Can you cut acrylic with a diode laser? No, with a diode laser, you cannot cut transparent acrylic, with the exception of black and red. Below, you can read exactly why, and what is and isn't possible.
What is a diode laser?
Laser cutters work with a laser source. In the laser source, the laser beam is generated, similar to a light bulb. There are different types of laser sources, and they produce laser beams at different wavelengths.
The most common lasers among our customers are diode lasers, followed by CO2 laser cutters, and a small portion has a fiber laser. We will elaborate on diode and CO2 lasers here because they are the most common.
CO2 lasers can cut through all materials in our assortment, provided they have enough wattage. Diode lasers cannot cut through light-transmitting plastics.
Diode laser beams consist of blue light at a wavelength of 450nm; this blue light is not absorbed by transparent plastics. This laser beam passes straight through the material, preventing it from cutting into the sheet.
Which types of acrylic *can* you cut with a diode laser cutter?
Black and red acrylic can be cut with a diode laser. Black because these sheets are so dark that they absorb light. Red because this color is on the opposite side of the light spectrum relative to the blue laser beam, which allows the laser beam to 'grip' this material. Unfortunately, this does not work with other colors of the same material.
Keep in mind that cutting acrylic requires some experience with laser cutting.
Is laser cutting acrylic safe?
Acrylic is suitable for laser cutting, but it is sensitive to fire. Always stay next to your machine when it is laser cutting acrylic.
It is important that you always observe the standard safety rules and machine regulations during laser cutting. Every laser workshop should have a fire extinguisher within reach of the machine. You can find more about safety here...
How do you recognize fire hazards with acrylic?
If you see a constant orange glow around the laser cut, or if you see flames that don't go out on their own. Stop the machine immediately and adjust your settings.
A flickering glow around the laser beam while cutting acrylic is not a problem. This is caused by the laser hitting the honeycomb underneath. As long as the light or glow extinguishes intermittently, like a blinker, it's okay. If the glow doesn't extinguish intermittently, or if it gets bigger? Then there is a fire hazard. Stop the machine immediately and adjust the settings.
Acrylic overheats if the laser passes over it too slowly. If you can't cut through it when going faster? Then your material is likely too thick for your machine's power. Use a thinner material.
Are there tricks to still cut transparent acrylic?
Multiple sources can be found online with tricks that allow you to cut transparent acrylic with a diode laser. These methods are not validated for our machines and materials, so we advise against them.
How do I know which material I can and cannot cut?
On a material's product page, you can see which laser type and minimum wattage you need to cut a material. You'll also see our quality mark LaserGrade, LaserGrade shows whether a material is approved for laser cutting; also check out the collection of LaserGrade materials suitable for diode.
