Material Checker
Laserable or not? Answer in 2 secondsWhen in doubt: do not laser until the composition is clarified — especially for plastics with possible chlorine or fluorine content. Send us the data sheet, we check feasibility for free.
Have material checked →Which materials can be lasered — and which never?
Not every material belongs in a laser. Some deliver perfect results, some acceptable — and some are simply dangerous: PVC releases chlorine gas when heated, ABS forms hydrogen cyanide, polycarbonate catches fire. This overview is based on our daily production practice with the CO2 laser and is continuously updated. For a quick search, use the checker above — here follows the complete reference.
Laserable materials
| Material | Cutting | Engraving | Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic GS (cast) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Acrylic XT (extruded) | ✓ Yes | ~ Conditional | ✓ Yes |
| Polyester film (Mylar) | ✓ Yes | ✕ No | ~ Conditional |
| MDF | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Plywood (birch, poplar) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Solid wood (oak, beech, maple …) | ~ Conditional | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bamboo | ~ Conditional | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Cork | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Cardboard / Corrugated board | ✓ Yes | ~ Conditional | ✓ Yes |
| Paper | ✓ Yes | ✕ No | ~ Conditional |
| Leather (vegetable tanned) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Felt (wool) | ✓ Yes | ~ Conditional | ~ Conditional |
| Felt (polyester/synthetic) | ✓ Yes | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Cotton / Linen | ✓ Yes | ~ Conditional | ~ Conditional |
| Polyester textiles | ✓ Yes | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Anodised aluminium | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Painted / coated metals | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Glass | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Mirror | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Slate / Stone | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Ceramic / Tiles | ✕ No | ✓ Yes | ~ Conditional |
| EVA foam | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ~ Conditional |
| Stamp rubber (laser rubber) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
Only after clarification
For these materials, the exact composition is decisive — for example the tanning method for leather or the plastic type for films. Send us the data sheet, we check for free.
| Material | Reason for clarification |
|---|---|
| POM / Delrin | Laser processing produces formaldehyde — only permitted with powerful extraction. |
| Polypropylene (PP) | Melts heavily and tends to produce burning molten droplets — only thin films and sheets are suitable. |
| HDPE / PE | Melts extremely heavily, strings and tends to catch fire — fire hazard. |
| Coated wood panels (Melamine, HPL) | Feasibility depends on the coating — for unknown compositions we check the material before processing. |
| Leather (chrome tanned) | Chrome-tanned leather can release problematic chromium compounds when laser processed — processing only after clarification of the tanning method. |
| Faux leather | Only PVC-free PU faux leather is laserable. PVC-based faux leather releases chlorine gas and is strictly prohibited. |
| Craft foam rubber | Craft foam rubber may contain PVC — no processing without material proof. |
| Flex / flock film (textile transfer) | Many transfer films contain PVC — only PU-based films with data sheet are laserable. |
Never laser — safety risk
These materials endanger health and machine. This applies to every laser system — from the hobby diode laser to the industrial installation. If you operate your own laser: hands off, even for "just a quick test".
| Material | Hazard | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Polycarbonate (Lexan, Makrolon) | NEVER laser: polycarbonate absorbs the CO2 laser beam poorly, turns brown, produces strong toxic fumes and is acutely flammable. | Acrylic GS (impact-resistant grades available) |
| PVC (hard and soft PVC) | NEVER laser: PVC releases chlorine gas and hydrochloric acid when heated — highly toxic and destroys the laser machine through corrosion. | Acrylic, PETG or polyester films |
| PVC rigid foam (Forex, Kömatex) | NEVER laser: Forex is made of PVC — laser cutting produces chlorine gas and hydrochloric acid. | Acrylic, MDF or Dibond (engraving) |
| ABS | NEVER laser: ABS releases hydrogen cyanide (prussic acid), melts uncontrollably and produces no clean edges. | Acrylic GS/XT |
| PTFE (Teflon) | NEVER laser: heating produces highly toxic fluorine compounds up to hydrofluoric acid. | — |
| Polystyrene / Styrofoam (Sagex) | NEVER laser: expanded polystyrene ignites immediately and produces dense toxic soot — acute fire risk. | Hot-wire cutting or EVA foam |
| GRP / Fibreglass | NEVER laser: the epoxy matrix develops toxic fumes, released glass fibres are respirable into the lungs. | Milling or water-jet cutting |
| CFRP / Carbon fibre | NEVER laser: toxic resin fumes and electrically conductive carbon dust that can destroy the machine electronics. | Milling or water-jet cutting |
| Vinyl record | NEVER laser: records are made of PVC — chlorine gas and hydrochloric acid are produced. | Black acrylic (deceptively authentic look) |
When in doubt: have it checked rather than risk it
The most common accidents happen with confused materials — polycarbonate instead of acrylic, PVC faux leather instead of PU. If you are unsure what you have in front of you: send us a photo or the data sheet. We clarify feasibility for free and manufacture your parts safely on our systems in Dürnten in the Zurich Oberland.