is Acetal / Delrin suitable for the laser cutter?

[Rob Smith]

Does anyone know if it is safe to cut acetal or delrin on the laser cutter? Lots of people online say it is great but found one person who says it gives off formaldehyde when cut so wanted to make sure before going ahead with anything!?

As an alternative would the cnc be a better route if shapes to cut are less complex?

Thanks 

Rob

[Alistair MacDonald]

Hi Rob,

Yes Delrin is on the allowed list for Maker Space... https://wiki.makerspace.org.uk/equipment/laser_cutter/materials?highlight=delrin#allowed

Oddly someone asked about this a couple of years ago at work so I looked in to it. As a general rule it cuts well will the correct settings on a CO2 laser (like ours). Less well on a lower frequency one like many fiber fed and some laser diode machines, but any machine shop should know that. Because of the expansion properties you will need to put a bit more effort in to dialing in the settings for an exact cut, but if you are not concerned about super high accuracy then it should be easy. 

All the best,

  Alistair

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[Rob Smith]

Thanks Alistair, good to know where the allowed materials list is! (sorry should have probably looked) 

Just to be 100% clear can I cut copolymer acetal which is subtly different to delrin ie  homopolymer acetal?

Rob

[Alistair MacDonald]

I am afraid I do not know the answer to that off the top of my head. I am having a quick look and I don`t see anything that is concerning, but more research will be needed. Has anyone else looked at this?

My suggestion is to do some research in to what gasses will be emitted and then we can make a call on if it is safe. The material supplier may be able to help with a datasheet. To clarify if it gives off a bad gas then it is not an automatic ban, but we need to be certain that it will be safe to cut with the extraction and ventilation we have. Most of our guidelines are based off the work of London and Nottingham, but we can make exceptions if we know it will be safe.

All the best,

  Alistair

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[Dan Nixon]

I'm inclined to say you are probably fine.

The composition is not notably different between the two, so the combustion products are likely of a similar hazard.

Plus, you have the mitigating factor of our extraction flow rate being rather high, so dilution is on your side if any hazardous gaseous combustion products are generated.

Any particulate residue left on the work piece or in the machine can be collected/washed with a wet rag if you are concerned about that.

Material datasheets/safety data sheets will not help you here, as they will all suggest factory level PPE requirements without actually telling you what the hazards are. Remember, they are a legal protection, not a source of information about the material.

Check the combustion hazard section of the SDS of allowed and forbidden materials if you want to see what I mean.

If you want to go the full red tape approach, I can find a chemist/material scientist at work who will have a better idea than any of us, but that obviously requires correct material identification (which can vary a bit depending on supplier).

Best,

Dan

[Glen Beestone]

pretty sure I have cut acetyl on the laser in the past. just very thin sheet stock to make springy plastic hinges. 

it cut very cleanl but I can't vouch for how thicker material reacts

G

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[Rob Smith]

Thanks everyone for the input - So looking around it seems that the combustion products of Delrin and Acetal are similar. In both cases formaldehyde is produced and people suggest a well ventilated space, running the fan for a while before opening the cover, and that the exhaust from the cutter runs through a carbon filter...  does this seem like something we can manage at makerspace or should I think again? 

Rob

[Dan Nixon]

Our extraction would maintain a safe indoor environment whatever was produced (within sensible reason).

It does not have any filtering and none can reasonably be added.

If you are only doing a small amount of work, I will leave it up to your judgement if you are happy with exhausting directly to the environment (keep in mind the exhaust is on a walkway at face level for anyone ~6ft, but also keep in mind that pretty much all of the materials commonly used on the machine spew PM and carcinogens out of this vent).

If you are planning to do a lot (single job time >3m, or total laser on time >20m in one session), I would ask you to consider if you really need to use this material.

Best,

Dan