Plastics:

• ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
• Acrylic (Als known as Plexiglas, Lucite, PMMA)
• Delrin (POM, Acetal)
• High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)- Melts Badly
• Kapton Tape (Polyimide)
• Mylar (Polyester)
• Nylon – Melts Badly
• Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG)
• Polyethylene – Melts Badly
• Polypropylene – Melts somewhat
• Styrene
• Two-Toned Acrylic – two-layer colored acrylic, top layer is a different color than the base color. Used for signs, plaques, and instrumentation panels.

Foam:

• Depron – Often used for RC planes
• Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)
• Gator Foam – Hard shell of gator foam does well but, the foam core gets burned and eaten away.

Textiles & Others:

• Cloth- Leathers, suede, felt, hemp, cotton
• Paper – Cardstock, cardboard,
• Rubber – These can only be used if they do not contain chlorine Teflon (PTFE,
• Polytetrafluoroethylene)
• Woods – MDF, balsam, birch, poplar, red oak, cherry, holly, etc.

Materials that can’t or should not be cut with a laser:

• Metals (exceptions of etching = Using TherMark. Cutting = HP models “Oxygen/Air assist”
• Polycarbonate (PC, Lexan) due to the fumes.
• Any material containing chlorine
  • PVC (Cintra) – contains chlorine
  • Vinyl – contains chlorine

HP (High Pressure) materials include all the above guidelines and as listed:

• Stainless steel up to 18 gauge
• Mild steel up to 20 gauge
• Thicker and denser woods

Laser Engraving