MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL
Laser cut plexiglass, cardboard, titanium and much more
MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL
The flexibility of a high-performance machine will allow you to laser cut plexiglass, cardboard, titanium and much more on a single system. Every year customers share requests for new materials they want to laser cut and engrave. Laser light will easily find its way through clear plexiglass as well as translucent and opaque plastics. Interestingly, many opaque materials that do not allow light through such as dark wood, cardboard, blackened steel, titanium can laser penetrate with ease.
How do you polish cut plexiglass with a laser? The intense heat from the focused laser beam will polish the edge of the profile as it slowly moves around the cut. As long as the laser can pierce through the material with little to no problem, then the laser machine should be able to process your material.
What materials can be laser processed? The list continues to grow!
LEATHER
Personalization of leather products has become very popular with the help of laser engraving systems. Leather footballs and jackets are just a couple of products that can be personalized with a Kern Laser System. Kern provides a downdraft table to remove fumes created by the laser engraving process.
Updated: Personalized leather products continue to grow in popularity. Different types of leathers will have different results when cutting or engraving. From full-grain leather to bonded leather, the quality of the material will alter the results of the product cut. A Kern laser can expand opportunities for creativity and customization, while saving valuable time from hand cutting.
Leather footballs and jackets are just a couple of products that can be personalized with a Kern laser system. Kern provides a downdraft table to remove fumes created by the laser engraving process
CARPET
Carpet can be cut to size with a Kern laser cutter. Many types of locking patterns can be designed like the triangle pattern shown below. Inlaying of shapes together make lasers a versatile system in the carpet cutting industry.
CARDBOARD
Cardboard can be cut and etched with a CO2 laser system from Kern Lasers.
FOAM
Foam will cut with ease on lasers from 30 to 400 watts. For foams over 1/4″ a longer length focusing lens is used to keep the cut edge straight. Vacuum blowers and a downdraft table are used to exhaust fumes from the cutting and engraving process. Tool Shadowing is a popular foam application used by many of Kern’s customers.
Cut both low- and high-density foam with precision. Foam’s unique density enables it to be cut with ease on lasers from 30 to 400 watts. For many applications, it processes best using lower wattages. Foam is a softer, more delicate material, meaning a laser’s beam quality is going to be an important factor.
For foam cutting applications where a straight edge is required, lasers provide the precision operators are looking for. Please note, for foams over 1″, a longer length focusing lens is used to keep the cut edge straight.
Because laser foam cutting can result in unpleasant and harmful fumes, Kern Laser Systems use vacuum blowers and a downdraft table to exhaust fumes during the cutting and engraving process.
Whether it comes in rolls or large sheets, Kern lasers make quick work out of processing foam. Recently, we’ve seen foam become a more popular and in-demand material for laser processing, especially for tool shadowing. Here’s a look at what Kern customers are making out of foam:
FOAM TOOL KITTING
A Kern Laser will help to organize your tools by shadowing them with tool foam. Utilizing tool foam can greatly reduce the amount of time that you spend looking for misplaced tools and increase your manufacturing and workplace efficiency. Cutting tool foam is so easy that we use it for our own laser tool kits that come with each laser system.
THE SIMPLE TOOL FOAM SHADOWING PROCESS:
- Use a scanner/lightbox with a camera to import the tool image into your design software.
- Utilize the trace feature to create a vector outline of your tool.
- Send the cutting file to the laser with Kern’s easy to use Laser Printer Driver.
CHEMETAL LAMINATES
Chemetal’s massive collection of over 200 laminates can be cut with a Kern Laser System.
CORIAN
Custom shaped Corian countertops can be designed with the easy-to-use design software included with every Kern laser system. Intricate arcs and corners can be cut into countertops with the help of Kern’s laser cutting systems.
GLASS
Whether it is a picture from a digital camera or a company logo designed in a graphics software, a Kern Laser System can etch it onto glass. Kern’s high speed engraving laser systems will etch the glass a frosty white color with unrivaled detail and speed.
Engrave glassware, panels, mirrors and more with a CO2 laser. Kern’s high-speed engraving laser systems will etch the glass a frosty white color with unrivaled detail and speed. Kern’s Large Format lasers allow for adequate space when engraving larger items like a glass door, or large window panes, but also engrave the smallest details on everyday items.
Kern’s rotary attachment option makes engraving simple and quick when engraving on any type of glassware. Laser engraving is a fast and efficient way to create customizable and personalized glass products. CO2 Laser etching creates a frosty white image, permanently marked onto the surface of glass with no contact processing. On cylindrical items, Kern’s rotary attachment is recommended, automatically rotating your product while etching.
GRANITE/MARBLE/Stone
Kern’s High Speed Engraving Systems will etch images on the surface of natural stone.
Granite and marble are two of the most popular stones for engraving as the laser turns the stone white when etched. Headstones, monuments and awards are a few products created with lasers.
SLATE
Slate is a fine-grained rock that can be etched with a laser engraver. Many slate slabs etch white leaving a great contrasting image that is durable and wonderful looking. Slate has become a popular choice for stone flooring and other interior decoration environments. Imagine a custom designed fireplace surround or floor with laser etched images of your choice.
LIMESTONE
Limestone can be laser engraved with beautiful designs. Multiple passes can be used for a deeper engraving. The KCAM Laser Software can be set to automatically run multiple passes as part of a single job.
STONE
Laser engrave and etch marble, granite and other types of natural stone. Laser etching or engraving natural stones is a perfect way to personalize your products. Whether it is memorials, recognition plaques or awards, Kerns CO2 lasers will produce a high-quality contrasting image into your product. Laser stone engraving works on many types of natural stones, including marble, granite, slate, stone tiles, ceramic and porcelain. Granite and marble are the most popular stones for creating headstones and monuments. Laser etching turns the stone a light gray to white color that stands out on the granite face.
Kern’s EcoFlex laser system can be equipped with the Z12 monument package. This package allows for heavy stones of up to 12 inches thick to be placed on the laser table. A roller bed allows a single operator to load and unload the stones. Slate, marble and limestone are just a few other stones that are used with lasers.
PAPER / CARDSTOCK
Even delicate materials like paper and cardstock can be laser cut and engraved with Kern’s laser equipment.
PLASTIC
Many types of plastic can be cut and engraved with a Kern laser system. Below is an engravable plastic often used for name badges and other graphic applications. The plastic is a pure black sheet and as you engrave away the black finish, the white layer appears. Even smaller lasers that Kern offers can cut and engrave laserable plastic with great speed and detail. A very low optics air assist is used so that ‘smoking’ does not occur on the plastic.
Laser cut and engrave plastics and organics at high processing speeds. Plastics are used for many different applications in multiple industries. Kern’s CO2 laser systems compete with this versatility to process plastics of all different types. From light manufacturing and signage to the medical field, it’s all possible.
Kern’s laser cutting precision goes hand and hand with the plastic industry. Even smaller lasers that Kern offers can cut and engrave laserable plastic with great speed and detail.
Some of the plastics Kern customers have had success with include:
RUBBER
Many types of rubber can be cut and engraved with Kern’s CO2 Lasers. The fumes and smoke released by the rubber will be picked up by the vacuum system and vented out the back of the machine.
NEOPRENE
Neoprene is a suitable material for laser cutting. A vacuum system should be used to pick up fumes created from the processing of the material.
