Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- laser_cutting_data [2020/02/06 23:28] – [Guideline Cutting Recipes] perkins
+++ laser_cutting_data [2025/02/05 21:35] (current) – bdincau
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ===== CNSI Microfluidics Laser Cutting Data =====
+====Material====
+Always check materials list BEFORE attempting to cut/engrave a material. If unsure contact IW Staff.
+__**Allowed Materials**__
+Plastics:
+  * ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
+  * Acrylic (also known as Plexiglas, Lucite, PMMA)
+  * Delrin (POM, acetal) — **Must use nitrogen assist when cutting delrin**
+  * Kapton tape (Polyimide)
+  * Mylar (polyester)
+  * Nylon (melts badly)
+  * PDMS
+  * PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol)
+  * Polypropylene (PP) — melts somewhat
+  * Styrene
+  * Two-tone acrylic — top color different than core material
+Foam:
+  * Depron foam (often used for RC planes)
+  * EPM
+  * Gator foam (foam core gets burned and eaten away compared to the top and bottom hard shell)
+Other:
+  * Cloths (leather, suede, felt, hemp, cotton)
+  * Magnetic Sheets
+  * Papers
+  * Rubbers(neoprene, etc supplier try: mcmaster.com)
+  * Woods(MDF, balsa, birch, poplar, red oak, cherry, holly, etc. supplier try: midwestproducts.com)
+__Prohibited Material__
+  * **Metals** (our laser cutters are not powerful enough nor setup to cut through metals and attempting to do so could damage the machine)
+    * Metals (cannot be engraved however a certain type of paint/tape which chemically bonds with the metal may be used to mark materials)
+  * **Polycarbonate** (PC, Lexan) — Lexan creates large amounts of fumes
+  * **Teflon** (PTFE, Polytetrafluoroethylene) – cutting creates Fluorine gas
+  * __**Any material containing chlorine**__
+    * **PVC** (Cintra) — contains chlorine
+    * **Vinyl** — contains chlorine
+  ***HDPE**: "milk bottle" plastic. It gets gooey, melts and catches on fire.
+  ***Epoxy**
+  ***Glass** — you can engrave glass, but trying to cut it will cause cracking or breakage
+  ***Fiberglass**
+  ***Printed circuit board** (FR4 and other material types)
+  ***Carbon Fiber**
@@ Line 54: / Line 100: @@
    *Recipe from Vincent
+====Functional Engraving Recipes====
+For users looking to cut acrylic at different depths, these different cut depths were tested at different power settings. Data courtesy of Ph.D. student Sanghun Jee on a Trotec 60W CO2 laser cutter. Thank you Sanghun!
+{| style=""
+|+
+!
+Engraving Cut Thickness
+!
+Engraving Settings
+|-
+|
+mm
+|
+% power, 0% speed
+|-
+|
+.208 mm
+|
+% power, 30% speed
+|-
+|
+.314 mm
+|
+% power, 30% speed
+|-
+|
+.352 mm
+|
+% power, 30% speed
+|-
+|
+.413 mm
+|
+% power, 30% speed
+|-
+|
+.446 mm
+|
+% power, 30% speed
+|-
+|
+.485 mm
+|
+% power, 30% speed
+|}
+For users who wish to engrave at different depths than those listed above, here is a graph and equation that may help out with making estimations of what laser power to use.
-|         ^ Color        ^ Power         ^ Speed  ^ PPI/Hz   ^ Passes  ^Air Assist   ^ Correction  ^ Z-Offset ^
+{{functional_acrylic_engraving.jpg?direct&500}}
-^ Engrave    | Row 1 Col 2          | Row 1 Col 3        |
-^ Cut        | no colspan this time |                    |
-^ Cut        | Row 2 Col 2          | Row 2 Col 3        |
-   *Recipes from Vincent
-|              ^ Heading 1            ^ Heading 2          ^
-^ Heading 3    | Row 1 Col 2          | Row 1 Col 3        |
-^ Heading 4    | no colspan this time |                    |
-^ Heading 5    | Row 2 Col 2          | Row 2 Col 3        |
-   *Recipes from Rachel
-|              ^ Heading 1            ^ Heading 2          ^
-^ Heading 3    | Row 1 Col 2          | Row 1 Col 3        |
-^ Heading 4    | no colspan this time |                    |
-^ Heading 5    | Row 2 Col 2          | Row 2 Col 3        |
-   *Recipes from Ola
-|              ^ Heading 1            ^ Heading 2          ^
-^ Heading 3    | Row 1 Col 2          | Row 1 Col 3        |
-^ Heading 4    | no colspan this time |                    |
-^ Heading 5    | Row 2 Col 2          | Row 2 Col 3        |
-   *Recipes from Beach
 ----