Your Acrylic Roadmap: 5

Acrylic; in the laser community you either love it, hate it, or have no idea how to begin using it. With makers come strong opinions that may discourage information for specific materials. Below we discuss five common acrylic myths all new and advanced acrylic users should know.

#1 Myth: If acrylic comes with plastic masking instead of paper masking, it is extruded acrylic.

Fact: Masking does NOT indicate if acrylic is cast or extruded. Manufacturers mask acrylic sheets to help protect the sheets in transit. Sheets are commonly masked with a PE (plastic) film or craft paper masking. Both masking styles come in various colors or adhesion strengths. PE film is the masking preference for manufacturers of extruded acrylic, such as mirror acrylic and iridescent acrylic. However, PE film is also used by manufacturers of cast acrylic, especially on specialty or glitter acrylic. This approach allows suppliers to easily identify styles and to do a more thorough quality check since specialty and glitter acrylic is more susceptible to manufacturing irregularities. While the primary purpose of masking is protection, these two styles are laser-safe and can be used in a CO2 laser if desired. If the masking lifted or was damaged in transit with frayed edges, it can create a fire risk and should be reapplied. Some manufacturers use films that are NOT laser friendly, which is why we always recommend purchasing your materials from suppliers that specifically cater to the CO2 laser community.

Pro-tip: Before starting your project, test your material with the default masking. Different lasers and settings may not perform as well with plastic masking. To reduce flashback, either paper mask over the plastic masking or remove the plastic masking and apply alternative masking for your project.

#2 Myth: Acrylic is more expensive to use than wood or MDF

Fact: Your material cost is more than simply the initial cost per sheet. Depending on the style, acrylic sheets can appear more expensive than alternative materials such as wood or MDF. In addition to the initial material cost, your total cost of materials for your project should take labor and reliability into consideration. Unlike alternatives, acrylic does not require significant processing before or after cutting. When working with acrylic, you can significantly reduce your labor time by cutting down on time sanding and painting.

Acrylic is also more reliable in cutting consistency than wood or MDF. Assuming your machine is properly maintained, cutting from sheet to sheet of the same acrylic style, your settings should not have to be adjusted frequently. With milled materials