Acrylic

Acrylic is one of the most popular commercially-applicable materials for fabrication shops expanding into Laser Etching & Cutting. This is partly because, unlike metals, Acrylic can be cut & etched from inexpensive C02 lasers, which are a fraction of the cost of the Fiber Laser cutters used to cut metals.
Unlike many plastics, Acrylic has a glass-like high-gloss, transparent appearance that presents a very refined finished product, while still being inexpensive. It’s high-spec look, with a lower-cost of raw-material & lower-cost of machinery than is needed to cut metal, along with being more light-weight, is partly why it has become so popular. It is also versatile in the sense that brilliant colors can be easily incorporated into the material, eliminating the need for post-cut painting and finishing. Because of this polished look, it is particularly good for promotional uses, modern-craft, and signs. Common names you might be familiar with include Lucite, Perspex, and Plexiglass.
A laser can cut much smoother edges, and make a more intricate design, than can be achieved with a CNC router. Because of its versatile physical properties and ease of finishing, it has exploded in popularity into a number of uses in the home, commercial, or industrial spaces.

CAST vs EXTRUDED ACRYLIC

Extruded Acrylic has limited ability to be colored, but cuts much cleaner than Cast Acrylic, leading to a glass-like polished finish. Meanwhile, Cast Acrylic is sometimes preferred because it can be colored beforehand (rather than painted/sealed on after) and Cast Acrylic produces a dynamic ‘frosted’ look when etched.

NOTE: Laser cutting Acrylic, especially thicker sheets, can produce flare-ups, so although these flare-ups are normal be sure to keep a tentative eye on your laser as it is cutting. There are methods to minimize flare-ups that our technicians can review in training. Do not use a vinyl mask as that can produce hazardous fumes.

https://www.senfenglaserusa.com/product-tag/wood-acrylic/

We welcome you to come into our Demo Center (Commerce, CA), to try out the versatile uses of a CO2 Laser with your own designs & materials, and you might discover an application or aesthetic you hadn’t discovered before!