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Polycarbonate: diode, CO2 and fiber laser compatibility
Epilog states that thin polycarbonate can be cut on its CO2 lasers but discolors, and xTool support states the same about thin sheet. FSL lists polycarbonate thicker than 1 mm as a material that cuts poorly and catches fire. Boss Laser states that it burns and does not mark cleanly.
- Also called
- PC sheet, Makrolon
- Diode laser
- Engrave or mark: Not listed, cut: Not listed
- CO2 laser
- Engrave or mark: No (1), cut: No (1)
- Fiber laser
- Engrave or mark: Not listed, cut: Not listed
- Thickest one-pass cut listed
- Not listed
- Listed as No by
- FSL, Boss Laser
Compatibility by laser type
Yes (2) 2 manufacturers or stores list it as workableNo (2) 2 list it as not workableDisagree manufacturers list bothWith conditions workable only under a stated conditionNot listed no manufacturer statement
| Laser type | Engrave or mark | Cut |
|---|---|---|
| Diode laser (blue, about 450 to 455 nm) | Not listed | Not listed |
| CO2 laser (10,600 nm) | No (1) No: Boss Laser. | No (1) No: FSL. With conditions: Epilog, xTool. |
| Fiber laser (1064 nm) | Not listed | Not listed |
The material lookup adds a cut thickness for polycarbonate.
Manufacturer statements
| Laser and job | Manufacturer | Lists it as | Wording or table entry on the page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO2, engrave or mark | Boss Laser | No | polycarbonate ... discolors, yellows, and burns rather than marking cleanly, so test carefully or avoid it. | Boss Laser: Materials and safety FAQ |
| CO2, cut | Epilog | With conditions | Thin sheets of polycarbonate can be cut with our CO2 laser systems, but the material tends to discolor when heated by the laser beam. | Epilog Laser: What materials are unsafe to engrave and/or cut |
| CO2, cut | xTool | With conditions | Thin polycarbonate can be cut but its color often changes badly. | xTool: Support article 363, safety guide |
| CO2, cut | FSL | No | Thick ( >1mm ) Polycarbonate/Lexan. Cuts very poorly, discolors, catches fire | Full Spectrum Laser (FSL): What materials are safe and not safe to engrave/vector cut |
Not listed for: Diode engrave or mark, Diode cut, Fiber engrave or mark, Fiber cut.
One-pass cut depth
No one-pass cut depth is listed for this material on the laser machines page.
Notes
- xTool support states: “Vaporization/melting of many materials, which include but are not limited to PVC and polycarbonate, may release harmful smoke.”
Fumes
Laser cutting and engraving give off fumes. The machine's manual has the venting rules for that machine. The fume and room lookup compares a machine's exhaust airflow with fume extractor airflow.