Cutting masking tape with laser... to apply then paint through...

[ChattyMatty]

Scanned he threads and the masking questions all seem (reasonably) to be about preventing scorch marks in wood. Seems what I want to do is odd. I want to use my soon to arrive Makeblock kit (I'm calling it my 'big boy Erector set') to cut shapes out of a masking material of some sort and then apply the mask to an object to spray paint. Anyone tried this? I sure there's some miracle product in 3m's catalog that's not too papery (won't tear) not too plastic/vinyl-like (won't stretch like a vinyl sticker) like maybe some super thin PU to which I could then apply something like their 467MP double sided adhesive to? [If you haven't played with that particular product it's awesome- it's basically the goo from a sticker without the sticker; clear and no substrate] At my local electronics surplus store I came up with some .0005" fiberglass insulation sheets, but something tells me that hitting those with the laser is asking for trouble in a Chernobyl kinda way...

Thanks, and pics to follow when the goodness (and the modifications) begin

-M

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[TehPepper]

Regular old masking tape cuts just fine with a laser. I have found minimal air assist and getting the min power for the corners set are the most important factors.

I place the masking tape on the baking paper to prepare it for cutting. If what I intend to mask it too big for one strip I overlap strips to make a sheet of masking tape and cut from that.

For things such as lettering I will lay another piece of masking tape over the top to keep it all in place and pick off the baking paper from the pieces I need to stick.

I do have trouble with bleed but that is not the lasers fault. I just spray with some clear first to fill the bleed. Or find good quality masking tape that is wide enough to be useful

[ChattyMatty]

The painting with clear is a great idea. I wouldn't have thought of that. Particularly if it's one of those 'flexible' paints meant for car bumpers... hmmm. Me likey. That 467MP I mentioned comes in nice big rolls, already on backing, I could just add regular masking paper to it, paint it for extra goodness, run it on low (prolly only going to buy a 2500mw laser anyway) then it gets hit with the paint to hold it together in the intricate parts while the backing is peeled off.

Thanks man, I knew someone had been here before