laser cutter materials

[LIFE_CLERIC]

looking for a material that will fill the place of plasticard in a modelling project, but is suitable for laser cutting, been looking at 0.5mm polypropylene any advice 

[Billy]

I tried cutting polypropelene in the laser cutter, and it doesn't
work.

You can weld it with an industrial hair-dryer, so the laser both cuts
and seals it at the same time.

What's the material going to be used for? If you can give a better
description of the range of forces that will affect the structure,
then we could suggest alternate materials.

Also don't try to laser-cut anything that contains chlorine or
flourine.

Have you tried asking any of the suppliers we use?

[LIFE_CLERIC]

its going to be used for modelling mostly making small parts for wargames miniatures, i am aware that nothing containing pvc should be cut in the laser cutter and unfortunately plasticard the perfect modelling plastic is pvc, the material im looking for needs to be, a plastic of neutral colour that can be painted, around 0.5mm thick, small amount of flexibility/ bendability, and most importantly suitable for cutting in the laser cutter

[LIFE_CLERIC]

its mostly for emblems and detailing peices

[Sam Kelly]

TBH I don't see why you shouldn't use 300gsm paper - the laser cuts it
perfectly, and it'll do everything you need. Completely waterproof
once painted & varnished, too. I suggest taking two square pieces,
rotating one by 90 degrees (the crossed grain gives it extra strength)
and gluing it that way, with spray-weld/UHU/Mod Podge. That'll take it
up to 0.3 to 0.5mm, and gives you at least as much stiffness as the
plasticard will.

On Tue, Nov 20, 2012 at 8:57 PM, LIFE_CLERIC <devildi...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> its mostly for emblems and detailing peices

--
Sam Kelly, http://www.eithin.co.uk/

That's it. We're not messing around anymore, we're buying a bigger
dictionary. - Tibor Fischer, The Thought Gang.

[Adrian Godwin]

Polyester sounds worth trying :

http://www.polyesterconverters.com/pcl_apps/stage1/stage2/applications_and_enduses/Lasercutting%20.htm

On Tue, Nov 20, 2012 at 8:57 PM, LIFE_CLERIC <devildi...@hotmail.com> wrote:

[Adrian Godwin]

Also ABS, which is very similar to plasticard (in particular, you can solvent glue it )

[Adrian Godwin]

Have you done the chlorine test on Plasticard ?

It's apparently styrene, or vinyl benzene. But that's not PVC, it's closer to polystyrene. It's the chlorine that's the problem, not the vinyl, and styrene doesn't contain chlorine.

Doesn;t mean it doesn't have other problems, though ..

[LIFE_CLERIC]

i've been looking at data sheets for plasticard and the ones i've looked at contain pvc which as i understand contains chlorine could you link to the plasticard that you have found 

[LIFE_CLERIC]

i have yet to do a chlorine test on plasticard but will attempt it now

[Adrian Godwin]

Every link I've found describes it as styrene sheet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styrene

Also, it's normally solvent-glued with polystyrene cement.  I've never found that useful to glue the flexible plastic I think of as PVC. But I'm not sure about PVC plumbing, which is a harder grade more like plasticard and can bve disolved with MEK.

[LIFE_CLERIC]

thankyou guys for all the info i'm going to do a chlorine test on plasticard soon, you have been really helpful with the advice im going to do a bit more research on plasticard and its ilk, if i manage to get it all together and cut some i will pass on anything i find out and update it onto the laser cutter section on the wiki.

[Billy]

Also if you have found a reliable supplier, add them to the suppliers
page on the wiki.

[LIFE_CLERIC]

will do

[Bob Clough]

Vinyl is worse than pvc, as it lets off carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide (iirc)

[Russ Garrett]

I believe that what is commonly known as "vinyl" (i.e. the records) is actually PVC. "Vinyl" isn't a chemical in itself, it's a group. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Tim Reynolds]

It is a group, but the family is full of terribly un-awesome things.

On 21/11/2012 00:00, Russ Garrett wrote:
> I believe that what is commonly known as "vinyl" (i.e. the records) is
> actually PVC. "Vinyl" isn't a chemical in itself, it's a group. Correct
> me if I'm wrong.
>
> On 20 Nov 2012 23:26, "Bob Clough" <par...@ivixor.net

> <mailto:par...@ivixor.net>> wrote:
>
> Vinyl is worse than pvc, as it lets off carbon monoxide and hydrogen
> cyanide (iirc)
>
> On Nov 20, 2012 9:12 PM, "Adrian Godwin" <artg...@gmail.com

> <mailto:artg...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Have you done the chlorine test on Plasticard ?
>
> It's apparently styrene, or vinyl benzene. But that's not PVC,
> it's closer to polystyrene. It's the chlorine that's the
> problem, not the vinyl, and styrene doesn't contain chlorine.
>
> Doesn;t mean it doesn't have other problems, though ..
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 20, 2012 at 9:06 PM, Adrian Godwin
> <artg...@gmail.com <mailto:artg...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Also ABS, which is very similar to plasticard (in
> particular, you can solvent glue it )
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 20, 2012 at 9:02 PM, Adrian Godwin
> <artg...@gmail.com <mailto:artg...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Polyester sounds worth trying :
>
> http://www.polyesterconverters.com/pcl_apps/stage1/stage2/applications_and_enduses/Lasercutting%20.htm
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 20, 2012 at 8:57 PM, LIFE_CLERIC
> <devildi...@hotmail.com

[Jakob]

Have a search for PETG. I been vorking with it a bit and like the material. 

Think that might solve your problem, Works great on the laser, similar strength as PC as you already looked in to. Cheeper than PC.

Fast google search found a link regarding PETG at 0,5 mm: http://www.stationroadbaseboards.co.uk/Z_plasticard_clear_195_320_050.htm

Best luck!

Jakob