HTV (heat transfer vinyl) laser cutting on glowforge

[tekayaretailers]

So I tested the HTV on my glowforge and cut the vinyl and it came out nice and clean. Still trying to figure out how to burn the vinyl around the image so that I don’t have to weed it out. If anyone has figured that part out, please share.

[takitus]

I would double check with the MSDS, but as far as Im aware, this stuff is incredibly bad to laser cut.

If it contains PVC it will expel chlorine gas when ablated, which can eat your machine, and your lungs causing major permanent damage to both.

Please consult the MSDS before doing any more…

[evansd2]

I thought we looked at it and the siser heat transfer stuff was polyurethane.

As for weeding, I don’t have a great answer for you there, sorry.

[evansd2]

@takitus

this stuff is incredibly bad to laser cut

Yeah there was a whole thread:

Can I make iron on transfers?

I don’t know of any current HTV (Heat-Transfer Vinyl) that is actually made from vinyl; it’s all PU (polyurethane). I just spoke with the customer success team over at Siser North America, the makers of Siser HTV. Their logo has the byline “Heat Transfer Vinyl”. [SiserLogo-1] There is no vinyl in their “heat-transfer vinyl”. It can be cut with a laser. the term seems to come from the fact that the material is roll-based (like sign vinyl), comes on a backing substrate (like sign vinyl) and…

[takitus]

well in that case… go for it (as long this is that exact stuff). Not sure why they would name it that way…

[evansd2]

Yeah. Msds good.

[caribis2]

@takitus

Not sure why they would name it that way…

Because that is how people who normally use the product are used to seeing it? If they see different words in the name they’ll just move on to what they are used to seeing. That would be my uninformed guess, based on my well informed experience working with sales and marketing people.

[dklgood]

Siser Easyweed HTV Engrave Settings

I spent a lot of time today dialing in settings for the Easyweed product from Siser. We have a cricut, but the limitation is the ability to weed the excess material from intricate designs. I was intrigued to learn that you could engrave away the design on a laser, not having to weed at all. It is also a lot easier said than done. There is a fine fine line between engraving away the excess HTV and keeping the backing in tact. However, with a lot of trial and error, I did get great results: …

[GrooveStranger]

Looks nice, thanks for sharing your settings.

[UrJac]

@caribis2

Because that is how people who normally use the product are used to seeing it?

This just made me think of the big “controversy” around calling some of the new meat-substitute patties “burgers”. Some industry group is lobbying for laws not allowing the word Burger to be used for things like the Impossible Burgers.
It’s funny, because in that case I think it’s silly protectionism, but this THIS case I actually wish they wouldn’t call something vinyl that isn’t, given the safety considerations folks like us are trying to make.
Interesting new facet to that. ponder ponder ponder…

[shop]

@evansd2

I thought we looked at it and the siser heat transfer stuff was polyurethane

do we know this is siser? i didn’t see the brand name in the OP’s post.

[caribis2]

@UrJac

THIS case I actually wish they wouldn’t call something vinyl that isn’t, given the safety considerations folks like us are trying to make.

Not all vinyl is chlorinated.

Give California a few weeks. They’ll have a law mandating the disclosure of chlorine in products. At which point I’ll be torn: overuse of regulatory power vs. big benefit for me.

[alindblade]

Ok, I’m so glad I found this tread, I had wished so many times that I could cut “vinyl” on the laser. Now I find out there is a “vinyl” substitue that we can laser. Wow! Its like finding out that sugar free actually tastes good!

[jess.may]

Ditto! I saw on google result “NO NEVER DON’T DO IT”… but then found this thread. So excited. Will definitely always be checking the make-up of materials though. … goodness.

[vinylfrontiertees]

Great to find this thread! I saw the title and had the same “cringe with horror” reaction as well…but am glad I read on. As you can guess from our name, we got started doing HT(not)V…ha ha… with a Cricut on shirts and figured we couldn’t use the Glowforge for it because it’s “vinyl”. Glad to see I’m wrong. And engraving away the design to eliminate weeding…genius! Thank you!

[rikiesha.metzger]

What name did you use on glowforge to identify the name of the material?

[dklgood]

Welcome to the forum.
You select uncertified material.

[rikiesha.metzger]

Thank you!

[mswashu]

A video on HTV in Glowforge, if anyone is interested. Lisa is great!

[dklgood]

Did you mean to share a link?