LASER CUTTING MATERIALS WE STOCK

• 1/4 Wood

• 1/4 Acrylic (clear, black, white. Other colors can be ordered)

• 1/8 wood

• 1/8 Acrylic (clear, black, white. Other colors can be ordered)

• Stencil material (oil board)

• OTHER COLORS, MATERIALS, AND THICKNESSES CAN BE ORDERED. There are some random colors and thicknesses in the shop.

  Feel free to bring in your own materials. If they are not on the safety list please email us at americanlaserco@gmail.com with a manufacturer safety data sheet.

  Please note that if it is on the never cut list we absolutely cannot cut it for our own safety which includes any PVC product.

HOW IS LASER CUTTING PRICED?

Laser cutting is typically priced by the hour, with the cost depending on the power of the laser cutter and the complexity of the design. Higher-powered laser cutters can cut through thicker materials faster, so they are generally less expensive to use.

Laser cutting services also charge differently for simple and complex designs. Simple designs can be cut quickly and easily, while complex designs may take longer to cut and may require additional time. We use a quoting program which is why a vector file is required for the quote.

CREATING A VECTOR FILE

These guidelines can also be easily adapted to other vector programs too.

WHAT IS A VECTOR FILE?  

A vector file is a type of graphic image file that is created using mathematical expressions rather than pixels. Vector files can be scaled to any size without losing quality, (they always stay perfect when you zoom in) making them ideal for use in print and digital media. A vector file is a graphics file that contains a vector image, rather than a raster, or bitmapped, image.

There are three main types of vector files:

-AI (Adobe Illustrator): Adobe Illustrator is a widely used vector editing program, and AI files can only be opened and edited using this software.

-pdf

-dxf

-A JPG, PSD, BMP or PNG file is NOT a vector and cannot be used. An AI, DXF, or PDF file (if exported from a vector program) is acceptable. 

Vector files can be created in programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Inkscape (free), and Autocad. There are lots of tutorials on the internet to show you how to use these programs.    

HOW TO CREATE YOUR VECTOR FILE (IN ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR)

Draw your design using red and blue. red is cutting while blue is etching.  Lines should always be shown as 0.001 pt stroke.

“All we do is Laser cutting and these guys are professionals. We have been working together for a little bit now and they are pretty much my main supplier at this point.*****”

— L

*Please note we are not responsible for defective cuts due to file errors or for material defects if you provide your own material.

LASER CUTTING FILE SUBMISSION GUIDELINE

• AI, DXF, and PDF are acceptable. We recommend using PDF.

• We cannot accept any non-vector or raster files.

• We need a min of .25 in bleed room from the edge. If you Don’t have bleed room please tell us.

• The big bed is 4 x 5 feet max the max cut is 46 x 58.

WHAT MATERIALS CAN BE LASER CUT?

SAFE MATERIALS

Professional laser cutting services can cut or etch a variety of materials, including wood, paper, cork, and some plastics. Etching can be done on almost any safe surface, making it a versatile tool for a variety of applications.

Material

Many kinds of wood

Plywood/Composite woods

MDF/Engineered woods

Paper, card stock

Cardboard, carton

Cork

Acrylic/Plexiglas/PMMA

Mylar

Solid Styrene

Depron foam

Gator foam

Cloth/felt/hemp/cotton

Leather/Suede

Magnetic Sheet

NON-CHLORINE-containing rubber

Coroplast ('corrugated plastic')

NEVER CUT THESE MATERIALS

Material

PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride)/vinyl/pleather/artificial leather

Thick ( >1mm ) Polycarbonate/Lexan

ABS

HDPE/milk bottle plastic

Polystyrene Foam

Polypropylene Foam

Epoxy

Fiberglass

Coated Carbon Fiber

Any foodstuff ( such as meat, seaweed 'nori' sheets, cookie dough, bread, tortillas... )

Material with Sticky Glue Backing (glue dependent)

“Jonathan did a nice job cutting for me on several work and personal projects in plastic. They have a large machine with large capacity.*****”

— Dev

WE DON'T JUST LASER CUT WE ALSO LASER ENGRAVE

We don't just laser cut, we also offer laser engraving services. We can engrave on a variety of materials. Engraving is a great way to add a personal touch to your projects.

THE PROS OF LASER CUTTING

One of the biggest advantages of using a laser engraving machine is that it allows you to make custom products with unique designs. You can even add text to your product so that it looks professional. Another advantage is that laser engravers are very fast. It takes less than an hour to complete one project.