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
Rotary Materials
Own 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
Aluminium
1 mm
Yes
No
Yes
Brass
0.6 mm
Yes
No
Yes
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
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
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:
Broken link
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
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. 

Machine

Troubleshooting

Last modified 1yr ago

Metal	Max Thickness	CUT	ENGRAVE	Fab Lab Supplied?
Mild steel	4 mm	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stainless steel	2 mm	Yes	Yes	Yes
Aluminium	1 mm	Yes	No	Yes
Brass	0.6 mm	Yes	No	Yes

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

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

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

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