Did you know that laser cutters can cut more than just wood or metal? In fact, there are many laser materials that can be used for a wide variety of laser cutting or engraving projects, many of which can be surprising and interesting. While wood may initially be seen as a very easy material to find and use, some of these other materials are just as easy to find and you will soon find that they work well with a quality laser cutter.

Let's take a look at five interesting laser materials you can use in your next project today.

Interesting Laser Materials #1: Paper

People are often surprised to hear that laser cutters can cut paper. Instead of saying that a laser that can cut wood can't cut paper, it's surprising that a laser can be so fine that it won't damage such a thin material. The truth is that laser cutters are perfect for cutting patterns and images from paper, which would be nearly impossible to do without a razor blade and plenty of patience.  

Just be sure to set the laser to a very high speed at very low power and then secure the paper in the workspace or disable the air assist so the paper doesn't blow away.

Laser cutting of paper

Interesting Laser Materials #2: Fabrics

Fabrics include materials such as cloth, polyester, Gore-Tex, silk, and dozens more. Like paper, laser cutters are perfectly capable of cutting fabric. Most often, this will be for garments or garment cutting patterns, but may also include stuffed animals and pillows. Some fabrics work better than others, so be prepared to experiment. Just like with paper, make sure to secure the fabric to the laser cutter work area or disable the air assist so it doesn't get blown away.

Laser Cutting of Textiles

Interesting Laser Material #3: Tile

Due to the density, lasers will not cut tiles or stones, but they can engrave these laser materials. Instead of cutting through the material, laser engraving removes the surface points of the material to expose 3-dimensional cavities to create an image or design. This means that the surface of tiles and stones can be decorated with custom images. Contrast will be the key to truly dramatic results, so polished stone is often preferred.  

Tile Laser Cutting

Interesting Laser Material #4: Glass

Laser glass engraving is another laser material that you can have fun with. Just like tile, this technique creates a distinct contrast in the glass, allowing for custom images and messaging. The most common glass objects used for engraving are bottles and mugs. This is achieved using a rotator, a laser attachment that allows the laser to be executed on curved or cylindrical objects.

Glass can be tricky to use as a laser material and there is always the risk of breaking the glass. Make sure to rasterize only on the glass to prevent this from happening. Placing a wet paper towel over the glass while engraving will also help, as the laser will still pass through the paper towel and etch the glass.

Interesting Laser Material #5: Acrylic

Acrylic is available in a variety of colors and opaque levels for a wide range of uses and designs. Even low-power laser tubes can cut thin acrylic, making it a great material resource for manufacturers and hobby laser enthusiasts. A word of warning about cutting any plastic - be aware that not all plastics can be safely cut with a laser due to toxic and sometimes deadly fumes. Always make sure you know that the acrylic you are considering using can be safely used with a laser, or that the adhesive in the surface mask can also be safely cut and engraved. If you are not sure, ask the manufacturer for a copy of the MSDS.

These are just a few of the many laser materials that are well suited for use with laser cutters. Thinking outside the (wood) box will open up endless creative possibilities for projects using LASER's high quality laser cutters and engravers .