Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Can a portable laser cut through fabric?

Joined
Mar 30, 2010
Messages
4
Points
0
If so, how powerful must it be? How much am I looking at?

Was just curious to know whether that could be in the realm of possibility.

Thanks.
 





Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Messages
2,894
Points
0
In short, yes. You will find that your most potent colors for cloth/fabric will probably be ~405nm- unless you're cutting white cloth. To be honest, it will not be a very clean cut. The edges of the fabric will most likely come away torn/burned/frayed/black/smelly. Nothing beats a good pair of shop scissors!

If scissors aren't your style. You'd be looking at something >500mws well focused to a dot ~1mm. This is achievable by a 12X diode, but honestly, for the cost, scissors are still best. No batteries required!
 
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
3,658
Points
113
What kind of speed are you looking for?

Here is a video showing what >650mW of green can do to fabric:

My laser, by the way. :D
 
Joined
Mar 30, 2010
Messages
4
Points
0
In short, yes. You will find that your most potent colors for cloth/fabric will probably be ~405nm- unless you're cutting white cloth. To be honest, it will not be a very clean cut. The edges of the fabric will most likely come away torn/burned/frayed/black/smelly. Nothing beats a good pair of shop scissors!

If scissors aren't your style. You'd be looking at something >500mws well focused to a dot ~1mm. This is achievable by a 12X diode, but honestly, for the cost, scissors are still best. No batteries required!

It wouldn't matter as long as the laser's cut is precise. Oh I know, I was just looking at laser as a potential way to set up an automation process as I hate cutting pieces and that they must be quite precise.

So from my brief search of laser modules, I'm looking at 400$+ huh? Oh well, could be useful later on.

Thanks for the quick response, btw.

What kind of speed are you looking for?

Here is a video showing what >650mW of green can do to fabric:

My laser, by the way. :D

<1 second.

Looks good! I wonder how it would do if the laser was placed above a flat piece of fabric.

Nice laser you've got there, must be nice to torture figurines. :evil:

Thanks as well.
 
Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Messages
11,800
Points
0
I think the pros can explain it better than me. I just know most cutting is done with a CO2 laser. But its not very portable, so I may be wrong.
 
Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Messages
2,894
Points
0
I'm not sure at all about how well the mid infrared wavelengths would be absorbed into fabric. It's worth a try!

I DO know that 1.5 Watts of 808 can't even touch jean denim. CO2 could act completely different though.

I know that CO2 is normally used in most hobby/craft engraving machines. The one used at my local bookstore is a 30W used for engraving wood frames, and engraving the leather and synthetic leather on Bibles.
 
Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Messages
11,800
Points
0
Well if it must be portable then, like others have said, a 12X Blu-Ray would work the best. But you're looking at around $400 + including goggles just to cut a jagged edge. A good pair of fabric scissors is under $100. Its up to you what fits your needs.
 

mfo

0
Joined
Jul 3, 2009
Messages
3,394
Points
0
Wanna burn things? Buy a lighter.

Wanna cut things? Buy some scissors.
 

Arayan

0
Joined
Oct 26, 2009
Messages
1,746
Points
48
This is the best cutting laser :D :D J/K
laser_scissors.gif
 
Joined
Sep 12, 2007
Messages
9,399
Points
113
The heat affected zone is too large to use with any handheld. If the problem is "there is a need to cut fabric in a precise fashion," there are likely better solutions than a dangerous, thousand-dollar laser.
 




Top