Acrylic is one of the strongest materials in the current CAESS profile when clean edges, premium aesthetics and clear geometries are required. The focus is on real applications such as displays, stands, signage and finished panels for companies in Switzerland.
Acrylic convinces wherever material quality remains visible. The material combines precise processability with strong presentation quality and is therefore particularly suitable for displays, visual parts, labels and premium brand applications.
Displays
Laser-cut acrylic parts look particularly premium in retail, showrooms and at points of sale because transparent surfaces, precise recesses and clean edges are immediately visible.
Signage
Acrylic is suitable for wayfinding systems, door signs, brand staging and interior labelling when legibility and visual calm are equally important.
Panels
Acrylic is also useful for covers, panels and finished visual parts when cut-outs, edge quality and repeatability must be precisely executed.
Advice
Especially with acrylic, the material type, thickness and desired effect determine the appropriate approach. Clear advance clarification therefore significantly improves the result and quote quality.
For product presentation, counter, trade fair and POS when transparent surfaces, exact contours and clean visual quality are required.
Suitable for door signs, information surfaces and brand staging when legibility and visual calm are equally important.
Useful for covers, front panels and finished components where cut-outs, edge quality and repeatability must be precisely executed.
Cutting thickness 2–20 mm (depending on laser power and lens). Engraving depth 0.05–2 mm continuously adjustable. Cut edge flame-polished, crystal clear, no post-processing required. Minimum feature width from approx. 0.3 mm. Kerf width approx. 0.15–0.3 mm depending on thickness. Dimensional accuracy ±0.015 mm across the 813 × 508 mm work area (Trotec Speedy 360). Addressable accuracy 5 µm. Suitable: cast and extruded PMMA, clear and coloured.
Material data
These figures come from the same database as our material check. Where something is not possible, it says so here and not only in the quote.
| Material | Cutting | Engraving | Marking | What this means in practice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic GS (cast) | yes | yes | yes | The laser cutting classic: crystal-clear polished cut edges and brilliant deep engraving. Cast acrylic engraves milky-white — ideal for lettering. |
| Acrylic XT (extruded) | yes | conditional | yes | Cuts excellently with smooth edges and is cheaper than GS. However, engravings remain grey-transparent rather than white — first choice for pure cutting jobs. |
| PETG | conditional | conditional | conditional | Cuttable up to approx. 3 mm, but edges are not crystal-clear like acrylic and may melt slightly. For visual parts we recommend acrylic. Alternative: Acrylic GS or XT. |
| Polycarbonate (Lexan, Makrolon) | no | no | no | NEVER laser: polycarbonate absorbs the CO2 laser beam poorly, turns brown, produces strong toxic fumes and is acutely flammable. Often confused with acrylic — looks similar but behaves completely differently in the laser. For impact-resistant applications we advise you on alternatives. Alternative: Acrylic GS (impact-resistant grades available). |
| POM / Delrin | conditional | conditional | conditional | Laser processing produces formaldehyde — only permitted with powerful extraction. Technical plastic for gears and sliding parts. Cuttable in thin thicknesses with professional extraction; we check feasibility per order. |
Cast acrylic (GS) engraves a milky white that reads clearly from a distance, and it cuts with polished, crystal-clear edges. Extruded acrylic (XT) is cheaper and more consistent in thickness, but engravings stay grey and translucent rather than white. For lettering and displays we recommend GS, for plain cut parts XT.
We regularly process 3 to 10 mm. Thinner sheets work as well; above 10 mm the cut edge loses its polish and the part is usually better milled than lasered.
On cast acrylic, yes: the laser melts the edge as it cuts, which leaves it glossy without any post-processing. That is the main reason acrylic is the classic laser material.
PVC never: it releases chlorine gas and hydrochloric acid, which harms both the operator and the machine. Polycarbonate is possible but discolours yellow-brown at the edge, so we only recommend it where the edge is hidden.
Acrylic project
If format, material thickness and application context are roughly defined, CAESS Laser can quickly assess feasibility and the appropriate approach.
