Can thin wood veneer be used?

Laser
1

I need to cut designs out of wood veneer and wanted to know if wood veneer is to thin for the laser.
Thanks in advance

2

Pretty sure it can be cut, and your issue will be to keep it from being blown away. I believe there are some who have done it. Hopefully one of them will chime in with their experiences.

3

Check out Polynesia, the pinball machine in the lobby. All of the veneer work on the cabinet was done using the Full Spectrum Laser.

Some key things to keep in mind:

  1. Make sure the veneer is flat. Wavy/curling veneer will just make your life a nightmare as you try to cut.
  2. Pause will be your best friend. Especially with the little parts, you will have pieces flying loose and potentially getting in the way/recut as you do other parts. If a part comes loose, pause the laser and grab it by hand or with a small bit of blue tape.
  3. Lower the air assist pressure. You still want and need some airflow to keep the smoke from depositing on the lenses, but the usual 15-20 PSI that we have the air assist at is overkill for the material and laser power settings needed for cutting wood veneers.
  4. Be prepared to do a lot of testing/experimentation. Power settings will vary greatly from one wood species to another, and even within the same species depending upon the woodgrain. For example, the dark bands in zebrawood require a lot more power than the lighter bands to cut, while maple cuts easily at very low powers.
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4

I cut small paper pieces on the laser. To add to what Paul suggests, don’t cut the complete perimeter of your pieces. Leave a “tab” of .030" or so (which will be about .020" with kerf) on each piece to keep it from flying off the machine, and then cut that tiny spot later using a knife.

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5

Have cut purple heart wood veneer on the Full Spectrum. The air assist was the biggest issue. Delicate portions were snapped off as soon as they were cut. Not sure how to adjust that so I adjusted the design instead. For my use I could just laminate to pine, so not experienced if you are trying to inlay. It can be done and for my use I didn’t need to do the “tab” John suggested. Will post a picture later when I can find one.

6

Wow! Thank you all for your knowledge. I have a dilemma now because I am definitely a beginner on the lasersaur. So the task will be a challenge for me, hoping someone will be there today who may be able to assist me on questions I have. The sizes of the pieces I will be cutting is 2 x 2. I am not for sure if that even matters.