Cutting and engraving all types of acrylic with a laser

Acrylic is excellent to work with using a laser, regardless of whether you want to give the material a specific shape or give it an inscription. The laser machines from JustLaser not only win people over with their highly-precise results in cutting and engraving, they also preserve the special aesthetic of the material.

Acrylic, also known as PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) or Plexiglas®, is a synthetic, clear, glass-like plastic, which is part of the class of thermoplastics and can be formed under the influence of heat. Acrylic is often used as a substitute for glass as the material has some significant benefits. It is as transparent as glass while also being 30 times thicker and, unlike glass, can be cut as well as engraved. If suitable machines and parameters are chosen, the cut edge is just as smooth and transparent (“polished cut”) as the non-processed areas of the acrylic. In a mechanical cut (e.g. with a saw or milling machine), an additional step needs to be taken to make any opaque cut edges transparent through flame polishing. In addition, acrylic doesn’t scratch during processing and remains consistently clear. The plates are available in various textures and colours.

This plastic is ideally suited to laser processes. Cutting and engraving acrylic is frequently used in plastics engineering, in the advertising industry, in the signage industry, and in the production of front plates:

• Advertising technology
• Digital printing
• Signage and name plates
• Architectural models
• Prototypes
• Fashion jewellery
• Interior design
• Fab labs and universities
• Front panels
• Cups and trophies
• POS displays, etc.

Cutting and engraving acrylic with a laser has proven itself to be economically efficient for both small and large lot sizes. Acrylic plates with a thickness of up to 25 mm can be processed quickly and cost-effectively using the laser machines from JustLaser.

The smallest details, delicate patterns and unusual shapes (which can’t even be produced using a milling machine) can be produced quickly and easily, even in difficult-to-reach places – and with maximum design freedom. The JustLaser laser machines win people over with their accurate, permanent and high-contrast results with consistent quality. The material doesn’t need to be fixed or clamped in place, meaning surfaces remain completely intact. The contactless process preserves the acrylic plates and reduces maintenance costs to an absolute minimum.

Furthermore, JustLaser laser machines can be integrated into almost any Windows-based software – e.g. CorelDRAW, Adobe or AutoCAD. Laser and computer can be connected easily using a USB or Ethernet port. Create your designs in your usual graphics program.

The flexible laser technology from JustLaser can be used to process a wide range of materials, not just acrylic. The contactless process means materials are not placed under any mechanical strain. As a result, there are no breakages or waste, and there are no expenses for tools or high-cost maintenance works.

When you buy a laser machine from JustLaser, you’re getting a highly-modern product that will win you over with its high throughput rates and processing quality! The relatively low investment risk for a laser cutter from JustLaser, its low set-up costs and its versatile range of potential uses make it a sensible investment for companies of any size.