Tips for reading MSDS

[lauren.j.fourie]

Researching different and unique acrylics and is there a list of red flags I should look out for when reading the MSDS for prospective materials? I don’t really know what to look for when reading those : /

I usually reach out to the supplier asking if the material is laser friendly but also would like to understand what to look out for in general. Any reads and tips in general is much appreciated!

Thanks!
Lauren

[jbmanning5]

The hazardous decomposition section is always a pretty good read.

[geek2nurse]

I am either over-tired, or that’s weirdly funny.

EDIT: I swear I remember including the quote the first time. I guess I WAS over-tired!

RE-EDIT: I DID include the quote! Discourse keeps removing it!

[cynd11]

Well if it lists hazardous combustion products like hydrogen chloride or hydrogen cyanide, that’s usually a bad sign. In addition to toxicity, the hydrogen chloride will corrode the metal parts in your laser.

[AhnoldZ]

If you were to be scared off by an MSDS in isolation, then you wouldn’t even put cardboard or wood in your glowforge. Burning wood puts out hydrogen cyanide and hosts of carcinogens. As long as your exhaust ventilation is working well with no leaks and getting that stuff out of your house most combustion products ain’t gonna get ya. But don’t laser anything with halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodide) since those will produce byproducts that will eat your glowforge from the inside out.

And I agree with jbmanning5, the hazardous decomposition section is always a pretty good read. And it puts to use my college chemistry, which wouldn’t get used otherwise.

And here are some older topics on the same topic:

Any Chemists who can comment on these Material Data Sheets?

These materials are listed as “Rotary Engravable” on the Rowmark website. The data sheets seem to have very similar properties as many of the laserable materials. While these may not be recommended for best results for laser engraving, can anyone give advice on if they are likely to corrode my GF? I’d primarily be looking to cut them. I’m not going to hold anyone accountable for their advice- Lasering anything is always at your own risk. I’m just looking for a …

Safe materials

I’d like to present a totally hypothetical situation that has implications on warranty coverage. Let’s say I go to a Glowforge recommended material supplier and purchase a material that’s safe for use in the Glowforge (ie. an inventables acrylic). When I print a design I get a dialog box that says if any damage occurs by using this material, the damage is not covered under warranty. Assume I only used a non-Proofgrade material once, and that printed fine and the machine continued to cut with no …

Using Un-Safe Materials

This is going to seem really stupid but how bad is plastic with chlorine to laser? I will never purposely use it obviously and I know it’s bad to breathe in (yay for nerve gas…) but how long will it take for it to ruin your machine? (eg. 20 second of use or like months of use) If that makes any sense what-so-ever. Ha-ha.

[brokendrum]

@lauren.j.fourie

Any reads and tips in general

Beyond specific MSDS, here are two sites you can keep bookmarked.

Wood Allergies and Toxicity | The Wood Database

http://atxhackerspace.org/wiki/Laser_Cutter_Materials

[lauren.j.fourie]

Thanks cynd11! Noted

[lauren.j.fourie]

Bookmarked. Thanks for the links!

[lauren.j.fourie]

Gotcha - this is much more clear now. Will check out the older topics as well Thanks so much!