Discover the laser cut butterfly lamp made of flexible 100% FSC bamboo plywood
We designed this lamp to explore the versatility of our latest material, bamboo plywood. In this article, we'll show you how we discovered this material and why it's so perfect for laser cutting. Read on and discover what you can create with flexible bamboo!
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How we discovered bamboo plywood
Bamboo has been a beloved material in our Lasersheets range for years, mainly in the form of side-pressed sheets. These sheets are made by compressing long strips of bamboo together. Although this material is strong, it is mainly along the length of the fibers. We noticed that customers used bamboo for designs that were sometimes too fragile, especially when the fibers were perpendicular to the design. This often resulted in breaks, which is, of course, a shame!
In search of a better solution for both our customers and ourselves, we came across a manufacturer that processes bamboo into plywood. By gluing thin layers of bamboo crosswise, an extremely strong and durable material is created. This type of bamboo plywood is still quite unique and almost unavailable elsewhere, but it is ideal for laser cutting.
Why bamboo plywood is perfect for laser cutting
Bamboo plywood has several major advantages for laser cutting. The main advantage is the homogeneity of the material compared to side-pressed bamboo. Side-pressed sheets often contain thick knots, which can be problematic when laser cutting. A laser beam has more difficulty cutting through knots, which can lead to failed products – a waste of your time and material.
However, in bamboo plywood, the knots are much thinner, only a few tenths of a millimeter instead of the 5 mm in side-pressed. This makes the material much more homogeneous and therefore much more suitable for precise laser cutting.
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Want to know more about the sustainability of bamboo?
Our bamboo plywood is 100% FSC certified. If you want to learn more about the sustainable properties of this material, check out the page of bamboo plywood.
How flexible is thin bamboo plywood?
To test the flexibility of bamboo plywood, we designed this lamp. Bamboo plywood with a thickness of 0.5 mm is extremely flexible – almost comparable to stiff paper. Thanks to the crosswise glued layers, it does not break easily when bent, making it perfect for applications where flexibility is essential.
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The design of the butterfly lamp
We wanted to design a lamp that optimally utilizes the flexibility of the 0.5 mm thick bamboo. The wings of the lamp are cut loose, which gave us the opportunity to play with light incidence and the bendability of the material. For the backplate, we used 5 mm thick bamboo plywood, which creates a nice contrast between the different thicknesses of the same material.
In these photos, we used a wireless LED lamp as a light source. To integrate a real fitting, we would need to further develop the design.
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What will you create with bendable bamboo plywood?
Get inspired by our butterfly lamp and discover the countless possibilities of bendable bamboo plywood. Whether you design a lamp, furniture, or decorative objects, this versatile material offers you endless possibilities.
