We offer several types of materials for purchase to use with the laser cutter.
Acrylic: 28.5 in x 17 in
- Thickness: 1/8" and 1/16"
- Colors: white, black, and clear
Basswood: 28.5 in x 6 in
- Thickness: 1/8" and 1/16"
Cardboard: 28.5 in x 17 in
Brown Chip Board: 28.5 in x 17 in
If you wish to cut a different material (or color of material), purchased from an outside source, you will need to get a Materials Approval Form. This form is available from either Jennifer Nieland (room 433), or Mike Miller (room 430). You will be assessed a materials fee of $1.00 per sheet to be cut. This form is good for 1 - 3 days. Not all materials are suitable for the laser cutter. We reserve the right to deny the use of certain materials based on suitability and safety issues (please don't ask to use foam core - it burns spectacularly:).
Approved Materials
• Stock laser cutter materials purchased from the lab
• Chipboard, or museum board, any color,
1/16th inch maximum thickness.
• Important! Certain types of acrylics cannot be used
with laser cutters due to the output of poisonous
fumes. Ask the company if the acrylic you intend to
purchase is safe for laser cutter use!
Forbidden Materials
The following materials are fire hazards, may off-gas
harmful fumes, or are not lens-friendly.
• Metal (the cutter is not able to cut metal)
• Glass (shatters when cut)
• PVC
• Lexan
• Polycarbonate
• Styrene
• vinyl
• foam core
• rubber
• plywood (adhesive coats lens when cut)
• paper
• anything not listed on the approved list
• anything over 1/8 inch thick
