Can you laser cut acrylic with a diode laser? No, with a diode laser you can't cut transparent acrylic, but you can cut opaque black and red acrylic. Below, you'll read exactly why, and what's possible and what's not.
What is a diode laser?
Laser cutters work with a laser source. The laser beam is generated in the laser source, 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 number have a fibre laser. We'll focus on diode and CO2 lasers here, as they are the most prevalent.
CO2 lasers can cut through all the materials in our range, provided they have enough wattage. Diode lasers can't cut through translucent plastics.
Diode laser beams consist of blue light at a wavelength of 450nm. This blue light isn't absorbed by transparent plastics. The laser beam passes straight through the material, meaning it won't cut 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 sheets are dark enough to absorb the light. Red works because its colour is on the opposite side of the light spectrum compared to the blue diode laser beam, allowing the laser beam to 'grab' onto the material.
We also tested yellow, green, and blue acrylic with a diode laser. Unfortunately, it didn't work. The laser beam didn't cut through them.
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 prone to catching fire. Always stay next to your machine when it's laser cutting acrylic.
It's important that you always follow standard safety rules and machine instructions when laser cutting. Every laser workshop should have a fire extinguisher within arm's reach of the machine. Find out more about safety here...
How to recognise fire hazards with acrylic?
If you see a constant orange glow around the laser cut, or if you see flames that don't extinguish themselves, stop the machine immediately and adjust your settings.
A flickering glow around the laser beam while cutting acrylic isn't a problem. This happens because the laser is hitting the honeycomb bed underneath. As long as the light or glow goes out in between, like a flashing light, it's okay. If the glow doesn't go out in between, or if it gets bigger, then there's a fire hazard. Stop the machine immediately and adjust the settings.
Acrylic overheats if the laser moves over it too slowly. If you can't cut through it when you go faster, your material is probably too thick for your machine's power. Choose a thinner material.
Are there any tricks to cut transparent acrylic?
You can find several online sources with tricks that claim to let you cut transparent acrylic with a diode laser. These methods haven't been validated for our machines and materials, so we advise against using them.
How do I know which materials I can and can't cut?
On each material's product page, you'll see the minimum laser type and wattage you need to cut it. You'll also find our LaserGrade quality mark there. LaserGrade indicates whether a material is approved for laser cutting. Also, check out the LaserGrade materials suitable for diode lasers collection.
