Plastic laser marking and cutting machines

Q: Which plastics can you laser?

There are a variety of plastics that you can laser cut well. Some examples: Cast acrylic, PES film, PE foam, LaserFlex, ABS, extruded acrylic, polyamide (PA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI), polyoxymethylene (POM) - i.e. Delrin, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU, PUR).

Q: Can a fiber laser cut plastic?

A CO2 laser is used to cut plastic. This has the right wave length to separate the material. A fiber laser is used to mark plastics. Trotec offers both variants.

Q: Don’t know whether your plastic can be processed with a laser machine?

We’re happy to sample your materials. Our application engineers will examine your material according to your needs on Trotec laser machines. We analyse the feasibility, the processing speed and the engraving or cutting quality.

Q: Can Trotec lasers cut metal? Are there any plastics not suitable for laser processing?

Certain plastics, such as Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polyvinyl butyrale (PVB), vinyl, poly dibromo styrene, and Polytetrafluoroethylenes PTFE (Teflon), are unsuitable for laser processing as they release toxic gases.

Laser marking or cutting plastics such as PMMA – acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS, polypropylene, Delrin, polyamide, POM, polyester or polyethylene
Common film and foils applications: self-adhesive films, display protection, membrane switches and technical films
Permanent and quick marking with the highest quality
Contactless and wear-free process

Discover laser cutter Shop materials

Trotec laser engraving machines for plastic and plastic laser cutters.

Experience contact-free cutting that leaves crystal-clear edges on acrylic and fused, burr-free edges on polyester and polycarbonate. Laser engraving machines for plastic offer high-quality, permanent results on various plastics, ideal for small batches and custom jobs. With film and foil cutting, enjoy benefits such as almost radius-free corners, intricate details, flexible design options without tool changes and minimal waste. Sealed edges mean no post-processing is needed, especially for multilayer films. With a MOPA laser you can achieve more homogeneous and sometimes higher-contrast markings due to the controlled melting of plastics.

The ideal machines for lasering plastic.

High-performance laser engraver and cutter: Speedy series

The fastest laser engraver on the market helps you make your daily work more profitable. Whether you are just starting your business or want to increase your production capacity.

Automated laser marking machines: SpeedMarker series

The SpeedMarker series laser markers supports automation processes through productive and automated marking. Individual components as well as large batches can be marked for full traceability, brand communication or functional marking.

Types of plastic for laser processing.

Plastics are available in a wide range of types, including commodity plastics such as acrylic and ABS, as well as engineered plastics like polycarbonate and acetyl. Acrylic and plastic laminates are commonly used for laser marking due to their favorable properties. However, certain plastics, such as PVC, vinyl, poly dibromo styrene, and PTFE (Teflon), are unsuitable for laser processing as they release toxic gases. You can process these plastics with the laser:

Cast acrylic
Extruded acrylic
PES film
Foam PE
ABS
Polyamide (PA)
Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)
Polycarbonate (PC)
Polyethylene (PE)
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Polyimide (PI)
Polyoxymethylene (POM) – i.e. Delrin®
Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polystyrene
Polyurethane (PU, PUR)

Discover the possibilities of plastic laser cutters and laser marking plastic.

Technical film

The digital laser cutting process ensures precise melting of the film’s edges, preventing print damage or imprecise cuts, especially in areas with tight radii or corners. Maximizing material efficiency through precise nesting, streamlined operation and impeccable production enable cost-effective technical film production of small batches as well.

Electronic components

Laser marking machine plastic are ideal for manufacturing electronic components due to their ability to mark with high contrast quickly and permanently. Designed for full automation and mass production, these machines ensure that the labeling on electronic products remains legible and durable over time.

What you can do when lasering plastic.

What are the advantages of a plastic laser cutter or marking machine?
A comparison of the technologies.

Optimize laser marking or cutting plastic with our laser software Ruby®.

When laser cutting or engraving plastics, films and foils, the outcome relies on laser settings, including peripherals like the exhaust system. Our laser software Ruby®, seamlessly integrates the laser with its peripherals as it serves as the central hub for managing every aspect of the laser operation. This not only saves time and materials but also ensures consistent results. Easily adjust parameters like air assist, power level, or frequency within Ruby® and save these settings for future projects. 

Learn more about Ruby

What our customers say about our plastic laser cutters.

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Trotec's laser systems enable us to create customized tapes. The tapes are used for cladding, for MRI devices, for racking labels, and even for a facelift (the facelift tape) ... to name just a few. We also use the kiss cut method on our laser machine. With this method, the tape is cut without cutting through the underlying silicon layer. A frequently used application is the production of products in the form desired by the customer. With a laser you can engrave, kiss cut, perforate and cut in one step.

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Alexander Evenhuis

Director of Tapir

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We chose laser technology, because we were considered due to traceability requirements to laser engrave codes on the plastic parts that we produce. So we mainly use the laser machines for engraving tasks, it includes both textual codes and dates as well as matting plastics.

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Reinier Aukema

Engineer

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We were so happy with the speed of processing and the quality of the finished product, there was no other choice - the SP500 is the perfect laser for us

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Mr. Nakagawa

Manager of the Production Department

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Explore a vast selection of laserable plastics in our shop.

Trotec plastic sheets are perfect for laser engraving and laser cutting using a plastic laser cutter. Find different product lines of resistant, acrylic-based laser materials, which boast the best results and the fastest processing. Laserable plastics are available in one layer as well as in two and three layers.

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Industries leveraging the versatility of a plastic laser cutter.

Graphic finishing

In the graphic finishing industry, plastic laser cutters provide companies with a versatile and precise tool, allowing them to expand their product offerings. The ability to quickly produce tangible engravings and cut finest geometries enhances competitiveness.

Manufacturing

Protective film, design foils, plastic films and dashboards can be manufactured contactless, quickly and with high quality. This contact-free, digital and permanent process reduces costs while increasing flexibility that ensures to meet the customized needs of a specific product.

Get inspired

Discover our inspiring plastic laser projects. Simply download the graphics file and follow the step-by-step instructions.