Laser cut thin carbon fiber

[rcpilot82]

Hello, I have a 120 watt co2 laser and would like to cut thin C.F. thickness would be 1/16" or thinner.

1. can it be done?
2. do I need any additives (pastes)?
3. what is the finish like?
4. any other advise?

I have a router but don't want to use it due to the hazardous dust that is made.

[Tweakie]

I think you will need a lot more power than that to get a crisp edge. Too little power just burns the resin.
The bottom line, of course, is try it and see

Good luck,

Tweakie.

[rcpilot82]

Thanks tweakie, I was hoping to find others who have done this before I blow $50 on something I can't cut. I don't have ant c.f. that would work laying around.

[rcpilot82]

Has anyone done this?

[Dorsal]

Most laser-cutting shops will quickly back away from a job to laser-cut any carbon fiber products, because it is very difficult. After all, the material is ALREADY carbon, so you can't oxidize it any further (which is what a laser does). It takes a high-powered pulsed laser system, and the beam splatters significantly at less than 1/8" of depth.
btw, the dust from machining cured CF products is not "hazardous" in the sense of poisons or solvents, it is ultra-fine dust which is chemically inert to the human body. The problem is the inertness, because your body won't "reject" it, so breathing it can cause "miner's lung" disease - lungs filled with charcoal (carbon) dust.

[rcpilot82]

Thanks for the info Dorsal. I found some flat c.f. 6mm x 1.0mm and figured I'd see if I could cut it. Sure enough, it cut real nice and left a smooth edge. here is a link to the product.
http://rcfoam.com/cart.php?target=pr...category_id=96

I only used 50% power also.