Five Fun Materials to Cut and Engrav with the Laser

Did you know that laser cutters can cut more than just wood or metal? In fact, there are many laser materials that can be used in a wide variety of laser cutting or engraving projects, many of which can be surprising and fun. While wood might initially be seen as a very easy material to find and work with, some of these other materials are just as easy to find, and you'll quickly find that they work just fine with a quality laser cutter.

Let's take a look at five fun laser materials that you can use in your next project today.

Fun Laser Material #1: Paper

People are often surprised to hear that a laser cutter can cut paper. It's not so much that a laser that can cut wood can't cut paper that's surprising, but rather that the laser can be so fine as to not damage such a thin material. The truth is, laser cutters are great for cutting patterns and images out of paper that would be nearly impossible to achieve without a razor blade and a lot of patience.  

Just make sure you set the laser to a very high speed at very low power and secure the paper to your work space or disable the air assist so the paper doesn't blow away.

Fun Laser Material #2: Fabric

Fabric includes materials such as cloth, polyester, Gore-Tex, silk, and there are dozens more. Like paper, a laser cutter is perfectly capable of cutting fabric. Most commonly, this will be cutting patterns for clothing or apparel, but it can also include stuffed animals and pillows. Some fabrics work better than others, so be prepared to experiment. Just like with paper, make sure to secure the fabric to the laser cutter work area or disable the air assist so it doesn't blow away.

Fun Laser Material #3: Tile

Lasers will not cut tile or stone due to their density, but these laser materials can be engraved. Laser engraving does not cut through the material, but rather removes points of the material's surface to reveal 3 dimensional cavities, creating an image or design. This means the surface of tile and stone can be decorated with custom images. Contrast will be key to a truly dramatic effect, so polished stone is often preferred.   

Fun Laser Material #4: Glass

Laser glass engraving is another material you can have fun with. Just like tile, this technique creates a noticeable contrast on the glass, allowing for custom imagery and messaging. The most common glass objects for engraving are bottles and drinking glasses. This is achieved using a rotator, which is a laser attachment that enables the laser to perform on curved or cylindrical objects.

Glass can be tricky to work with as a laser material, and there is always a risk of breaking the glass. Make sure you only rasterize on glass to prevent this from happening. It will also help to hold a damp paper towel over the glass while engraving, as the laser will still go through the paper towel and etch the glass.

Fun Laser Material #5: Acrylic

Acrylic comes in a variety of colors and opacity levels, allowing for a wide range of uses and designs. Even low-powered laser tubes can cut thin acrylic, so it's a great resource of materials for makers and hobby laser enthusiasts. One warning about cutting any plastic - be aware that not all plastics are safe to cut with a laser due to toxic and sometimes deadly fumes. Always make sure you know that the acrylic you are considering using is safe to use with a laser, or that the adhesive in the surface mask is also safe to cut and engrave. If you are unsure, ask the manufacturer for a copy of the MSDS.

These are just some of the many laser materials that are well suited for use with a laser cutter. Thinking outside the (wood) box will open up endless creative possibilities for projects using a high-quality laser cutter and engraver from Lasser.