I just started a print on the laser cutting using a clear acrylic sheet I got from Home Depot, but wanted to be extra sure I’m using the right type before proceeding.
I made sure to test it to make sure it would snap cleanly rather than bending (to avoid the type that creates chlorine gas when cut), but there was still a faint white residue on the bed after I did a test run on the full spectrum laser.
Is there anyone at the makerspace now who would know more about this?
I just don’t want to accidentally create harmful vapors or cause any damage to the laser cutter.
Do you know if there is a way to tell the two apart? I’m fairly certain I got acrylic, but it’s possible I could have grabbed the wrong type at the store.
The label from Home Depot will tell you if it is acrylic or polycarbonate. If the label has been peeled off you can tell by how flexible polycarbonate is. Of course trying this may snap your acrylic.
Alright, thanks! The label must have peeled off, but it does snap when bent so I’m guessing it’s acrylic. (It’s also been in my car for a few months and hasn’t yellowed, which sounds more like acrylic than lexan?). I was just worried because of the smell and the lines on the bed after I cut out a piece, so I wanted to make sure.
I’ll give it a try and if it seems wrong for any reason I’ll just stop the cut and go buy something I know for certain is acrylic.
If you take a pair of pliers (while wearing safety glasses) and grab about 1/4 inch of a corner of the sheet and bend the crap out of the corner then it’ll either break off cleanly which is acrylic or it’ll bend and turn cloudy which is polycarbonate.
(It’s also been in my car for a few months and hasn’t yellowed, which sounds more like acrylic than lexan?). I was just worried because of the smell and the lines on the bed after I cut out a piece, so I wanted to make sure.