Which materials can be cut with a Co2 laser?

To cut materials, laser machine emit a laser beam raising the temperature until vaporization of a reduced area of material.

Some material cannot be cut as they can melt, emit dangerous gases or require higher power than available.

Materials that can be cut are

   - Abs
   - Acrylic: Pmma, Plexiglas, Polymethylmethacrylate
   - Rubber
   - Wood
   - Raw wood (thin thicknesses)
   - MDF / Medium (avoid thicknesses> 6mm which produce very burnt finish and emit a lot of smoke) -

      Do not use MDF tinted in the mass
    - Plywood
    - Polyamide / PA / Nylon
    - Polybutylene terephthakate (PTB)
   - Polyoxymethylene / POM / Delrin
    - Polyester / PES / Thermolite / Polarguard
    - Polyethylene terephthalate / PET / Mylar
    - Polyimide / PI / Kapton
  - Polystyrene / PS
    - Polypropylene / PP
    - Rhodoïd / Transparent for overhead projector
    - Foam without PVC
    - Polyester / PES
    - Polyethylene / PE
    - Polyurethane / PUR
    - Neoprene – easily flamable
    - Fabrics (felt, hemp, cotton, acrylic, nylon)
   - Leather
    - Paper
    - Cardboard, wooden cardboard
    - Feather cardboard (cardboard + PU foam)

- FFFoam cardboard (cardboard + expanded polystyrene) cuts much less
- FNatural, synthetic rubbers (only if they do not contain chlorine) Warning : generates a lot of soot and enormously fouls machines

Materials that cannot be cut are

    - Reflective materials: mirrors, chrome objects, polished metals, ... The use of reflective materials can seriously damage the machine (Mirrors can be engraved only with reflective side facing the machine table)
    - Most metals, however, cutting mode can be used for marking some
    - Fiberglass
    - Printed circuit board (Fiberglass + epoxy)
    - Carbon fiber
    - All materials containing chlorine, PVC, vinyl,   Use prohibited, risk of deadly chlorine gas emission
    - All materials containing fluorine: Teflon / Polytetrafluoroethylene / PTFE… Use prohibited, risk of emission of fluorine in the form of gas
    - Glass
    - Medium valcromat tinted in the mass – flamable
    - Polycarbonate / PC / Lexan / Makrolon: melts and burns
    - Expanded / extruded polystyrene (foam): melts and burns
    - Compound and / or non-homogeneous materials are generally difficult to cleanly cut with a laser.