Laser materials
Which materials may go in the lasers, how to get a new material approved, and where laser material is sold and stored. These rules apply to all the lasers. Speed and power settings are on each machine's page: Redsail · xTool S1 · xTool F2 Ultra.
Never PVC/vinyl or unidentified plastics. If you can't confirm what a material is, don't laser it.
Allowed
Material | Notes |
|---|---|
Acrylic | Cast engraves better than extruded. Not all clear plastic is acrylic — see below. |
PE plastic, coloured | |
Acrylic engraving laminate | |
Plywood | Engrave: any. Cut: interior-glued hardwood plywood only — not softwood, construction or WBP/exterior. |
Solid wood | Hardwood: engrave and cut. Softwood: engrave only. Resinous wood cuts poorly and dirties the optics. |
MDF | |
Cardboard, paper | Paper catches fire easily — use low power |
Balsa, cork (natural, not rubber cork) | |
Leather | Vegetable-tanned only, no dye or coating. Never chrome-tanned or synthetic leather (usually PVC/PU). |
Fabric | Cotton, nylon; polyester only pure or cotton blend |
Foam | EVA craft foam; LDPE foam (SP30) |
KAPA board, white | Fire risk |
Stamp rubber (Trodat Aero) | |
IKEA Trampa doormat | |
Glass, stone, anodised aluminium, powder-coated metal | Engrave only. Powder coat must not be PVC-based; polyester/epoxy powder (including ours) is fine. |
Gingerbread | Only for the annual ArkDes gingerbread competition |
Clear plastic: if you can't confirm it's acrylic (or another allowed plastic), you may not use it. Tell acrylic from polycarbonate with a burn test · Hackaday guide.
Metal: cannot be cut on the CO₂ laser; bare metal reflects the beam and can damage the machine or people. Metal marking is done on the xTool F2 Ultra.
Forbidden
Anything not listed above needs approval first. Known unsuitable:
Wood: OSB (the epoxy reflects and can damage the laser), and wood not listed above.
Plastics: PVC/vinyl (chlorine gas); ABS; acetal (POM, Delrin); neoprene (phosgene and HCl); polycarbonate; polystyrene (benzene); foam other than LDPE and EVA.
Other: food (except the gingerbread competition), body parts, circuit boards, coated fabrics (PU, vinyl etc.).
Approving a new material
Look up what others say about laser cutting it.
Find out what gases it gives off when burned.
Send the information and links to Erik Cederberg (#1005).
If it looks OK, get a sample and test it together.
If it works and is safe, add it to this page.
Material for sale
Interior birch plywood, 3, 4 and 6 mm, 760 × 760 mm
Stamp rubber A5 — drawers left of the Redsail
Acrylic engraving laminate 150 × 200 mm — drawers left of the Redsail
Cardboard
MDF
Material storage
Sheet rack right of the laser: green = current month, yellow = 1–2 months, red = 3 months (free to take)
Sheet material that doesn't fit in your lab box goes in the rack right of the Redsail. A3 or smaller goes in your member box.
Slot | Colour | |
|---|---|---|
Current month | Green | Put your material here |
1 and 2 months old | Yellow | |
3 months old | Red | Free for everyone — clear out the scraps if you take from it |
To keep material longer, move it back to the current-month slot.
Monthly rotation: a Slack notice in #laserskärare asks someone to clear unusable material from the red slot, rotate the signs and empty the laser bins. This is every member's responsibility.
Offcuts: usable pieces in the offcut box; small scraps broken up into the bin by the laser. Full bin → take the bag to the garbage room (cleaning routines).