sanfory's blog
If you own a small business that specializes in making items out of plastic, wood, acrylic, or even glass, a laser cutter can be a very valuable machine that can boost your productivity and increase your creative possibilities.
A good laser engraver and cutter can engrave objects, etch surfaces, and cut shapes and patterns from materials with incredible precision and speed.
Whether you're personalizing items, making small parts for larger items, or cutting materials, the right laser cutter will help you work with accuracy and speed, and ultimately help increase your turnover.
So, if you think your small business could benefit from a laser cutter, then read on to find out our top picks from the machines available on the market today.
We have the Atomstack a5 pro+ and a10 pro, each of which has its own strengths. We purchased both of these laser cutters/engravers directly from the atom-stack.com store with great support from their team. And now Atomstack offers a better s20 pro which is more powerful and accurate.
The 10 watt atomstack a10 pro is the laser cutter and engraver we store in our garage workshop as the unit itself is not enclosed and it is easy to open the garage door with a simple household fan to vent the fumes outside.
Now imagine placing that lightweight and versatile machine on very large objects (think doors, tables, plexiglass). With some ingenuity and determination, the atomstack s20 pro and your laptop could become your mobile, large format, custom engraving business where you can cut and engrave company logos for local shops and restaurants and more.
Small businesses need a laser cutter to make their job easier. Cheaper laser cutters and engravers require a lot of maintenance and repairs.
The perfect laser cutter for small businesses right out of the box with powerful software that's easy to use.
Safety is also very important for businesses to avoid injury and prevent liability if employees are involved.
Can a budget laser cutter get the job done?
I recommend small businesses invest more in a laser cutter for a number of reasons.
Most laser cutters under $1000 are cheap because they have to be assembled, don't have great software, and have low specs.
The quality produced by a cheap laser cutter or engraver will show in the products it produces.
To avoid headaches, small businesses should invest early in a high-quality laser cutting machine.
If you are a beginner in laser cutting, you may spend a long time sifting through details, prices, reviews and still have no clear answer as to which laser cutting machine is the best while still being affordable
Cheaper atomstack laser cutters tend to be very similar, with only minor differences, so I hope this list helps you skip the smaller details and helps you buy the most affordable laser cutter.
Acrylic, or plexiglass, is an affordable, versatile material with glass-like clarity and plastic-like durability.
Laser cutting and engraving on acrylic can be used to create marketable products such as signs, displays, letters or jewelry.
By using the right laser cutter and following the right technique, you can create smooth-edged, polished acrylic products.
Laser Cut Acrylic
Laser cutting machines not only provide fast cutting speed, but also provide high precision and good surface finish.
Acrylic is a type of plastic, so you can use techniques similar to laser cutting or engraving plastic.
Types of acrylic suitable for laser cutting
According to the manufacturing process, there are two main types of acrylic: extruded acrylic and cast acrylic.
It is important to understand both because they behave differently than laser processing.
Extruded acrylic
Extruded acrylic is manufactured by extruding an acrylic substance through an opening of the desired thickness.
The extrusion process results in non-uniform mechanical properties of the material along the x and y directions.
It is relatively cheaper than cast acrylic and has good optical properties.
Extruded acrylic is highly impact resistant, three times more durable than window glass of the same thickness, and 50% lighter than glass.
Laser cutting extruded acrylic will produce clean cuts and flame polished edges.
And laser engraving extruded acrylic will cause the engraving to be gray, so it is not suitable for engraving.
In general, extruded acrylic is easier to cut than cast acrylic of the same thickness and requires relatively less laser power.
cast acrylic
Cast acrylic is a high-quality acrylic made by casting the monomer methyl methacrylate between two pieces of glass.
The glass and methyl methacrylate components then polymerize to form a piece of cast acrylic.
This manufacturing process produces a homogeneous material with uniform mechanical properties in all directions.
Cast acrylic is more expensive than extruded acrylic, but offers better optical properties.
Laser cut cast acrylic will produce a nice surface finish with some streak marks around the edges.
Highly recommended for laser engraving due to its excellent frost white engraving output.
Both cast and extruded acrylics are available in a variety of different shades and colors.
Laser cutter setup for acrylic cutting
Laser power
The power of the laser module determines the ability of the laser cutting machine to cut acrylic.
The higher the power, the higher the ability to cut thick materials.
However, low-power diode lasers can also be used to engrave acrylic, and can even cut satisfactorily with multiple passes.
cutting speed
The cutting speed determines the surface finish of the cut performed by laser cutting.
Low-speed laser cutting of acrylic will produce a glass-clear flame-polished edge without any burrs, but if you notice chatter marks on the cut edge, you should consider increasing the cutting speed.
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