Pololu Custom Laser User Manual
Page 15
part so that the dimensions you control are slightly too big or too small (so that to achieve a tight fit, you might
have to either sand some parts, or use glue or add some shims).
• The edges of some materials including wood, paper, felt, and cloth, will get charred from the laser. The degree
of charring depends on the material. The back side might show more charring or some scorching (the laser
bounces off of the metal grill on which the material sits and hits the back of the material, leaving scorch marks).
You can mask the material to decrease the charring and scorching on the material surface, but the edges will still
be charred. Most plastics that we cut, including acrylic, PETG, and ABS, do not char.
• Sharp, thin pieces, especially those that taper to a needle-sharp point, might warp from the laser’s heat, or
crack when taken out of the scrap. This is true especially if the width of a piece is the same or less than the
material thickness.
• If you have parts that taper to a thin, sharp point, note that once the two converging lines are closer than
0.01" apart, the laser beam (which is roughly 0.01" in diameter) will eat away any material left between the
two lines. The material at the end of the tip will become paper-thin and brittle and will probably break off in
an unpredictable spot. We would suggest that you round off any acute, sharp corners where the two converging
lines are no less than 0.018" apart.
• The material sits on a metal grid during cutting. When the laser cuts through the material, it hits the metal
grill and bounces back and hits the bottom of the material, causing a small dent or mark. The backs of the parts
will usually have small dents along the cut edges of the part wherever the laser, metal grid, and material meet.
• Many plastics including acrylic and PETG come with a protective masking on both sides. Other plastics, such
as ABS and styrene, do not have any protective masking. The masking helps to decrease denting on the back side
described above, and protects the material surface from any flames or residues that are created during cutting.
If you would like us to mask your material, please request this in the special instructions section of our quote
request form.
To order custom laser cut parts, see information in
about file setup or proceed to the
.
Custom Laser Cutting Guide
© 2001–2014 Pololu Corporation
4. Capabilities and Limitations of Custom Laser Cutting
Page 15 of 29