Reflective Laserable Plastic?

[Bill Jermyn]

As in reflective road signs. Does anyone know of a source (1/16")? IPI makes a Reflectors product, but it's only rotary engraveble.

[AL Ursich]

I got some a few years ago and it was just plastic with reflective vinyl over it... You could make your own....

AL

[Bill Jermyn]

But I want to laser engrave it if possible.

[Larry Bratton]

But I want to laser engrave it if possible.
Bill, what is the application? There is a product that GLOWs in the dark, Rowmark and Ipi make that. I know a source for engineering and commercial grade reflective that would engrave because it is laser safe polyester or acrylic. The application I use it for is on apartment building signage. I normally cut acrylic letters with it already applied. Have never tried engraving it.

[Bill Jermyn]

They are fire department accountability tags.

They've specified a reflective coating, but I may be able to talk them into the glow in the dark stuff. The reverse glow in the dark stuff (which is all that seems to be available here) is a lot more expensive, and may require painting as well, so I'd like to explore the reflective material.

Can you give any details on the material you're referring to?

[Dan Hintz]

For accountability tags, they'll want reflective... when they're searching for lost members, they want something that stands out when light hits it, something glow in the dark material doesn't do.

[Allan Wright]

Why not take laserable substrate (acrylic, ect) and coat it with a reflective tape that is also laserable? Engineering grade tape isn't vinyl and should be laser safe:

http://www.tapecase.com/p.2550.654/engineering-grade-reflective-tape.aspx

[Larry Bratton]

They are fire department accountability tags.

They've specified a reflective coating, but I may be able to talk them into the glow in the dark stuff. The reverse glow in the dark stuff (which is all that seems to be available here) is a lot more expensive, and may require painting as well, so I'd like to explore the reflective material.

Can you give any details on the material you're referring to?
I use one from Tape Technologies http://www.tapetechnologies.com/reflective.html
3m also has all kinds of stuff, but I find their reflective really expensive. You might call Tape Tech and ask them about a distributor in your area. I can buy 15" x 10 yd rolls of their's for about $85 plus freight. They have several different colors including black.

[Jim Coffee]

Good morning

The reflective tape that I use comes from http://wtp-inc.com. The tapes are designed to be used on at least fishing lures, come in many colors and reflective patterns, are mostly non-pvc, and seem to be extremely durable. I am able to both vector (cut), and raster (engrave through to the substrate).