Laser Cutting Services
I operate an 80W CO2 laser machine.
It’s fast and versatile.
Whether you’re building a single prototype or doing a production run, laser cutting may be a critical step in your product development process.
When it comes to prototyping, laser cutting helps to fill the pitfalls of 3D printing. Laser cutting is wicked-fast and thrives at producing large flat shapes. For best results, sometimes it is necessary to merge the two processes: Laser-cut the large flat shapes, 3D print the intricate shapes, and then glue it all together. Viola! Now you have the best of both worlds.
When it comes to production, not all products are well suited for laser-cutting, but for those that are: Laser-cutting offers a way to bring a product to market faster and without the upfront tooling costs associated with other manufacturing processes.
I'm a master of designing products for laser-cutting. If you are wondering whether or not your product would be better off with laser-cutting, just ask.
Pricing:
$100 / hr ($40 minimum)
*Cash discounts may be available for personal (not for profit) projects. Inquire if interested.
Typical turn around times for prototypes and small-batch runs are within 5 days.
Acceptable materials:
- Wood
- Acrylic (aka Plexiglas, Lucite, PMMA)
- Acrylic Laminates
- Cardboard
- Paper / Paper Products
- Most Textiles (Synthetics and naturals)
- Magnetic Sheets
- Delrin (AKA: POM, Acetal)
- High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG)
- Styrene
- Some Foams (PES, PE, PUR, Depron, Neoprene)
- Films/Foils (PES, PC, PET, PI)
- Leathers (Imitations too)
- Cork
- Rubbers
Engrave-only materials:
- Metal (can be "marked" with black)
- Glass
- Stone
Unacceptable Materials:
- Any material with Chlorine content
- Polycarbonate (PC, Lexan)
- PVC (Sintra)
- Vinyl
- Fiberglass
- Carbon Fiber
- Printed Circuit Boards
General No-No's:
- No "mystery" materials
- No materials with chlorine content
- If you aren't sure if your material is laser-safe, google it.
- If you think your material is laser-safe, prove it to me with links and an MSDS.
Size:
- Cutting-zone: 500mm(20") x 375mm(14.625")
- Ideal material sheet-size: 20" x 14"
- Max material sheet-size: 24" x 16"
Material Thickness:
The thicker the material, the slower the cut. Different materials will have different maximum thicknesses that can be cut in a single pass. But generally, 1/2" is the maximum thickness.