Users who have some laser cutting and engraving experiences must have used different materials for laser work, such as wood, acrylic, cloth and other common materials for laser cutting and engraving. Some users might intended to try more materials for verification of different effects, so you should pay attention, some materials seem to be easier to be cut and engraved by laser machines, but that does not mean that these materials are suitable for laser applications on the cutting machine. In this regard, we have specially tested and summarized the following materials that cannot be cut and engraved by laser for you to use laser material properly as following:

--Polycarbonate (>1mm)

Use the polycarbonate material that thinker than 1mm(actually, don’t use any Polycarbonate material to the laser machine are the best ) to laser machine will produce poor cutting effect, and easy to change its color, or even catch fire, that destroying the optical system of the laser equipment.

-- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/vinyl/chrome(VI) leather and artificial leather

Cutting such materials would produces chlorine gas, a highly toxic gas with a strong pungent smell, it will cause equipment metals corroded, damage optics and motion control systems. 

--ABS plastic/containing epoxy resin material

ABS material is generally wild used in 3D printing device, but it will melt and easily catch fire when use in laser cutting & engrave device, and the laser cutting will release highly toxic hydrogen cyanide.

--Styrene foam/Polypropylene foam

Mostly the same as last one,but even worse is that processing Styrene foam/Polypropylene foam material by laser, the material will burns quickly, melts and catches fire.

--High-density polyethylene (HDPE)/feeding bottle plastic

It will easily melt and even catch fire if processing this kind of material on the laser machine.

Other highly reflective materials

Some other highly reflective material such as aluminum, silver and copper etc, it will easily to cause diffuse reflection hazard.

For your own safety and the way of better maintenance of your laser machine, please pay close attention to the safety and usability of the material when using the laser cutting machine to process the unconventional material, and follow the guidance material selection standards given by the equipment manufacturer, so that you can safely and smoothly make what you expected the laser cutting and engraving works, In addition, if any other questions about unusable laser cutting materials, you can also contact us by sending an email to our technical support mailbox of support@good-laser.com, we will reply you within 24 hours.