Owner's Manual for EPILOG Legend Model 6000
December, 2000
Section 10 – Engraving Techniques
55
PLASTIC VECTOR CUTTING TECHNIQUES
Use a Vector Table to elevate the plastic before cutting. Air Assist will greatly reduce flaming when cutting
plastic.
Vectoring plastics is similar to vectoring other materials. First, experiment to determine if the plastic can be
cut with the laser. Plastics that are up to 1/16 inch thick can usually be cut in a single pass. Thicker plastics
may need two passes.
As with engraving, it is sometimes necessary to mask and dampen the plastic before cutting. Even masking
ands wetting both front and backsides of the plastic is desirable on sensitive plastics that have very low
melting points.
Warning!
Never leave your Legend unattended when vector cutting plastics! Plastic can be very
flammable.
Do not engrave PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). PVC will destroy the optics and mechanics of your Legend.
Cutting or engraving PVC will void your warranty.
WOOD
•
Solid Wood
•
Manufactured Wood Products
•
Engraving
•
Vector Cutting
•
Cleaning
•
Color Filling
SOLID WOOD
Wood is by far the most laser friendly material available. It can be engraved or cut very easily. When
engraved, lighter colored woods like cherry or maple produce very nice contrast where the laser burns away
the wood. This high visual contrast is what makes lighter woods so popular when combined with an Epilog
Legend. There are many types of other wood products that are designed for use with the laser and many
more that are waiting to be discovered by you
.
Every type of wood has it’s own characteristics. Some wood is denser than other wood, with the denser,
harder woods requiring more laser power to cut or engrave. Epilog recommends that when working with
wood other than the ones listed in this section that you investigate the engraving and cutting characteristics
before committing to use. There are woodworking shops in nearly every large city that will have a wealth of
information on nearly all woods. If you have access to the Internet do a search on wood see what you find.