Pololu Custom Laser - Manual (Page 11)

cut thicker ABS, but we have not tried. The thickness in inches of ABS is nominal; the actual thicknesses are in
millimeters and vary by + or – 10% within the same sheet.
ABS does not come masked. If you would like us to mask it during cutting, please request this in the special
instructions section of our quote request form. ABS is opaque to infrared light (IR), so it can be used for IR-sensing
applications.
ABS is easy to machine and is not brittle (it will bend quite a bit before it cracks). ABS parts will not crack or break
easily, even if you drop them. Legos, many computer peripherals, and graphing calculator cases are made from ABS.
ABS is less rigid than acrylic, and is somewhat soft. You can glue ABS parts together using sticky, black, ABS glue
available at hardware stores. With ABS, you can design parts that snap together by making tabs with small “hooks”
or “feet” that fit into slots that are slightly smaller than the feet (so they stay hooked in to the slots).
Laser-cut ABS parts tend to smell, so you might have to air them out for a few days and wipe dust and residue from
the edges. Do not attempt to clean ABS parts in your dishwasher (the parts become discolored).
Other customers have made laser-cut encoders, sturdy robot chassis, instrumentation panels, gears, and sprockets
using ABS.
PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol)
We only stock PETG in clear. We have cut up to 3/16" PETG; we can probably cut thicker PETG, but we have not
tried. The thickness in inches of PETG is nominal; the actual thicknesses are in millimeters and vary by + or − 10%
within the same sheet.
PETG usually comes with a thin, plastic, film masking on both sides. It is not brittle (it will bend quite a bit before it
cracks), and PETG parts will not crack or break easily, even if you drop them. PETG is less rigid than acrylic, and is
somewhat soft.
Laser-cut PETG parts tend to smell, so you might have to air them out for a few days and wipe off any dust and
residue with warm water.
Other customers have laser cut PETG to make very thin grids/nets for scientific experiments and guards for pinball
machines to protect the pinball parts from the impact of the pinballs.
Delrin (POM, acetal)
Delrin is a very tough, slippery material that resists warping and deforming well. You cannot glue anything to Delrin.
It is more expensive than acrylic, ABS, or PETG. Gears are often made from Delrin. We do not stock Delrin, but
you can order it from
McMaster-Carr [http://www.mcmaster.com/] or another supplier and have it drop-shipped to us
directly. Please be sure the material is shipped FLAT (not rolled).
How to supply your own material for laser cutting
If you plan to supply your own material, please mention this in the special instructions section in our quote request
form, and also specify the sheet size of the material you plan to supply. Material sheets must be no larger than
35.5" x 50". If you are raster engraving parts, or if you can only supply a CDR, AI, SVG, or PDF file (not a CAD
file set up for laser cutting), your material must be no larger than 24" x 36". Please send the material to our address as
shown on our contact page.
If you are sending the material yourself, please include a note that has your full name, day-time phone number, quote
number, and email address that you check regularly. The material must be very flat (not bowed, warped, or rolled;
otherwise the laser cannot focus properly).
Custom Laser Cutting Guide © 2001–2014 Pololu Corporation
3. Materials for Laser Cutting Page 11 of 29