Trotec Laser International
Customer support
Phone: +43-7201-15288
E-Mail: trotec@troteclaser.com
Contact form Laser cutting and laser engraving paper & cardboard
For greeting cards, book covers, invitations, business cards, gift wrap, table decorations, covers, flyers, brochures
Laser cutting Paper
Laser cutting and laser engraving open up unlimited possibilities for paper finishing. When you process paper with a laser, you can enhance greeting cards, book covers or gift wrap with a unique, individual engraving or a delicate laser-cut pattern. Lasers can also perforate paper, which opens up even more design possibilities. Whether you are creating logos, photos or ornaments for personalization, you always get impressively accurate engravings and highly precise cutting edges with a laser.
Types of paper suitable for laser engraving and cutting:
- fine paper
- art paper
- uncoated paper
- handmade paper
- cardboard
- card
- corrugated cardboard
With a Trotec CO2 laser cutter, you can laser cut and engrave paper.
Laser cutting and engraving of paper
See how it works
Application inspirations
Examples of paper products processed with a laser
With a laser cutting machine for paper finishing, you can create invitations, table cards or high-quality packaging with a creative individual engraving. You can create even the smallest lettering and detailed graphics consistently with laser engraving. Delicate, laser-cut patterns give cards or packaging that special touch. You can also make unusual shapes from printed papers with the laser contour cut.
Applications:
- greeting cards
- invitations
- table cards
- high-quality packaging
- book covers
- business cards
Industries:
- paper finishing
- school supplies
- decorations
- arts and crafts
What is the point of buying a laser for the laser cutting and laser engraving of paper?
Unlike cutting plotters or punch presses, a laser cutting machine enables you to produce even the finest geometries with the highest precision. During laser engraving, the surface of the paper is removed and the result is a high-quality finish. This gives you complete freedom to implement your ideas. Using digital production, these designs can be quickly realized with a Trotec laser in just a few process steps.
Function and advantages of laser technology
One tool for all geometries
- The laser beam is the universal tool for all geometries and material thicknesses. Depending on the lens used, the laser beam is about 0.1 mm wide. Thus, almost any geometry can be cut using the laser.
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- High-quality optics and best beam quality
High-quality paper finishing and bold effects due to deep engraving
- Laser engraving on paper creates noticeable effect without smudge marks
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Good interplay of precise Trotec laser systems, the right use of compressed air and vacuum as well as suitable parameters
Precise laser cutting of printed materials
- With print&cut applications, registration marks make it possible to determine the position and rotation of printed materials. The system dynamically adjusts the cutting path.
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- With JobControl® vision software, you can create amazing details and meet the most minimal tolerances.
Create fine details
- You can laser engrave small fonts and fine details, and laser cut delicate patterns
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- High-quality optics and best beam quality
Easier workflow
- Designs are created in your normal graphics program and sent to the laser via the “Print” command
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- JobControl® laser software: Simply intuitive. Efficient work.
No tool wear
- No wear of the laser beam due to material processing
- No costs for new tools compared to a cutting plotter
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- CeramiCore® laser sources with particularly long service life
No cutting dies
- The throughput time is increased
- No wear and tear of tool parts and cutting dies
- No storage costs for die cutting
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- CeramiCore® laser sources with particularly long service life
Trotec product recommendation
Tips for laser engraving and cutting paper
Can paper burn during laser cutting?
Paper is evaporated like wood, i.e. sublimated. During the cutting process, the paper is worn away in the form of a gas, visible as smoke, at high speed. The smoke transports the heat away from the paper, whereby the material is only minimally thermally burdened. With optimum parameters, Air Assist as well as Table Exhaust, the material can be successfully processed smoke-free without burnt edges and even with the finest contours.
Is it necessary to fix the material on the working surface?
Clamping or fixing the material is not necessary. During laser processing, no pressure is exerted on the material so the material is not crushed. Optimal cutting results can be achieved by using a vacuum table so that even corrugated materials e.g. cardboard lie flat on the processing table during laser cutting. You save time and money because no manual preparation of the material is required. This makes the laser cutter the perfect cutting tool for your paper applications.
Is the engraving always dark during the laser process?
The engraving result depends on different factors. A dark as well as a light engraving are possible even with dyed-through paper types. Thus, a so-called color change from dark to white can be achieved with a very low power output. Or just a dark textured engraving with a higher power output. When working with paper types that have two or more layers, the cover layer is removed and the second color is thus visible. Laser cutting or engraving paper offers so many ways to create designs.
How can printed papers be cut precisely with the laser?
With the JobControl® Vision camera system, which detects distortions in the print and automatically adapts the cutting path, you can create the perfect contour cut of printed materials. Even flexible materials can be cut precisely and complex positioning is no longer required. You can save up to 30% of the process costs by combining registration mark detection systems and Trotec laser cutters.