Diode Hobby Laser Etching & Cutting Warning!

[murmcl]

What about Foam Rubber or thin sheets of Neoprene. I'm looking to make Tool Box Drawer Liners/Organizers.
I'll be using a 20W Diode Laser

[LAHobbyGuy]

Foam rubber is bad, I don't know about neoprene.
No matter what you cut, exhausting the fumes is paramount. If you can smell it, it's bad for you.

Rich

[ImagesbyAlbury]

Is there a way to download this list? Good information.

[LAHobbyGuy]

Is there a way to download this list? Good information.

Code: Select all

https://lahobbyguy.com/bb/download/file.php?id=562&mode=view

Rich

[Bruce]

thank you, new at laser and this info is good to know

[Wink1]

Thank you for the list

[Karla]

So, if I want to cut or engrave Acrylic, the protective paper needs to be removed first? Then I have to paint the Acrylic so the laser can see it?

[LAHobbyGuy]

So, if I want to cut or engrave Acrylic, the protective paper needs to be removed first? Then I have to paint the Acrylic so the laser can see it?

No, to engrave, if it has the brown paper on it, I leave it on. For dark opaque colors, you don't need to do anything else. For clear or tinted acrylic, I usually put down a sheet of aluminum foil under the piece. You can use black tempera paint if you want. It washes off with plain water. Remember to always mirror the image so that the clean side displays properly.

To cut, with a diode laser you're limited to very dark, opaque colors only. The rest will just melt.

Rich

[dclaude]

Thanks so much for drawing our attention to this information. Excellent content especially for those of us with little to no experience. A related question: is it safe to etch a finished (oil finish) wood project (e.g. a maple wood bowl)?

[LAHobbyGuy]

Technically it's not safe to use a laser without an enclosure. What I say is, if you can smell it, it's bad for you. With that said, I personally don't really mind as long as I'm not breathing in the actual smoke itself. So now you're essentially asking about petroleum. I know truck drivers who breathed in petroleum fumes for decades and weren't affected. You do too whenever you drive. So that's your call... I won't use the laser without exhaust, or something like this, a filter to at least extract the smoke.


Rich