Perhaps it should be “not laserable with a GlowForge”. I suspect even PVC can be lasered if you had a vacuum extraction system that kept the fumes away from metal parts.
An there is probably a class of materials you could laser on a GF with outside ventilation but not with the filter.
no, i prefer pushing the message it shouldn’t ever be lasered period lest you get someone trying to add extra fume extraction; besides starting a discussion of safety things like that is a good way to get a thread locked here
Our Friendly Neighborhood Lawyer pointed out that since we moderate this board, someone might think that safety advice that people post here actually comes from us. We want to make sure people operate with correct safety information.
For that reason, please use the manual that comes with your Glowforge as your resource for safety information. Please don’t opine on safety matters in the forum. If you have safety questions, check your manual, or email customer support.
Thanks. Hopefully it is something that stays up. I understand the caution, but some materials seem to be almost universally recognized as “bad to laser”. Seems like it would at least be ok to post those.
There are a lot of things that you shouldn’t laser because of health hazards, but PVC has both the health thing going for it (won’t discuss the safety angle) and creates an acid that corrodes the laser itself. You should see my brother’s work laser. It looks like somebody dipped it in a salt bath for a month. Lots of rust and corrosion.
Yes but as I said if you have vacuum extraction to take away the fumes before they can hit the metal parts of your machine, or poison you, then PVC can be laser cut. Specialist commercial machine do cut it.