The suitability of a plastic for CO2 laser processing depends largely on its chemical composition and how it reacts to the intense heat of the laser. Generally, thermoplastics are more suitable for laser processing than thermosetting plastics.
Here’s a breakdown of the best-suited plastics for CO2 laser processing, along with some that should be avoided:
Highly Recommended Plastics
These plastics are known to produce clean cuts, smooth edges, and are generally safe to process with proper ventilation.
| Plastic |
|---|
| Acrylic (PMMA) |
| Polypropylene (PP) |
| Polyethylene (PE) and its variants (HDPE, LLDPE) |
| Nylon |
| PETG |
| Delrin (POM) |
Suitable with Considerations
These plastics can be processed with a CO2 laser, but may require specific settings or produce less-than-perfect results.
| Plastic |
|---|
| Styrene |
| Kapton (Polyimide) |
| Mylar (Polyester) |
| ABS |
Plastics to Avoid
Processing these plastics with a CO2 laser can be dangerous to both your health and your laser cutter due to the release of toxic and corrosive fumes.
| Plastic |
|---|
| PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) |
| PTFE (Teflon) |
| Polycarbonate (PC) |
It’s always recommended to check the material safety data sheet (MSDS) of any plastic before laser processing to ensure it doesn’t contain any harmful elements.