Anthony Scira
03-05-2008, 1:27 PM
I have been messing around with the thin stuff about.01 thickness. But I need to step up to a thicker .05 for inlay into a fretboard.
The major resource said it can be cut but with mixed results. Considering its 130 bucks for a 5x9" sheet any tips are welcome.
Just from what little experience I have I would think multiple passes and possibly a mask to prevent any charring. Maybe even a wet toewl to keep things cool.
Oh yeah here is the reply I got from the Duke:
"Thanks for the enquiry. Laser cutting only works cleanly on shell
under
about .015" in thickness; a laser cut in thicker shell becomes visibly
burnt-looking, crumbly, and rough regardless of what type or strength
laser
is used. This is probably due to the 3 - 4% moisture content in the
shell,
and when this water trapped at a molecular level is heated by the laser
it
expands and "blows out" the sides of the cut. Solid shell is the worst
of
course, so laminates behave much better because none of the individual
layers are over .010".
But there has to be a way to do it !
The major resource said it can be cut but with mixed results. Considering its 130 bucks for a 5x9" sheet any tips are welcome.
Just from what little experience I have I would think multiple passes and possibly a mask to prevent any charring. Maybe even a wet toewl to keep things cool.
Oh yeah here is the reply I got from the Duke:
"Thanks for the enquiry. Laser cutting only works cleanly on shell
under
about .015" in thickness; a laser cut in thicker shell becomes visibly
burnt-looking, crumbly, and rough regardless of what type or strength
laser
is used. This is probably due to the 3 - 4% moisture content in the
shell,
and when this water trapped at a molecular level is heated by the laser
it
expands and "blows out" the sides of the cut. Solid shell is the worst
of
course, so laminates behave much better because none of the individual
layers are over .010".
But there has to be a way to do it !