6802
« on: June 27, 2011, 06:40:30 AM »
I have said this many times but Lasers and Acrylic were just meant for each other and the acrylic’s curious ability to sublimate (change from a solid to a gas without going through the liquid state) is the icing on the cake.
There is however, another curious thing about acrylic in so much as the material acts as a waveguide to the CO2 laser’s infrared beam. Bearing in mind that the laser’s focussed beam is hour glass shape with the waist at the exact focal point, this hole was made with the focal point at the top surface of the acrylic with the laser set on 75% power for a 3 second burst. Now this is the curious thing, apart from tapering a bit at the bottom, the hole (kerf) is more or less parallel which is not what is expected.
Useless bit of information perhaps but I thought it may be of interest to some as it could explain how a relatively low power laser, such as mine, can easily cut 10mm acrylic whilst still maintaining relatively parallel sides.
Tweakie.