Tips on laser cutting soft materials

[drmitsos]

Hi there,
just discovered this forum as I am a newbie in laser cutting etc.
I have a Versalaser 3.50 and trying to cut a thin plastic material (plastic stickers in fact).

My problem is that mid-way through the cutting, the material becomes curved and interferes with the head, causing the process to stop.

I have attached the plastic material to the bottom plate with double-sided tape to stop it from curving but I guess that might not be the best solution.

Anyone have any ideas on this?

Thanks,
Jim.

[Tweakie]

Hi Jim,

Not that it's much help but plastic material curves because it is getting hotter on one side than it does on the other or alternately is cooling down quicker on one side than it is on the other. It is probably quite easy to adjust the volume of the air assist for the top surface but keeping it cool on the underneath is an issue which I have not yet found a suitable way to resolve. (when cutting acrylic it sometimes bends upwards slightly, it never bends downwards). I think re-design of the cutting bed may be the only answer, perhaps your question will through some light on a solution.

Tweakie.

[Litografa]

Hello,
Look here for POSSIBLE solution
http://www.litografa.lt/index.php?aid=357

[Tweakie]

Hi Litografa,

I have a vacuum table which is just fine for engraving work but it is no use for cutting acrylics on.
The main problem encountered when cutting right through is reflections from the table damaging the back edges of the work.

It was a good thought though.

Tweakie.

[Litografa]

OK, look here
http://www.litografa.lt/index.php?aid=360
you set necessary quantity of pins in points where will be NO CUTTING. Put material on pins and with hand made caps FIX material on pins. Caps are usually made from plastic and you just slightly pin (put on) this caps to the top of table metal pins to keep material in tension.


But really I think vacuum table should work for this job as Jim mentioned that materials is THIN, so really there will be NO back side mark during cutting