Recommendations for a shop that can cut Formica or Wilsonart Laminate

[Mike Iannone]

It seems a lot of laser cutters I've reached out to do not have a lot of experience with laser cutting Formica or Wilsonart laminates. And I understand it can be a difficult material to work with. For years, I've had it waterjet cut successfully but that process has its cons.

Can anyone make a recommendation of a shop that could handle this? Ideally, with a capacity for full 4x8 sheets?

I'm located in Southern New Jersey but am open to having the cut parts shipped to me. Thanks in advance!

[vic casware]

Hi Mike,
Thought i would throw a quick reply as it is much warmer in my office
than in the factory, I have been cutting formica on the laser recently,
that is the very thin laminate stuff, it cuts fine with a loud screech and
it does require a fair bit of cleaning especially on the edges.

[Mike Null]

My experience is that it burns rather than cutting.

Here is the msds: https://www.formica.com/en-us/-/medi...1ad74323c1b423

[Kev Williams]

I have a few pieces of phenolic kicking around- got a good size piece of 1/16" yellow/white Norplex that's at least 40 years old, I just put it in the 40w LS900 to see if I could cut it (all these years, I've never tried)
nplx.jpg

It cut better than I thought, smooth with no melt, but as you can see the cut edge is coal black...

To get thru it, it took three passes at full power @ 7% speed, which is the setting I use to cut 1/8" thick Rowmark in TWO passes. It ALMOST got thru in two passes, but needed the third pass for thru n thru-

So, it does cut, but took 50% more time to cut thru 50% less thickness-

[Clark Pace]

Many years ago I used to cut that stuff all the time. Not my business, but I worked for a company and they made kiosks. So we cut that all the time. We have a 100 & 150 watt china machines. It cut fine, but yes you had to clean the edges. Now that I have my own business I have not tried on a machine with lower wattage.

[Mike Iannone]

Sorry for the delayed response - I had trouble logging onto the site for a few days.

It seems it definitely can be a tough material to cut! I've had some samples done over the years and have seen it cut very cleanly and others with a lot of soot and some burning on the face.

I think I've located a shop that has cut quite a bit of Formica and am waiting to hear back from them.

Thanks for the info everyone!

[Jerome Stanek]

What grade Wilson arts are you wanting to do. Standard grade or Vertical

[Mike Iannone]

What grade Wilson arts are you wanting to do. Standard grade or Vertical

I work with standard grade and typically use the Formica Infiniti super matte finishes in white.