Materials

Selecting a Fab Lab Material

For updated Material Options, see Fab Lab Materials List at:

Fab Lab Materials

For more information of Metal Laser Cutting materials see:

Sheet Materials

Compatible Sheet Materials

Metal laser material sample tags

The table below details the sheet materials that can be processed using the Metal Laser Cutter. Please acknowledge not all materials listed are stocked by the Fab Lab and the maximum cut thickness is to be a guide only. Non-stocked / Outside materials will need to be tested to determine the machines capability.

Maximum cutting area of the Kern LaserCell is 1300 x 1270, therefore sheet material must fit within these dimensions. Most of the sheet metal we stock comes in 1200 x 1200 sheet size or smaller.

Metal	Max Thickness	CUT	ENGRAVE	Fab Lab Supplied?
Mild steel	4 mm	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stainless steel	2 mm	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brass	0.6 mm	Yes	No	Yes

While a CO2 laser can technically cut Aluminium, this is not a service we provide as it presents a heightened risk to the optical components of the machine.

Stone	Max Thickness	CUT	ENGRAVE	Fab Lab Supplied?
Ceramic	-	NO	Yes	NO
Corian	12.7	Yes	Yes	NO
Granite	-	NO	Yes	NO
Glass	-	NO	Yes	NO
Limestone	-	NO	Yes	NO
Marble	-	NO	Yes	NO
Mirror	-	NO	Yes	NO
Slate	-	NO	Yes	NO

Plastics, Polymers & Fabrics	Max Thickness	CUT	ENGRAVE	Fab Lab Supplied?
ABS	25.4 mm	Yes	Yes	NO
Acrylic	25 mm	Yes	Yes	*Up to 3 mm
Felt		Yes	Yes	NO
HIPS		Yes	Yes	*Up to 2 mm
Leather	6.4 mm	Yes	Yes	NO
Mylar	6.4 mm	Yes	Yes	NO
Neoprene		Yes	Yes	NO
Nylon	12.7 mm	Yes	Yes	NO
PETG	25.4 mm	Yes	Yes	NO
Polycarbonate	9.5 mm	Yes	Yes	NO
Polyester*	6.4 mm	Yes	Yes	NO
Polypropylene		Yes	Yes	*Up to 0.6 mm
Rubber	9.5 mm	Yes	Yes	NO
Vinyl* (Non PVC)	6.4 mm	Yes	Yes	NO

Wood Products	Max Thickness	CUT	ENGRAVE	Fab Lab Supplied?
Cardboard	50.8 mm	Yes	Yes	*Up to 3 mm
Paper		Yes	Yes	*Up to 300 GSM
Hardwood	25.4 mm	Yes	Yes	NO
MDF	25.4 mm	Yes	Yes	Yes
Plywood	25.4 mm	Yes	Yes	Yes
Softwood	30.5 mm	Yes	Yes	NO

For an in-depth guide to cutting sheet materials using the Kern LaserCell see Sheet Cutting:

Rotary Materials

Compatible Cylindrical Materials

The Kern LaserCell's rotary unit is able to hold cylindrical stock up to 750mm long by 101.6mm in diameter. Therefore any tubular material in longer than 750mm needs to be cut down to size prior to job submission and material delivery.

Metal	Max Thickness	Max Diameter	CUT	ENGRAVE	Fab Lab Supplied?
Mild steel tube	1.6 mm	101.6 mm	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stainless steel tube	1.2 mm	101.6 mm	Yes	Yes	Yes

Non-Metal	Max Thickness	Max Diameter	CUT	ENGRAVE	Fab Lab Supplied?
Cardboard tube	8 mm	100 mm	Yes	Yes	No
Plastic pipe (non PVC)		100 mm	Yes	Yes	No
Timber Dowel	-	100 mm	No	Yes	No

For and in-depth guide to cutting cylindrical materials using the Kern LaserCell see 'Rotary Cutting'Compatible Cylindrical Materials

The Kern LaserCell's rotary unit is able to hold cylindrical stock up to 750mm long by 101.6mm in diameter. Therefore any tubular material in longer than 750mm needs to be cut down to size prior to job submission and material delivery.

Metal	Max Thickness	Max Diameter	CUT	ENGRAVE	Fab Lab Supplied?
Mild steel tube	1.6 mm	101.6 mm	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stainless steel tube	1.2 mm	101.6 mm	Yes	Yes	Yes

Non-Metal	Max Thickness	Max Diameter	CUT	ENGRAVE	Fab Lab Supplied?
Cardboard tube	8 mm	100 mm	Yes	Yes	No
Plastic pipe (non PVC)		100 mm	Yes	Yes	No
Timber Dowel	-	100 mm	No	Yes	No

For and in-depth guide to cutting cylindrical materials using the Kern LaserCell see 'Rotary Cutting'

Own Materials

Own Materials

If you would like to cut a material we don’t already stock, come and see us before you buy your material. You will need to provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and a sample piece of material so we can test if the material is safe and possible to process. Please see "Alternative Materials and Safety" page for more information.

Materials and Safety

WARNING: Common Non-Compatible Materials

While a wide range of materials are suitable for laser cutting, some must be avoided for health and safety reasons. Materials not listed on the approved materials list should be discussed with staff before purchase.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

When PVC is cut with a laser, the thermal process produces hydrochloric acid and toxic fumes. These gases can cause damage to our machines and be unsafe for our machine operators. For this reason we do not allow PVC to be processed with our laser systems.