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===Overview=== | |||
---- | |||
Acrylic is a type of plastic that can be easily cut and formed to be used in many applications. | |||
===Safety=== | |||
---- | |||
{{warn|'''ALWAYS keep a close eye on the machine when cutting acrylic due to its flammability'''}} | |||
===Types=== | |||
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There are two main types of acrylic sheet: | |||
====Extruded==== | |||
Created by extruding molten acrylic pellets through a machine | |||
*'''Pros''' | |||
**Cheaper | |||
**Better tolerances | |||
**Easier to bend and form | |||
**Easier to flame polish edge | |||
*'''Cons''' | |||
**Easy to crack | |||
**Engraving produces grey frost | |||
**Lower optical clarity when compared to cast (still very high) | |||
**Less scratch resistant | |||
====Cast==== | |||
Created by pouring molten acrylic pellets into a mold | |||
*'''Pros''' | |||
**Produces better results when engraving (white frost) | |||
**Comes in many colors | |||
**Machines better | |||
**Higher optical clarity | |||
**More scratch resistant | |||
*'''Cons''' | |||
**Expensive (your kid might not be going to college) | |||
===Cutting/Engraving=== | |||
* Table for common settings | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! SUBSTRATE !! 250 DPI<br/> RASTER<br/>ENGRAVING<br/>SPEED/POWER !! 400 DPI<br/> RASTER<br/>ENGRAVING<br/>SPEED/POWER !! 500 DPI<br/> RASTER<br/>ENGRAVING<br/>SPEED/POWER !! VECTOR<br/>CUTTING<br/>SPEED/POWER/FREQUENCY | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="3" | Acrylic || rowspan="3" | 100/100|| rowspan="3" | 100/80|| rowspan="3" | 100/60|| ⅛ (3 mm) – 15/100/5000 | |||
|- | |||
| ¼ (6.4 mm) – 5/100/5000 | |||
|- | |||
| (multiple passes may allow cutting of thicker materials) | |||
|- | |||
|} | |||
====Tips==== | |||
*If engraving, try to use cast acrylic as it will produce better results | |||
*When vector cutting, use masking tape on the backside of the piece to protect against flair up scorch marks as the laser hits the cutting grid. | |||
Latest revision as of 02:43, 27 April 2023
Overview
Acrylic is a type of plastic that can be easily cut and formed to be used in many applications.
Safety
ALWAYS keep a close eye on the machine when cutting acrylic due to its flammability
Types
There are two main types of acrylic sheet:
Extruded
Created by extruding molten acrylic pellets through a machine
- Pros
- Cheaper
- Better tolerances
- Easier to bend and form
- Easier to flame polish edge
- Cons
- Easy to crack
- Engraving produces grey frost
- Lower optical clarity when compared to cast (still very high)
- Less scratch resistant
Cast
Created by pouring molten acrylic pellets into a mold
- Pros
- Produces better results when engraving (white frost)
- Comes in many colors
- Machines better
- Higher optical clarity
- More scratch resistant
- Cons
- Expensive (your kid might not be going to college)
Cutting/Engraving
- Table for common settings
| SUBSTRATE | 250 DPI RASTER ENGRAVING SPEED/POWER |
400 DPI RASTER ENGRAVING SPEED/POWER |
500 DPI RASTER ENGRAVING SPEED/POWER |
VECTOR CUTTING SPEED/POWER/FREQUENCY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | 100/100 | 100/80 | 100/60 | ⅛ (3 mm) – 15/100/5000 |
| ¼ (6.4 mm) – 5/100/5000 | ||||
| (multiple passes may allow cutting of thicker materials) |
Tips
- If engraving, try to use cast acrylic as it will produce better results
- When vector cutting, use masking tape on the backside of the piece to protect against flair up scorch marks as the laser hits the cutting grid.