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10. Displays 11.Panel Signs

Keep the protective masking on

Article: Laser Cutting Technical Help

As a general rule, the thicker the material you are using, the higher the need for adjustments to your laser file. It is important to use a slower cutting speed with thicker materials to eliminate the risk of smoke residue and melting.

It is recommended that the paper or clear protective masking be left in place when vector cutting. The masking protects the plastic from excessive burning. If wrinkles or bubbles in the masking are present, it is important that the masking be smoothed or removed before cutting. Gases trapped under the masking can damage your work. Leave the protective covering we supply until the very last moment of installation.

This image shows the protective covering left on the letters until the last moment of installation.

When needed we may also apply an additional 2nd layered protective cover.

Occasionally, we may reverse cut the materials to protect the face panel gloss or appearance. When this occurs, Experience shows that the most effective method for vector cutting is to cut from the front to back. This requires the on-screen image to be negative in order for the cut piece to be right reading and to place the material in the laser bed face down. It also requires cutting directly on the laser bed, not on a honeycomb insert. (When the laser hits the edges of the honeycomb cells, it bounces back causing a pitting that may mark the surface of the material it is in contact with.)

Whenever it is convenient, leave the factory masking on the front surface and if good results are still not being achieved, try spraying the bed with water to absorb heat before laying the material face down with the masking on. If two passes still prove necessary, adjust the first setting so the cut travels nearly all the way through the substrate. The second cut, the one affecting the face of the material, should be adjusted to a much cooler setting, just enough to cut through the remaining substrate and cap.

Setting 0,0 mm start points. The designer team set an initial blast point at zero millimetres x zero millimetres. This gives your graphic design control incredible accuracy. Let us know if your design is intricate or requires multi layer application. Because we use the zero, zero technique, you work will be very accurate. You may also like to read about the kerf values for high accuracy cutting.

 

The protective mask is left on around non cut areas during cutting.

If you watch the favourite video below, you will notice lots of sparks flying away up and over the material, for this type of metal processing - cutting, a softened water solution is used that protects the highly polished metal surface. Great to watch.
 

Click to load a short movie that shows the workshop in action.

More Technical Help can be found at the MyHelp pages or menu on the right.

See some of the finished works at the Laser Gallery