As the proud owner of a diode laser cutter, you might be in need of some inspiration. The choice you have in terms of materials is a bit smaller than for CO2 laser machines. And that limits your options, right?
Because of diode lasers, everyone can get into laser cutting, as they are cheaper and smaller than CO2 lasers. Because of this, they are an ideal choice for hobbyists and model makers. However, a clear disadvantage of diode lasers is, as we said, that not all materials can be processed safely.
Lasersheets has many customers with a diode laser cutter. For safety and the best results, it is important that you use the right materials. Look at our top 10 diode laser materials and it becomes clear that owners of this machine do not always get the short straw.
Top 10 Best Diode Laser Materials
You can make beautiful objects with your diode laser cutter, such as (small) furniture, jewellery, utensils, and model parts. They all have different characteristics, which makes them more (or less) suitable for certain projects.
Read on about our top 10 materials which are ideal for use in the diode laser cutter.
1. Birch Plywood
We love birch plywood and this material more than deserves its first place in our top 10. This wood for your diode laser is strong and hard, and it is known for its beautiful natural grain which is clearly visible. The layers are glued together in a crosswise manner. Because of that, birch plywood is less prone to breaking than, for example, a solid sheet of wood.
Watch out for the following features when choosing birch plywood for your diode laser cutter:
- Is it of a good quality, like our B/B quality birch plywood?
- Is it free of knots?
- Did they use a glue that can be used safely in the diode laser cutter?
Birch plywood is very versatile, and can for example be used for making models, keychains, and lampshades. Untreated it is not suitable for use outside.
2. MDF
Plywood is made up out of several thin wooden sheets, whereas MDF sheets are made of glued wood fibres. Because of this consistency, it is homogenous, strong and stiff, ideal for projects requiring strong material. It is also a perfect material for use in the diode laser, because it is affordable and versatile.
Here it is also important to check if the glue used is compatible with a laser cutter. We advise you to choose for sheets with the LaserGrade Diode label. Not only do you know that the right glue was used, but also that the material can be processed perfectly by a diode laser cutter.
What do our Xtool users make with MDF? This can be many things, from section models to furniture and 3D-sculptures. Unfinished MDF must be treated before it can be used outside.
Tip: have a look at our MDF 1mm sheets, for an extra thin and versatile diode laser material.
3. PE Rigid Foam
You might be surprised to hear that PE rigid foam is suitable for the diode laser cutter. Rubber and plastics often melt and start smoking in the diode laser and are therefore unsuitable and even unsafe. Our PE rigid foam has been awarded the LaserGrade Diode label and is completely safe. Our customers are more than happy to take advantage of this.
PE rigid foam is waterproof, it floats, and it is very resistant to chemicals. Apart from that it is soft (comparable to a harder mattress) and bendable.
Because of this, you can make beautiful objects with it, such as company logos and packaging. It is also regularly used as inlay for suitcases or tool drawers. It can be used outside without problems and because of that it is also an interesting choice for use in signage.
4. Black MDF
Standard MDF has no finishing, but black MDF is coloured through and through. Because of this, it is a bit more expensive than standard MDF, but there is no need to paint it. This material for your diode laser remains black everywhere, even along the cutting edges.
Black MDF has the same characteristics as standard MDF, so it is affordable, homogenous, and even stronger. It is also a bit heavier. You do not need to finish it, but you can.
With black MDF and a Glowforge Aura you can make casing, technical prototypes and signage.
Tip: our white coated MDF is also very popular with diode laser owners. It has a decorative white layer on both sides and it is ideal for use in furniture and displays. You can make a unique image when engraving it. The paint is not applied through and through, like is the case with our black MDF.
5. Bamboo
Bamboo is also an excellent type of wood for use in the diode laser. It has a natural look and because it grows fast, it is also a sustainable choice. Our sheets are made out of glued strips of bamboo, with a hard and smooth surface.
Bamboo is a material that you choose for its natural appearance. It is important to remember that it is a bit weaker along the grain. Apart from that, it is a stiff and tough Xtool material, which is also perfect for diode laser projects.
Our diode laser customers love bamboo, but it is not as widely applicable as, for example, birch plywood. What can you make with it? Think about front panels (for your kitchen cabinets?), jewellery or a beautiful brooch, casing, or shop displays.
6. Oak (MDF Core)
With our oak sheet with an MDF core you kill several birds with one stone. Because of the MDF core, it is strong and affordable, the oak finish on both sides makes this a very decorative and luxurious material as well. Unless you have other ideas, it does not really need to be treated further.
Our diode laser customers choose oak sheets with an MDF core when they need a natural and elegant material. Because of that, this is a diode laser material which is used regularly for making objects that should be seen, such as displays, lamps, and furniture.
Tip: use our oak diode laser material with an MDF core as the base for your model or maquette. We also sell walnut with an MDF core if you need a darker sheet.
7. Laser Board
If you own a (diode) laser cutter, you have to love laser board. At Lasersheets we are fans! It can be cut safely and beautifully with your diode laser. Laser board is cardboard soaked in resin and pressed into a sheet. Because of that, it has the strong and flexible features it is so well known for.
Laser board is an ideal material for the diode laser, because it is used for models a lot. Diode lasers such as those of Geweike are smaller and therefore better suited to cutting smaller shapes.
Laser board allows you to apply the smallest details to your model, such as windows, stones, and fencing.
8. Neoprene Cell Rubber
It can be hard to find a suitable foam for your laser machine. Cell rubber neoprene is a smart diode laser material to have a look at. It has closed cells, just like PE rigid foam, which makes it waterproof and insulating.
Our customers regularly use it for sealing and (sound) absorption. We sell neoprene in different thicknesses, and the thicker the sheet, the better the thermal insulation and acoustic absorption. Neoprene is flexible, durable, and can be applied in a variety of ways.
9. Poplar Plywood
Poplar plywood is another type of wood that can be processed by the diode laser. It is one of the Xtool materials that are used in projects where strength is not the most important requirement. Compared to birch plywood, poplar plywood is softer, lighter, less rigid, and less strong.
Here it is equally important that you buy a plywood sheet for your Ortur diode laser that contains suitable glue, that does not have knots, and that is of a high quality. Because it is a soft material, your laser cutter will cut through the thicker sheets without problems as well.
Our customers use this type of diode laser material for model building or art installations. When you take care of the wood and you finish it well, it can be applied outside, for example in a sign.
10. Double-Sided Adhesive Foil
When you think about diode laser materials, double-sided adhesive foil is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Still, it is a great material to use, because diode laser hobbyists will benefit from it especially.
Model builders with, for example, a Sculpfun diode laser, attach this foil to the sheet before cutting it. Once your machine is finished with it, you stick your façade to the wall of your model or a letter against your background. With double-sided adhesive foil you can stick your object to something else as soon as it comes out of your laser cutter.
Diode Laser Materials Galore
If you think that you can only make simple objects with a diode laser, you are wrong. There is plenty of variation possible with the materials that are offered. Our customers are more than happy to take advantage of this, and that is clearly reflected in this versatile top 10.
It is easy to see which materials are suitable for your diode laser if you buy them from Lasersheets. It is one of the filter options, for example, but we also have a page with only diode laser materials. Then there is also the blue LaserGrade label that is only displayed with materials that can be processed by your Xtool, Sculpfun, Ortur, Gweike, or Glowforge Aura diode laser.
Do you have additional questions about diode laser materials? Do you want to be sure that your diode laser is suitable? We have more than 10 years of experience with laser cutting, both with CO2 as with diode lasers. Contact us and our experts will assist you further.
