Testing out a laser cutter

[Things]

Pretty much all clear plastics block the wavelength completely, you'd notice the window on the cutter melting long before the risk of a beam penetrating

But yes, it won't engrave metals because they're too reflective. I have been able to cut PCB's with it however, so thin layers of metal with a coating (soldermask) seems fine.

[mixedgas]

Add teflon to the cut it and die list. HF and lethal flourocarbons come out.

You have air assist right? Assist pressure matters on the thick stuff.

Steve

[Things]

Yeah it has air assist, although not a great deal of flow once it gets to the nozzle, could really do with some thicker tubing. Good to know about teflon

[araugh]

Neoprene is troublesome too. If you absolutely have to cut something particularly nasty, do many fast passes at a low pulse rate. You'll have to run the file many times, but you get better edges and fewer fumes.