Activity Feed › Forums › Sign Making Discussions › CNC Router and Engraving › Will a 25 watt CO2 laser cut thru di-bond, advice please?
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Will a 25 watt CO2 laser cut thru di-bond, advice please?
Posted by Peter Mindham on March 18, 2011 at 9:06 amHi All,
anybody have an opinion if a 25-watt CO2 laser will cut 3mm di-bond. Thinking of trying today but don’t want to cause any damage.Any advice appreciated.
Peter
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Rodney Gold replied 13 years, 1 month ago 5 Members · 10 Replies -
10 Replies
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No expert but from what I’ve read Co2 lasers aren’t good on metal, something to do with the wavelength and reflective surfaces.
Maybe the Diabond will be OK as it’s painted though?Steve
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FYI
No way it will cut it. However, it does engrave it real nice 😀
Peter
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Yeh, I kind of thought it’d be like that.
There is a bloke on the Mach3 CNC forum who added a 30W Co2 laser to his cnc machine, it’ll cut perspex no problem but other things it just engraves, he’s even managed to engrave an egg.Steve
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C02 lasers will not engrave or cut directly onto metal they are just not powerful / aggressive enough, you need at least a YAG laser for that.
A C02 laser will cut and engrave many different materials from acrylic, glass, wood, rubber, clothing materials, paper etc the list is huge.
Nigel
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Hi Nigel
Figured that from our conversation earlier this week. Thought multiple passes might help but after the first one realised NO WAY!!Really engraves the colour off the di bond though and gives a classy finish.
Peter
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quote Peter Mindham:Hi Nigel
Figured that from our conversation earlier this week. Thought multiple passes might help but after the first one realised NO WAY!!Really engraves the colour off the di bond though and gives a classy finish.
Peter
LOL sometimes you do need to believe what the sales guy is telling you 😀
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You need a more powerful laser, A local engineering firm near me had one of these installed last year…
And yes it’s a C02 laser!
Not sure if they would bother cutting di-bond though, but they do undertake cutting small quantity aluminium or steel shapes for signs etc
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quote Andy_M:You need a more powerful laser, A local engineering firm near me had one of these installed last year…
And yes it’s a C02 laser!
Not sure if they would bother cutting di-bond though, but they do undertake cutting small quantity aluminium or steel shapes for signs etc
And……….it is a 5000w laser, if you look to buy a 200w C02 laser then expect to spend around 60k…can you imagine what that monster 5000w would cost ??
Pete do you want finance options 😀
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As an aside to the topic , re pricing of lasers. you can get a decent 1300 x 900 mm 150 W (reci tube , 10 000 hour tube life) for around $6000. These days the chinese mnachines are pretty good , Im actually off to China in May to see the mnfgrs of the one’s I have with a view to purchasing a 50yag or a fibre laser and some more Co2’s
A 500w YAG linked to a 500x 500 XY table , which will engrave and cut up to 6mm steel and 3mm stainless is around $40k
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