Technical plastics are assessed through their application in real project contexts. Precise laser cuts and engravings are particularly useful where front panels, functional parts, labels or covers are needed in the Swiss B2B environment.
Especially with technical parts, what counts is less the material name than the later function. The decisive factor is how plastics are used as carriers of legibility, precision fit and repeatability — for example in front panels, data fields or precise device components.
Front panels
When displays, buttons, connectors or viewing windows need to be integrated, precisely cut plastic panels are particularly in demand.
Labelling
When plastic parts need to be permanently readable, cleanly labelled and repeatably manufactured, they are ideal for type fields, orientation elements and technical markings.
Cuts
Beyond visible panels, functional cuts are also useful when material needs to be precisely separated, reduced or brought into a defined shape.
Material check
Especially with technical plastics, processability, edge behaviour and engraving effect differ considerably. This technical honesty therefore belongs early in project clarification.
For control surfaces, displays, buttons and covers when precise cut-outs and defined contours are functionally decisive.
Suitable for technical labels, scales and orientation elements that need to be permanently readable and repeatably manufactured.
Useful for spacers, small series parts and recurring components when material needs to be precisely separated and brought into a defined shape.
Cutting thickness by material: POM up to 8 mm, PET and PP up to 6 mm, PE foam up to 20 mm. Cut edge clean and smooth, material-dependent. Kerf width approx. 0.15–0.3 mm. Minimum feature width from approx. 0.3 mm. Not suitable: PVC, PTFE and all chlorinated plastics (hazardous gas release). Dimensional accuracy ±0.015 mm across the 813 × 508 mm work area (Trotec Speedy 360). Addressable accuracy 5 µm.
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. |
| 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. |
| Polypropylene (PP) | conditional | no | conditional | Melts heavily and tends to produce burning molten droplets — only thin films and sheets are suitable. Thin PP (films, folders) can be cut; thicker sheets fuse at the edge. Engravings are barely visible. Alternative: Acrylic or PETG. |
| 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). |
| PVC (hard and soft PVC) | no | no | no | NEVER laser: PVC releases chlorine gas and hydrochloric acid when heated — highly toxic and destroys the laser machine through corrosion. The most dangerous material in laser processing. Also applies to all PVC-containing products such as vinyl films, records or PVC faux leather. Alternative: Acrylic, PETG or polyester films. |
| PVC rigid foam (Forex, Kömatex) | no | no | no | NEVER laser: Forex is made of PVC — laser cutting produces chlorine gas and hydrochloric acid. Popular in trade fair and shop fitting, but off-limits for the laser. We cut or mill Forex on request using alternative processes. Alternative: Acrylic, MDF or Dibond (engraving). |
| ABS | no | no | no | NEVER laser: ABS releases hydrogen cyanide (prussic acid), melts uncontrollably and produces no clean edges. Common in 3D printed housings and model-making boards. For lasered housing parts, acrylic is the safe choice. Alternative: Acrylic GS/XT. |
| PTFE (Teflon) | no | no | no | NEVER laser: heating produces highly toxic fluorine compounds up to hydrofluoric acid. Even in small quantities an absolute taboo for any laser system. |
| HDPE / PE | no | no | no | Melts extremely heavily, strings and tends to catch fire — fire hazard. Technically no toxicity problem, but the result is unusable: fused, stuck edges. PE is better milled. Alternative: PP film (thin) or milling. |
| Polyester film (Mylar) | yes | no | conditional | Ideal for paint and spray stencils: cuts cleanly with sealed edges. Thin thicknesses up to approx. 0.5 mm. |
| Vinyl record | no | no | no | NEVER laser: records are made of PVC — chlorine gas and hydrochloric acid are produced. The popular upcycling idea 'laser a vinyl record' is unfortunately a safety risk. We instead make record-style decorations from black acrylic. Alternative: Black acrylic (deceptively authentic look). |
| Flex / flock film (textile transfer) | conditional | no | no | Many transfer films contain PVC — only PU-based films with data sheet are laserable. PU flex films can be excellently lasered (finer details than with plotting). PVC films are prohibited. |
Technical plastic parts
With data, quantity and material specification, CAESS Laser can quickly assess whether processing in the current CO2 laser profile makes sense.
