Laser Cutting
Universal Laser Cutter VLS 6.60
The Universal VLS 6.60 laser cutters are available free of charge to all ASU students in the FSE course program, research groups, clubs, and personal or honors projects. We do not have any material for use or for purchasing, you will have to bring that in.
- 32″ x 18″ processing area
- 4 units available
- 60 watt
Laser Cutter Operation
- Please bring your files completed and ready to cut. The laser cutter workstation is not a place to make extensive changes to your files.
- Do not leave the machine unattended while it is running. Lab staff are not responsible for your materials and your material may catch on fire.
- Small flames are to be expected
- If your material catches fire and remains on fire you must immediately stop the laser cutter using the main power switch and notify a Lab Assistant.
- We do not hold or store materials in the lab.
- After your part is completed, keep the lid of the laser cutter closed for 10 seconds to allow smoke or vapors to be vented.
- Clean up your workstation when you are finished. You may not leave materials of any kind in or around the laser cutter.
Please watch the following video for instructions on how to operate the laser cutters:
Approved & Banned Materials
If you are unsure of what type of material you are bringing in, you will not be allowed to use it in our machines.
If you do not see your material listed here, feel free to contact us.
Approved Materials
| Material | Max Thickness | Notes | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Woods (Recommended) Basswood Birch | 1/4" | Charring may occur, Avoid oily/resinous woods | Oily and resinous woods will catch fire |
| Plywood | 1/8" | Charring will occur, plywood contains glue and may be more difficult to cut, we recommend using a hard wood if possible | |
| Paper Card Stock Matboard Butterboard | Standard Thickness | Cuts very nicely and very quickly | Slight edge discoloration may occur if settings are too high |
| Cardboard | 2-ply | Cuts nicely, but easily catches on fire under slow speeds or high power settings | Watch for fire |
| Natural Cork (NOT engineered cork) | 1/4" | Quality of the cuts depend on the quality of the cork, thick cork will char and burn | Watch for burning/charring |
| Acrylic Lucite PMMA | 1/4" | Cuts extremely well, with nice clean edges | ANY clear or plastic protective covering must be removed before cutting |
| Styrene Sheets | 1/16" | Smokes severely when cut, laser cutter lens easily gets dirty and will need to be cleaned when finished and cooled | Chars and burns when speed is too slow or power is too high |
Banned Materials
| Material | Danger | Cause/Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| "PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) Polyester Vinyl Pleather (Artificial Leather)" | Emits pure chlorine gas when etched or cut! Damages the laser cutter | DO NOT cut this material!! It will ruin the optics of the laser cutters, cause the metal of the machine to corrode and ruin the motion control system. It is severely damaged to our equipment. |
| Polycarbonate Lexan | Catches fire, does not cut! | Often found as a flat, sheet material, Polycarbonate strongly absorbs infrared radiation. It is very ineffective in etching/cutting and discolors the material. |
| Plastics ABS HDPE (milk bottle plastic) | Emits CYANIDE gas, catches fire and melts! | It melts rather than vaporizes and easily catches on fire, leaving behind a melted gooey deposit that is especially difficult to remove from the honeycomb grid. It does not engrave well. |
| Foam Polystyrene Foam PolyPropylene Foam Depron Foam Gator Foam | Catches fire immediately! | It catches fire, melts and does not easily cut, this material will melt into drops of burning fire and turn to rock hard drips and pebbles in the laser cutter bed. Do not etch or cut. |
| Fiberglass | Emits toxic fumes! | It's a mix of two materials that can't be cut. Glass and epoxy resin |
| Coated Materials Carbon Fiber | Emits noxious fumes | The material will simply not cut |
| MDF / OSB / Engineered Wood | High amounts of charring, difficult to cut | |
| Metals | Will not etch or cut |