Cor-Plast???

[bpoulin]

Does anyone know if Cor-Plast is safeto cut? I don't know what it's made of? I think it may be PVC but I can't seem to get a straight answer.

[baksiidaa]

It looks like it is made of polypropylene. A web search turned up a page saying that laser cutting polypropylene releases benzene (a carcinogen), but Universal says on their web page that you can cut Coroplast, and a number of other pages talk about cutting polypropylene.

[baksiidaa]

I looked through Coroplast's health and safety info and MSDS and they don't say anything about benzene. People on the Sawmill Creek forum have cut it.

[zax15uk]

As others have stated, Coroplast is polypropylene and can be laser cut. It may produce some noxious fumes so ensure you have adequate exhaust.

In my experience you need more power than you think to get good results. A 60W system will be fine.

Zax.

[EXLASer]

Agree Zax,
your laser is 80w ,just set power at 70-80%.
Mike

Originally Posted by zax15uk As others have stated, Coroplast is polypropylene and can be laser cut. It may produce some noxious fumes so ensure you have adequate exhaust. In my experience you need more power than you think to get good results. A 60W system will be fine. Zax.

[Litografa]

I was not happy with quality of cut - edge is molted too strong. Cutting need higher air flow in air assist and non-stop attention as material is flammable. So replace your laser with OLFA knife

[zax15uk]

I actually like the rounded edge it has since cut Coroplast can be sharp, but I can also see how this may not be desirable depending on the application.

There may be different versions of similar corrogated plastic so be careful as they could be PVC or some mix.

Zax.

[bpoulin]

I am not looking for a commercial use for it. I just saw some folded coroplast boxes at wally world, and thought to myself... Humm this could be fun to make some 3D dinosaur models out of that stuff lol. And that got the mind rolling. I use coroplast for signs but I've never lasered it.

[zax15uk]

Coroplast dinos would be perfectly fine, you may also want to pick up a package of their EVA foam (foamies). Dollar Tree has it too, and as the commercial says 'everythings a $1'. Example: http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/p...RODID=prd28413

Zax.

[dmoore]

Originally Posted by zax15uk I actually like the rounded edge it has since cut Coroplast can be sharp, but I can also see how this may not be desirable depending on the application. There may be different versions of similar corrogated plastic so be careful as they could be PVC or some mix. Zax.

It is all possible for you or anyone else cutting coro to post some detailed photos showing the cut quality?

I currently CNC cut 200-400 sheets of coro per month in some pretty intracate shapes and we spend some time sanding/cutting the edges to get good edge quality our customers are ok with. I would be great to have a product that comes off the shelf into the box without that additional post processing step. Another big problem with have with machining it is that it creates lots of what we call "coro flake" which has to be blown out of the flutes - again yet another manual operation.

Thanks

[zax15uk]

Laser will produce a 'soft' edge and eliminate your sanding and flakes but intricate shapes may be a problem as the melting removes sharp corners so a square will have a radius on points.

I don't have any pictures available right now but if I have some material I can cut some next week.

Zax.