Polyethylene - Laser Cutting, Marking & Engraving (2024)

FAQs

Can polyethylene be laser engraved? ›

Polyethylene does not readily absorb the energy of a 1.06 micron fiber laser. Cutting of polyethylene can be performed with a CO₂ laser to produce a clean non-discolored cut with a slight raised edge near the point of ablation. Laser engraving and laser marking of polyethylene are possible using a CO₂ laser.

The answer is: yes, polyethylene can be cut with a laser. Laser cutting is an excellent method for cutting polyethylene because it is fast, precise, and does not produce any debris.

Polypropylene is not manufactured for 'appearance' engraving specifically but it can be achieved. Our standard setting is a light surface scratching. A small level of contrast will occur – engraved areas will turn slightly glossy.

With the laser machine you can process a variety of plastics such as PMMA – acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS, polypropylene, Delrin, polyamide, POM, polyester or polyethylene.

UV lasers operate at a wavelength absorbed well by many plastics. This allows for efficient marking without the need for excessive heat and without damage to the surface or components. UV laser marking is especially effective for applications that require fine details, high contrast, and durability.

In fact, the material can be cut using common tools you already have around the house. For thin HDPE sheets, you can use scissors, utility knives, and hand saws. You'll also need a ruler, a scribe, and a long tail clip.

Any toothed blade will cut through plastic. As described in the article, a fine-tooth saw or even a utility knife can cut the plastic. Another possible tool is to use is an unwanted steak knife. Make sure to follow the warnings section to avoid injury.

How is Polypropylene Made? Polypropylene is made by polymerizing propylene gas using a catalyst system, commonly a Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalyst. The polymerization parameters, including temperature, pressure, and reactant concentrations, are determined according to the desired polymer grade.

Can you laser mark plastic? ›

Pulsed fiber lasers can be used to generate high contrast marking on plastic surfaces. The identifier will generally appear white or gray regardless of the base color of the irradiated plastic. Such marking on plastic can be done at high speeds: Most plastics are quite easy to mark with a laser.

Laser engraving can be used on a wide variety of materials, including metals, ceramics, glass, wood, leather, paper, and polyurethane.

Polyethylene tends to have a waxy, soft surface. PE can be cut well with a laser cutter.

Laser marking discolors the surface of the material, while laser etching and engraving actually removes a portion of the surface area as it marks. The major difference between laser etching and laser engraving is the depth to which the laser penetrates the surface.

On this almost transparent plastic, a laser marking is obtained in which the white characters appear to float on the surface. From PET bottles to thin-film materials, laser marking with the right parameters will always be clear and sharp.

Suitability For Many Materials: Laser engraving is an incredibly versatile processing method. The effect of the heat can be used to process a variety of different materials. Wood, paper, cardboard, textiles, plastics, polyurethanes, and many other materials can be engraved or cut with a laser engraver.

How you can use a laser machine to cut PE foam. Many foams such as polyester (PES), polyethylene (PE) or polyurethane (PUR) are very suitable for processing with the laser cutting machine.

Polyethylene can be screen printed. To do so, Tiflex recommends its solvent series, Urethal (excellent resistance to chemicals and compatibility with Pantone^®) and its series of UV-drying inks UViprim FL (very high reactivity to polymerisation and compatibility with Pantone^®).