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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Laser that cuts plastic

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Sep 6, 2013
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Hi, I work for a company that produces plastic parts and we're trying to find a laser that we can use to manually cut through plastic (PS e ABS are the types of plastic).

We don't want pre-fabricated machines, we want to adapt a laser on a working table we have.

I don't know if any of you can help, but the info I'd want is if it's viable to do it and maybe point me on a direction of where would I find such parts/components.

Thanks
 





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Hi well first of all any laser that would cut through thick plastic, is illegal in Australia and most countries you can get industrial lasers with a lisence etc that can get around this and second even if it wasn't illegal ,a laser unless very high power will not cut through clear plastic (CO2 industrial laser may) the color would have to be very dark to be successful unless you where using a high power industrial laser, most of the ones we discuss on the forum are hand held of limited power but very powerful in their own right. so what colour are you talking about, it would be handy if you filled in your profile so we know which country you are in at least, a welcome introduction post is is usually the way before jumping in and asking for help straight away ,we get a bit touchy about people asking us for help before giving us some more info on themselves..but a CO2 industrial laser would probably do the job
 
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I'm from Portugal, sorry about skipping the formalities.

I don't know a thing about lasers, I'd be grateful if you could point in a direction. From what I've researched so far, I think I need a CO2 laser. It's not for personal use, however I don't know if my firm would need a license to use it. I've seen machines for sale that do it, however we are pointing more to a kind of DIY thing, because we want to adapt it to our working table. I suppose we'd need a power supply that connects to the laser that we could manually use, instead of the "robot" automatic thing.

Again, sorry for skipping formalities and I don't even know if this is the right place to ask. Any help would be much appreciated.
 
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Hi i was editing my above post as you where putting in the second post, yes a C02 laser would probably do the job but you will have to wait for other replies from forum members as my knowledge is purely on visible lasers, we have a lot of gas laser people on the forum that can point you in the right direction
 
Joined
Dec 17, 2012
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CO2 is the way to go. Ypu can get tubes and power supplies on ebay. They need active water cooling and pricey optics and may be hard to align on the table you already have. There are a few memebers on here with laser 2 acis cnc machines. Maybe they can weigh in on this.
 
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Thank you, that was good for me to continue my research, however if someone else who can help know about this, it would be great.
 
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Why are you going with a laser instead of the many other ways to cut plastic?
 
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My boss wants to use a laser. We have an automatic saw for it, but then they have to polish it. With laser, I suppose the cuts are much precise and clean. What do you suggest is the best way to do it? it's 3mm thick plastic.
 
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CO2 is the way to go. Ypu can get tubes and power supplies on ebay. They need active water cooling and pricey optics and may be hard to align on the table you already have. There are a few memebers on here with laser 2 acis cnc machines. Maybe they can weigh in on this.

Can you describe me in more detail what kind of tubes and power supplies I'd need? As well as the water cooling and optics. As I said before I don't know anything about lasers so I'm kind of lost.
 
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Sure. Its an 80W tube. You wil need to find a power supply compatible with it and a water pump and either radiator set up or chiller.
 

Things

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Even a 40W CO2 laser will cut 3mm acrylic with a decent edge at 10mm/s.
 
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Thanks that's helpful. Sorry to keep asking but what are the list of specific materials I would need for it to work? The link I've showed you are parts to a full-set machine, I'd like to search on ebay for each of the parts separately.
 
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I'm in conversations with a chinese firm, they are asking this:

"We can offer you laser tube,laser power supply,laser mirrors,laser focus lens,
chiller,laser head,laser tube support,mirrors mounts,controller system and so on laser parts ?
Would you which power laser tube do you uesed ?
what's length,diameter of laser tube ?"

What should I say about the power and the measurements? are those components ok or do I need something else? The type of plastic to cut is ABS and HIPS
 
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Sep 6, 2013
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ok this is where I am right now, I'm thinking about getting these:

"Product:Glass laser tube
Power:80Watts
maximum power:95w
Length:1600mm
Diameter:60mm
Life time:8000 hours
Packing:In wooden cases (It can be ensure to arrive u safe,not so easy broken!)
Warranty:300days
Deliver time:3-5 days
Quantity:1Pcs
Unit price:211.38USD

Products:80w laser power supply
Voltage:220v
Quantity:1 Pcs
Unit price:161.50USD

Products:Laser focus lens
Materials:ZnSe CVD (USA)
Diameter:20mm
Focus length:63.50mm
Quantity:1 Pcs
Unit price:52.00USD

Products:Laser mirrors
Materials:silicon
Diameter:25mm
Quantity:3 Pcs
Unit price:22.00USD
Total price:66.00USD


Products:Laser head
Quantity:1 Pcs
Unit price:56.65USD

Products:Controller AWC 608
(Include software+soft dog+board+LCD display)
MOQ:1 Pcs
Unit price:344.26USD

Products:Mirrors mounts
Diameter:25mm
Quantity:2 Pcs
Unit price:22.35USD
Total price:44.70USD


Products;Laser tube support
Diameter:80mm
Quantity:2 Pcs
Unit price:16.39USD
Total price:32.78USD"

Do you think it's all I need? Is there something missing?
 
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I can't use this type of lasers manually(with my own hands, grabbing the laser head) right?
 




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