Is it safe to laser HDPE?

[Ernie Martinez]

I know PVC is taboo, but how about HDPE board?

[Greg Facer]

As far as I know......hope so, I tried it!

However, I wouldn't try it again. Not *good* to cut, melty edges, needed lots of power (150w chinese tube, when it's working) for 1/8" and even then didn't go through (I don't remember the power level and speed, probably I could have gotten through).

Engraving? Maybe, but more in a marking sense I would bet....I didn't try that.

Greg

[Ernie Martinez]

I just need to make Braille holes.

[Michael Hunter]

Safe enough health wise (no nasty by-products), but has practical problems -

You need very good air-assist to blow the melted plastic out of the cuts. If not, it just sets and sticks itself back together again.

Molten plastic on the surface each side of the cut can be a problem - particularly if the air-assist blows it around.
Consider masking tape, but unless it sticks to the plastic really well, then pull it all off again as loose tape encourages fire.

HDPE is similar to candle wax. It LOVES to burn, so watch out.

[Shane Sura]

Ernie...is it to practice? I am not sure you will be very successful lasering the braille holes in HDPE due to the burn. You could try to do it on your CNC using a V-Bit. I forget the braille size but I know some people have done it.

[Doug Griffith]

Another issue you may have is the difficulty to bond to HDPE.

[Ernie Martinez]

I'm not too familiar with the material, so I'll just drill it with the CNC.

Thanks