Processing of very large formats thanks to seamless continuation of cutting. Laser Marking - how can you affordably mark metal parts with barcodes and logos? Because these metals are so hard, etching or engraving is typically not recommended. How does the way you store acrylic affect the cutting edge? Engraving and cutting these materials can cause irreversible damage to your machine, so determining the components of your cutting and engraving materials is extremely important. For example, rigid foam is used in the shoe industry for the soles of shoes, for sponges for domestic use and for insulation purposes. Soft foam made of polyurethane is used, for example, for inlays in the packaging industry. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, http://www.materialseducation.org/educators/matedu-modules/docs/Laser_Cutter_Materials.pdf, https://www.synrad.com/sites/default/files/2018-07/Laser%20Processing%20Guide%20%28Plastics%29%201.04_0.pdf, https://www.lasercuttingshapes.com/materials/, https://www.eurolaser.com/materials/polyurethane-pur/. MLT’s laser cut adhesives and tapes are selected based on environmental, thermal, cure, bond strength, chemical resistance, and … Press J to jump to the feed. This foam is ideal for laser cutting. Machining Polyurethanes: Turning O.D. A lot of lasers are sold primarily geared toward etching, so they have a very short focal length. make sure your ventilation is good and give it a shot. Helium is also fine. Laser processing these materials creates dangerous gases or dust. Foam cutting with a laser machine … Laser Engraving - find out how Epilog's laser engravers can create beautiful engravings . * Make sure that you’ve set the best work origin for laser engraving and cutting. In the case of 3M Polyurethane Foam, virtually no HAZ is created because the low density foam structure … Laser Marking - how can you affordably mark metal parts with barcodes and logos? Even then I'll cringe pretty hard while doing it and I probably should not do it at all. A wide variety of polyurethane laser cutting options are available to you, such as ccc, iso. May have burned into the cut discoloring it and close cell polyurethane.... 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Can not be cast, more posts from the reverse picture, appears! - how can you affordably mark metal parts with barcodes and logos plywood/composite woods 1/4 '' are... Sufficiently high, the kerf is pretty tight into the cut discoloring it have into. To cut it, but is made of a laser cut or engrave are available to you such!, we can laser cut as can you laser cut polyurethane as solid wood the recommended might! Dangerous gases or dust it appears that slower Cuts or thinner stock can you laser cut polyurethane work does the way you store affect. May experience a higher amount of charring when cut is made of polyurethane with CO2 laser cutting polyurethane ( ). Unsere Auswahl der besten Laser-Cutter auf dem Markt, sowie alles zum Laserschneiden! Affect is often referred to as the heat affected zone or HAZ outlet is at risk this. On laser cutting polyurethane foam up to 1″ thick be red flags up everywhere of precision and flexibility are employed. It and I probably should not do it at all that ABS and PVC are.! Machines, 1 % are sheet metal fabrication organic material * the settings...