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Want to engrave on plastic but not sure where to start? You're in the right place.
Laser engraving makes it possible to personalize so many things! And plastic is an amazing material to work with. It comes in a rainbow of colors and finishes, and it's surprisingly durable.
But read this article before you blast a random plastic item with your laser engraver. We'll help you choose the right type of plastic so you don't start a fire or release a cloud of toxic fumes into the air. 😷
Let's get started!
What's Inside:
- Can You Laser Engrave Plastic?
- What is Plastic?
- How to Laser Engrave Plastic for Best Results
- Which Laser Engravers Can Engrave Plastic?
- Final Thoughts
Can You Laser Engrave Plastic?
Yes, you can laser engrave plastic, but not all plastics are safe for engraving.
At the same time, laser engraving plastic isn't like engraving wood or engraving metal. There are some sneaky pitfalls you could fall into if you don't have the right information.
In this post, we'll explain:
- Which types of plastic are safe for engraving
- How to get the best results
- Which laser engravers do best with plastic
First, a quick refresher on what plastic really is, because this is a big word that can mean many things. Knowing what you're working with is crucial to getting the right results (and staying safe).
What is Plastic?
We fired up good 'ol Wikipedia and did some research on the science of plastic. 🧑🔬
Materials are called plastic when they are both synthetic and mostly comprised of polymers (a type of molecule). They're called plastic because they have plasticity, or the ability to be molded and shaped easily.
You may have heard of the most common 3 types of plastic: acrylic, polyester, and silicone. But there are many more types, since plastic is used in pretty much everything!
So why are some plastics okay to engrave, while others aren't?
Many plastics contain additives and chemicals to give them special properties like extra durability, UV resistance, or heat tolerance. Some of these additives or chemicals will release toxic fumes or toxic dust when heated. Others can catch fire and permanently damage your machine (or worse). 🔥
That's why you want to carefully examine your plastic item before putting it under a laser.
In the next section, we'll explain where to find safety information and how to engrave plastics safely so you don't get hurt.
Safety Disclaimer: This post gives you a basic overview, but we urge you to exercise caution and check your materials carefully before engraving plastic.
How to Laser Engrave Plastic for Best Results
Let's talk about three important aspects of laser engraving plastics:
- Safety precautions
- Recommended settings
- Finishing the engraving
You'll want to understand these before getting started.
Safety Precautions
The first step to engraving safely is choosing the right materials. If you buy products from reputable suppliers, they should provide a safety data sheet that lets you know exactly what's in the plastic and if it's safe for engraving. Some suppliers will also denote a safe-for-engraving product line.
Secondly, it's recommended to wear a respirator when working with plastics. Even if you choose your materials carefully, they will still create dust and smoke that you don't want to inhale.
And if you accidentally engrave the wrong plastic and it does create toxic fumes or dust, you can help yourself stay safe.
You'll also want to have a good exhaust accessory on your laser engraver to take care of fumes and dust (not only are they dangerous, but they also smell really bad!).
Recommended Colors & Settings
When choosing plastic for engraving, keep in mind that the color of your plastic also makes a big difference (depending on the type of laser you have). Blue light diode lasers are great for engraving darker and opaque acrylic. But your best bet for engraving acrylics is a CO2 laser, which works with both clear and colored acrylics.
Now let's talk about laser settings to make crisp and neat engravings on your plastic item.
Plastic isn't like wood or metal. It's soft and melts easily. You'll want to play with your engraving settings to get the best results.
Finally, if you have an air assist accessory that blows cool air onto your material, you can keep the plastic cool and prevent melting and burn marks more effectively. This helps you get a cleaner cut. But not every laser engraver has this option.
Finishing the Engraving
Plastic engraving doesn't create the same clear design that you get with other materials. For example, when you engrave a powder-coated tumbler, you reveal the shiny stainless steel layer hiding beneath the powder coating.
And when you engrave wood, the engraving burns into a darker shade, which makes the design stand out.
But plastic is the same material throughout, which means it's pretty hard to see the design, even after engraving.
If you use a fiber laser, though, it will often leave a silver or white mark in the plastic.
If you're happy with the final look, you can leave it as-is. But to really make your engraving stand out, you might want to experiment with paint or resin fills that can add color to the engraving.
Which Laser Engravers Can Engrave Plastic?
Which laser engravers can handle plastic? Well, almost all of them! Here are three of our recommended machines, all of which we sell in our shop:
xTool F1: Fastest Portable Laser Engraver with IR + Diode Laser
This engraving machine packs two lasers, one a higher-powered diode laser, and the other a fine-point, lower-power infrared laser. The diode laser is powerful enough to mark some metals and engrave wood, but the infrared laser does well with plastic engraving. Since you don't need much power for plastic engraving, this affordable and portable beginner-friendly laser will do the trick!
[product=xtool-f1-fastest-portable-laser-engraver-with-ir-diode-laser]Try the fast, portable, and beginner-friendly xTool F1 laser engraver.[/product]
xTool F1 Ultra: 20W Fiber & Diode Dual Laser Engraver
If you're planning to engrave plastic and harder materials like metal, the xTool F1 Ultra is a great choice. This one combines a high-power 20W fiber laser (which engraves many materials including metal) and a lower-power diode laser.
Both diode and fiber lasers mark colored plastics, but clear plastics need to be temporarily colored or prepared for engraving. Fiber lasers leave silver or white marks in plastic, which helps with visibility.
[product=xtool-f1-ultra-laser-engraver]The xTool F1’s more powerful big brother that handles both plastic and metal with ease.[/product]
xTool P2: 55W Desktop CO2 Laser Cutter
The xTool P2 gives you the power of CO2 laser, which can easily engrave or cut plastic in any color, including clear.
This desktop laser cutter doesn't have the height and engraving space of the F1 and F1 Ultra, but does well with plastic sheets and flatter items.
[product=xtool-p2-55w-desktop-co2-laser-cutter]Choose a CO2 laser like the xTool P2 to get the best results with plastic engraving.[/product]
See more recommendations of the best laser engravers for small businesses here.
Final Thoughts
We've covered all the ins and outs of laser engraving plastic so you can engrave safely and successfully. With this, we hope you've found a starting point for working with some of your favorite plastic items.
Now it's time to put your knowledge into action! We can't wait to see what you make 🎨
Before you go, we'd love to hear about your engraving adventures! Share your learnings and project photos with us in our Official MakerFlo Facebook Community.
