Looking for recommendations for cutting 2" closed polyethylene 4lb density foam. Currently using a 60 watt Universal pls6.6 with 2" lens. Considering Trotec 300, Kern, Universal... Would prefer either gantry or pass thru loading for manufacturing. All pieces are custom so die cuts are out and CNC is noisy and messy. Needs to support .dxf or illustrator.
Would also like recommendations of laser power. Is 60 watts enough or 100, 150?
Josh,
I am not an expert on all of the different laser systems out there, but I don't think you are going to be able to accomplish what you want to do. Most co2 lasers have a very narrow margin of focus on the beam (depending on the lens). I don't know of any that would have a full 2 inches of focus. The big problem here is once the bean begins to grow out of focus you would start to melt away a lot of the area around your cut. I have tried to cut cardboard covered 1/4 inch foam. While the cardboard top and bottom cut just fine, the middle just gets melted away. Once again I am no expert, but you may have to look into either hot wire cutting or mechanical (CNC) cutting.