Inexpensive sheet foam on laser - quick question

Laser
#1

At Michaels/Hobby Lobby have inexpensive sheets of foam mainly for childrens crafts. I’m going to use it with ceramics because I wanna and you can’t stop me.

I have a call in to both hobby lobby and Michaels purchasing to check the chemical compounds but both said it would take WEEKS to find out (seriously??).
I’ve tried googling a bunch- I’ve found examples but nothing about if it’s safe to use with our laser or if I will kill us all by even thinking about it. I need a flexible material that can take pressure and leave an indention.

Does anyone know off hand if the sheet foam is a PVA product?
Super bonus: Anyone tried it and know the settings?

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#2

If you’re talking about what I call “foamcore,” then it’s probably polystyrene foam sandwiched between two pieces of paper.

Google says that it is very flammable when cut with a laser…something to keep in mind.

The corrugated plastic board they use for signage and such is sometimes PVC, which should never be lasered.

#3

I think you are referring to EVA foam, or Ethylene Acetate Foam Sheet
(Fun Foam). I found some MSDS on it:

http://specchem-apps.alliedsignal.com/prodcat/Pdfs/SWA/MSDS/acpa0002.pdf
http://www.foamorder.com/material_safety.php?page=closedcell

Others have laser-cut EVA foam:

#4

I have cut foam core on our laser. It is not very flammable. I had no issues and it cut very cleanly.

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#5

I’ve cut this foam on the laser cutter, 1% power and 100% speed. Cuts well.

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#6

Thank you guys!!!
I’m so appreciative of this brain trust!

You have no idea what you just did for my ceramics class. I think you just saved me about $500 I didn’t have in the first place wooooooooooohoooooooo

#7

Are you making stamps? We use something like this in embroidery, but the stuff I buy is a bit stiffer than what they sell at Hobby Lobby, so if that foam is too squishy I can let you try the stuff I get.

#8

You can also laser engrave the “pink pig” pencil erasers to make stamps, if the stamp size is small enough. Either vector cut and trim away perimeter with Xacto blade, or raster and burn it away (stinky and slow, but safe).

IIRC, someone did this at the DMS on the OLD 40 watt laser a couple-three years back.

There’s also this stuff: http://www.rubberstampmaterials.com/laserengravablerubberandpolymer.aspx

#9

I’m going to attempt some highly intricate texture mats to use in my slab roller for ceramics. The impression won’t be as deep as other options but I think it will work out just fine. I will make one and get back with the results. But like everything here it can be used in about 300 different ways- just depends on how you solve the problem.
Thanks guys! So much to do and experiment with!!

#10

The stuff in your picture looks like craft foam sheet. It is a vinyl chloride product and will produce chlorine gas when cut on the laser. I have cut it (into basic circles) on the laser at work. I figured it was a very small run and wasn’t going to do too much damage, plus it cuts so well. If your going to texture the entire surface, for one it will burn a lot of material, and it might be difficult since it cuts so easily not burn too much of the surface. I think it would end up just melting and not leaving a good finish.

The rubber stamp material HankCowdog mentioned is made to burn on the laser, though it stinks pretty bad! They have a low odor version that is better. I have some and it’s really great material. I haven’t laser cut too much of it, we used it for a hand cut rubber stamp workshop at the Perot, but it is what it’s made for…

my 2 cents…
patrick

#11

So what you are telling me it’s just “a tiny bit deadly” :smile:
Thanks for the info. I’m going to give it a shot. I’m going to be using them as a sort of “texture sheet” with ceramic slab. It could be used about 300 different ways.
I appreciate all the information guys. I do lino as well - never even considered doing it on the laser…might be an interesting experiment.

#12

EVA is OK for the DMS laser (I believe) but PCV-based materials are not.

Part of the problem is the poisonous chlorine gas that is released, but it also can FOUL the optics, requiring downtime and effort to clean.

If you want to do it on your own laser, that’s your choice, but Vinyl and PVC are no-no’s for the DMS laser.

#13

Chlorine gas is caustic too. It combines with moisture in the air to make hydrochloride acid. That acid will eat away or rust the inside of the machine too.

Thanks,

Alyssa

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#14

Just to clarify…I have cut a small amount of foam sheet on my laser, but I do not recommend it. Chlorine gas is very hazardous to living things as well as expensive laser cutters…

#15

Do you have a data sheet on that? I’ve looked carefully, and even though Wikipedia says that EVA is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, the chemical structure shows that it does not contain any chlorine. What’s more, it says that acetate replaces the chlorine.


http://www.synrad.com/search_apps/application_briefs/91-1.htm

#16

If you don’t know if it has Chlorine do a simple burn test.

http://www.nycresistor.com/2008/08/28/how-to-identify-polymers-with-burnination/

Also don’t burn ABS.

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#17

Perversely, the plastic that an electronics tech is most likely to burn is chlorine-containing wire insulation.