Joe Pelonio
04-15-2009, 1:09 PM
A wholesale customer has provided me a sample of Richlite, a new material made with recycled paper and resin, to do a sample for ADA signs. The stuff is used mostly for countertops and comes in various colors, but he will use the natural, which resembles MDO but is solid all the way through. It's similar to the product called Paperstone.
I found that it is laser safe, but have not tried cutting since the sample is 3/4" thick and he will mill the plaques in his shop. It engraves nice and black but I had to make two passes at speed 25 power 100 600 dpi to get it deep enough for the acrylic balls. Unlike acrylic, I can't get the holes to hold the balls tight just from pressure, they will have to be glued in. With the black under it the balls look dark brown, which happens to be the color of the lettering so it will match.
Here is the material website:
http://www.richlite.com/
In the photo the 3 lower dots have balls in them, the rest are just as rastered.
I found that it is laser safe, but have not tried cutting since the sample is 3/4" thick and he will mill the plaques in his shop. It engraves nice and black but I had to make two passes at speed 25 power 100 600 dpi to get it deep enough for the acrylic balls. Unlike acrylic, I can't get the holes to hold the balls tight just from pressure, they will have to be glued in. With the black under it the balls look dark brown, which happens to be the color of the lettering so it will match.
Here is the material website:
http://www.richlite.com/
In the photo the 3 lower dots have balls in them, the rest are just as rastered.