Views: 13 Author: Leapion Publish Time: 04-12-2022 Origin: https://www.leapion.com/
With the development of technology, laser cutting acrylic has become more and more popular because it is not only fast, but also precise and can produce a large number of high-quality products.
Before beginning to experiment with acrylic in your laser, it's important to understand the different types of this substrate. There are actually two types of acrylics suitable for use with the laser: cast and extruded.
Cast acrylic sheets are made from a liquid acrylic that is poured into molds that can be set into various shapes and sizes. This is the type of acrylic used for most of the awards you see on the market. Cast acrylic is ideal for engraving because it turns a frosty white color when engraved. Cast acrylic can be cut with a laser, but it will not result in flame-polished edges. This acrylic material is better suited for engraving.
The other type of acrylic is known as extruded acrylic, which is a very popular cutting material. Extruded acrylic is formed through a higher-volume manufacturing technique, so it is typically less expensive than cast, and it reacts very differently with the laser beam. Extruded acrylic will cut cleanly and smoothly and will have a flame-polished edge when laser cut. But when it is engraved, instead of a frosted look you will have a clear engraving.
To achieve the best results when cutting extruded acrylic, you'll want to elevate the material so that it's not touching the cutting table. This will greatly reduce backside reflection and the occurrence of grid marks on the material after being laser cut.
Leapion is the perfect accessory to help you get those perfect cuts on extruded acrylic. This handy device allows you to raise and support your acrylic for better cutting-edge quality. The Leapion Table incorporates movable pins that can be placed anywhere along the table's grid of one-inch (25.4 mm) spaced holes. The acrylic is raised and supported in locations where the laser will not be cutting, which is what helps eliminate backside reflection. The Leapion Table also allows you to place pins to support small or intricate parts that would normally fall out of the cutting pattern.
This will depend on the wattage of your laser cutter.
A 30 or 40-watt Leapion system will cut through up to one-quarter inch of acrylic. As you increase in wattage, you will be able to increase the thickness you can work with. A 50 or 60-watt machine will allow you to cut through closer to 3/8" of acrylic, and a 75 or 120-watt system will allow you to cut closer to 1/2" or possibly 3/4" with two passes.
Cutting acrylic is usually best achieved with relatively slow speed and high power. This cutting process allows the laser beam to melt the edges of the acrylic and essentially produce a flame-polished edge.
Today, there are a several acrylic manufacturers who produce a variety of both cast and extruded acrylics that feature different colors, textures, and patterns. With so much variety, it's no wonder acrylic is a very popular material to laser cut and engrave.
If you have any questions about laser cutting acrylic, Leapion is here to resolve any of your queries. We specialize in all types of laser technologies. You can contact us and we will be available to assist you.
