laser cutting?
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- session
What types of paper can you laser cut? So far where told that only black Matte paper due to burned edges....no satin, glossy, or coated paper! Anyone seen any cool papers/textures that have been laser cut?
THX
- detritus0
Tyvek doesn't char at the edges, but is plastic-based.
- showpony0
you can actually do uncoated white paper without the burn marks (for the most part) if you sandwich it between 2 other sheets and play with the cut rate. studio on fire has some examples of this on their site.
- detritus0
Matt black does actually char too - though in its case, it creates a lighter aspect in contrast with the black.
- ntslide0
I've been doing some pretty insane stuff with laser cutting on eyewear and some other tidbits.
What I learned is that that guys that do the custom engraving on ipads,ipod,iphones etc. are usually pretty pumped to try new stuff out. My guy here did it for free (using the laser costs virtually nothing...) just to see if it would come out.
I'd say find one of the smaller shops if you can and just work with them. You won't be disappointed.
- Also depends on how thick, how much stuff you need to cut...ntslide
- JSK0
- session0
Its for packaging so Metal laser etching really doesn't apply but it also seems from the responses that there aren't really a lot of different types of paper you can use...bummer! The packaging is sick and using just matte black doesn't do it justice! Lack the sophistication of the product!!
- detritus0
Just to clarify - you're wanting to fine-detail cut matte black card/paper?
Hold on and let me get a picture to you - just got to dig camera out!
- liamh0
You can laser cut almost any paper and there are ways around scorching (specail tapes and layering etc...). We use a guy her in Bilghty who is willing to try stuff out and we've cut allsorts with him. The only thing that didnt quite work was some foil backed card, even then he just cut on the reverse then popped out the exess. The biggest issue we've encountered is that occasionally paper will begin to role up uner the heat but a simple clamping system beat this.
- Who do you use in Blighty, if you don't mind me asking?detritus
- detritus0
K, here's some badly-taken photos of matte black 0.5mm thick stock. The flash version highlights the slight edge lightness (presumably the ink burns quicker than the paper, or something), however under normal light conditions, it's nearly invisible.
Surface charring, as mentioned, can be mitigated by stacking stock or covering it with an easy-peel layer.
As already mentioned above - engage with someone local and get them to test a variety of stocks for you. I'm sure they'll be as curious to see as you are.
- Oh. Sorry, I totally minsterrpeted your last post - "matte black DOESN'T do it justice". d'oh!detritus
- detritus0
Also, if you're talking packaging here - I assume you're either a) talking about product mockups (in which case, the very slight edge compromising needn't be a game-stopper), or b) talking about a high end item, which could justify the cost of choosing laser cutting over die-cutting.
Laser cutting is great for prototyping, high value stuff and ultimately, even for making the dies themselves.
Sadly, it's not massively viable for large production runs of cheap product.
yet :)
- BH260