Laser Materials

Do your research before cutting!

Never use:

• Anything containing chlorine (PVC, vinyl, …): corrosive fumes, destroying the machine

• Plywood glued with dark glue (AW100): dense toxic smoke

• Polystyrene: potentially toxic smoke

• Materials treated with flame retardant, e.g. PCBs: toxic smoke

Use:

• Acrylic: clean edges, no carbon

• Solid wood, with the exception of some toxic tropical woods

• Plywood glued with light glue (IF20): cuts like butter

• MDF

• Stamp rubber for laser cutters

• Glass: can be engraved

• Stone: can be engraved

• Anodized aluminium: can be engraved

• Plain metal: can be engraved if treated with special paint before (available for example from Trotec)

Avoid inhaling the fumes of any material, even those that are regularly used. Although fumes may not be harmful to the machine, they may be harmful to you.

See also

• Material table on the Fab Lab Aachen’s laser cutter page

• Applications for Trotec laser cutters (machines like ours for use in office spaces, just more high end)

• Material list for Eurolaser laser cutters (laser cutters for industrial purpose, may be in factories, so toxic fumes are less of a concern!)