Those things about laser engraving acrylic (Part two)

    

    For the most part, laser users engrave acrylic on the back side to produce a look-through effect from the front. You’ll see this often on acrylic awards.

    Acrylic sheets typically come with a protective adhesive film on the front and back to prevent it from getting scratched. We recommend removing the protective adhesive paper from the back of the acrylic before engraving, and leaving the protective cover layer on the front to prevent scratching while handling the material. Don’t forget to reverse or mirror your artwork before sending the job to the laser since you’ll be engraving the back side.

    Acrylics generally engrave well at a high speed and low power. It doesn’t take much laser power to mark the acrylic, and if your power is too high you’ll notice some distortion in the material.

General Laser Processing Tips for Acrylic

    

    （1) Never leave your machine unattended when working with acrylic. Many materials are susceptible to igniting, but acrylic - in all its different forms - has been shown to be especially flammable when cut with the laser. As a general rule, you should never run your laser - using any material - if you are not present.

    （2) Make sure to choose the right type of acrylic for your application. Remember, cast acrylic is better for engraving, while extruded acrylic is better suited for laser cutting.

What types of acrylic projects can you make?

    Acrylic is a durable and practical material for laser processing. The variety of colors and textures make this material ideal for all kinds of things:

    （1）Point of purchase signage

    （2）Directional signage

    （3）Earrings/pendants/buttons

    （4）Containers/boxes

    （5）Cake/cupcake toppers

    （6）Custom awards

    （7）Holiday ornaments

    （8）And much more