Yoga Mat for laser cutting

[Richard Ibbotson]

Can people recommend a source of yoga style mat safe to use in a laser cutter?

We need pieces 500mm square or larger, thickness around 6mm and to be of a low thermal conductivity foam.

We need to laser cut through the foam for some features and also cut halfway through for some slots for wires and other features.

Material needs to be food safe and safe for long term contact with the body.

Thx,

Richard

[dz]

white neoprene .... come is various thicknesses , I think the white one is FDA food safe , and its body friendly as wetsuits and the like are made of it. 

pretty sure you can laser it but there is the burn test you could do (or just google it or ask Tony) 

HTH

[Stephen Rodway]

Genuine neoprene is generally not laser-safe owing to chlorine content,
it's polychloroprene. Some things that look like (and are even called)
neoprene are actually polyisoprene, which is laser-safe. Can't tell you
how well, or not, it might cut but it's not hazardous to the machine.

If you're not 100% sure which you have, let me know and we'll run a test
on it.

Steve

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[Frans Wilbrink]

Is the 6mm a hard requirement?

I have some spare EVA tiles 600x600x12mm you could have..

This stuff: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383923788231

Frans

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[Richard Ibbotson]

Thanks for the ideas, we are looking at EVA and Polyurethane foams now. The thickness is important for a good ‘feel’ and we think around 6mm is best for us even if we have too strengthen with linen on  the back side.

Thx,

Richard

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On 11 Jun 2021, at 09:57, Frans Wilbrink <fransw...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Norro]

I've used these in the past, they are 8mm thick

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00VI5OWGE

[Norro]

(You will have trouble cutting halfway through, it disintegrates on the lowest setting)

[Alex Gibson]

I’m a bit late to this subject and introducing a tangent so enjoy or ignore…

 

Firstly, on topic with the sheet materials:

+1 for EVA foam -  and I agree with Norro – trying to cut a controlled depth will drive you mad.

It can be glued using contact adhesive – but these are toxic.  It would not be in contact with the skin if you manage overspill – but I am sure you’re aware of off-gassing and can accelerate that.  Useful video here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9An0ZK1Oz8g

Cosplayers use EVA and wear it – this thread suggests that basic wood glue can work well, being less rigid – I’d go with that and potentially also use heat gun and thin strips cut to seal the edges: https://cosplay.com/archive/thread/6oeqmv/non-toxic-alternative-to-barges

 

 

Now, a small detour into the third dimension which might be helpful:

 

3D printer filaments now exist which are designed to foam as they print (baking powder, releasing CO2 is embedded.  This has been use to make super lightweight PLA – and more recently foaming TPU.

I think this could be just the thing if you are hoping to embed electronics in a wearable.

See the video embedded here for more info… happy to offer prototyping services!

https://www.cnckitchen.com/blog/testing-colorfabb-varioshore-tpu-foaming-3d-printing-filament

 

Cheers,

 

Alex Gibson

 

+44 7813 810 765    @alexgibson3d    37 Royal Avenue, Reading RG31 4UR

 

admg consulting

 

edumaker limited

 

·         Project management

·         Operations & Process improvement

·         3D Printing

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