Miguel Jacinto
Customer support
Phone: (866) 507 8133
E-Mail: canada@troteclaser.com
Contact form Laser Cutting Plastic Foils
and Films
Polycarbonate, polyester or polyimide membrane keyboards
Polycarbonate, polyester or polyimide membrane keyboards
The laser beam allows for controlled fusing of the foils and films and produces clear and sealed cutting edges. With the laser, you can cut even the smallest radii precisely and produce simple geometries at record speed. During laser cutting, no pressure is exerted on the foils or films by a tool, the entire process is contact-less and consequently, the end product will turn out perfect.
Another plus: As opposed to working with a punch or a knife, laser cutting of the foil or film will not result in chipping of paint from the end product.
The benefits of a laser cutting machine: Faster than a cutting plotter, more precise than punching dies, and more economical for small series up to 1,000 pieces.
Film materials suitable for laser cutting
| Material | Abbreviation | Trade names |
|---|---|---|
| Polyester | PES | Thermolite® Polarguard® |
| Polyethylene terephthalate | PET | Mylar® |
| Polyimide | PI | Kapton® |
| Polycarbonate | PC | Lexan® Makrolon® |
Laser Cutting Stickers
Perforated lines for stickers
This is the 1st part of our Stickers Video which involves an extensive tutorial on how to create your artwork and perforated lines for creating stickers.
Our JobControl laser software lets you easily create perforated lines using the "Links" option in your Material Database when you click on "advanced options". Creating perforated lines in JobControl saves you that hassle of doing it in your design program which can lead to an enormous amount of vector lines that are hard to work with and can crash your program.
To see more videos like this one, check out our Youtube channel.
Impressions
Advantages of a Trotec laser
How does laser cutting of foils and films work?
The controlled fusing of the material ensures clean cutting edges without any soiling. The laser offers many advantages when working with multilayer films: Several layers, such as backing, adhesive and top film, can be cut in one work step. Depending on the layer structure and the strength of the film, up to 10 layers can be cut in the composite material.
Why will I work faster with the laser than with a cutting plotter?
Precisely matched axis drives and an innovative control system ensure precise and fast laser cutting with Trotec systems. Unlike in cutting plotters, there is no material resistance when lasers are used. As a result, laser cutting is faster. Another plus: The laser beam does not need to be lifted or rotated as a knife. Trotec laser systems make optimal use of this advantage in speed and detail, in particular when working on delicate geometries.
Do I have to fixate the material on the working surface?
No, not manually. For optimal cutting results, we recommend the use of a vacuum table. This ensures that thin or wavy materials are positioned flat on the work table, as for laser cutting. No pressure is exerted on the material during laser cutting of foils and films; clamping or any other type of fixation is therefore not required. This saves time and money during the preparation of the material, and last but not least, prevents crushing of the material. All these advantages combined make the laser the perfect machine for cutting foils and films.
Do I require special accessories for accurate laser cutting of foils and films?
A camera system is the ideal partner when you wish to process printed products. i-cut® allows for perfect contour cutting of printed materials. Even flexible materials, like banners and flags, are thus cut absolutely accurately. Time-consuming positioning falls away, distortions in the impression are detected, and the cutting path is adapted dynamically. By combining the optical registration mark detection system with a Trotec laser, you can save up to 30% in process costs. There are no costs for the manufacture, maintenance and storage of the cutting dies. In addition, absolutely flexible work is ensured and it is possible to respond to any changes in the design in the shortest possible time.
