A Practical Overview of Laser Cut Acrylic
Why Acrylic?
How Laser Cut Acrylic Enhance Processing and Manufacturing?
Faster processing speeds
Higher cutting precision
Permanent, high-resolution marking
Lower operational costs
Reduced risks of acrylic damage
On-demand digital customization
What are the popular acrylic products processed by laser?
Signs, displays and containers

Acrylic accessories

Acrylic furniture

Customized gifts and invitations

Where to buy acrylic?
Plastics Distributors
Online Retailers
You can purchase various acrylic materials from online retailers such as eBay, Home Depot , and Amazon. You can find clear and colored acrylic sheets, acrylic rods, and acrylic craft supplies.
Hardware and Home Improvement Stores
Specialized Acrylic Shops
Key points for laser processing acrylic
Pre-Processing
Material Selection
Acrylic Quality
Thickness Guidelines
Fixturing
Design Considerations
Edge Finishing
Use a laser or flame polishing technique to smooth and remove roughness from cut acrylic edges. Avoid mechanical sanding, which can induce microfractures and cracks.
Stress Relief
Storage
Choose the right laser machine for processing acrylic



Thunder Nova Laser Cutter
Work Area
Type
Power
Z-axis
Thunder Bolt Laser Cutter
Work Area
Type
Power
Z-axis
Thunder Odin Laser Engraver
Work Area
Type
Power
Z-axis
Common laser processing acrylic parameters
The table below provides recommended laser settings for using the Nova laser cutting machine to process acrylic. You can do some testing first to fit the laser-cut acrylic parameters for a particular use.
Material | Thickness | Processing | Speed(mm/s) | Mini Power(%) | Max Power(%) | Air Pressure Value | DPI |
Acrylic |
| Engraving | 500 | 10 | 10 | low | 300 |
3mm | Cutting | 60 | 10 | 90 | high | 2” | |
5mm | 30 | 10 | 90 | high | 2” | ||
10mm | 7 | 10 | 90 | high | 2” | ||
15mm | 3 | 10 | 90 | high | 4” | ||
20mm | 2 | 10 | 90 | high | 4” |
Here is a video engraving acrylic with our laser machine. Check it out to see the effects it can achieve!
More tips and tricks for laser processing acrylic
How to Prevent Laser Reflection Damage on the Acrylic Backside During Laser Processing?
During the process of laser cut acrylic, the focused beam can reflect off the honeycomb bed and damage the acrylic backside, leaving unwanted marks. To minimize these backside markings, consider the following techniques:
1、For small projects, you can place damp paper towels underneath the acylic. It can dampen the reflected energy and safeguard the acrylic surface.
2、For larger projects, lift the acrylic off the bed using nail boards or other fixturing. This reduces reflected energy by dissipating it before reaching the acrylic.
3、Consider using knife bars instead of a honeycomb bed when processing acrylic. The more open structure reflects less laser back upwards. Cut for an inside-out approach and avoid working with very small parts.
4、Optimize processing parameters to higher speeds and lower power so less energy reflects back per unit time.
Tips for Smooth Laser Cut Acrylic Edges
1、Adjust Blowing and Speed
To reduce striations and rough edges on acrylic, use weak blowing while decreasing laser cutting and engraving speeds.
2、Balance Power and Speed:
Excessive power can lead to acrylic melting, while slower speeds can hinder laser processing efficiency. You can experiment with settings to find the optimal configuration. For 10mm acrylic, use 80-90% power and 5% speed; thinner sheets require lower power and faster speeds.
3、Multiple Passes:
Choose multiple passes at lower power over one pass at maximum power. Gradually refine the edge without excessive heat buildup. For 5mm acrylic, you may try 3-4 passes at 50% power for smooth edges.
How to Avoid Fire When Laser Cut Acrylic?
1、Adjust the air assist to lower the temperature at the cut lines, avoiding ignition from excessive heat.
2、Place wet paper towels which can use the moisture and evaporating water vapor to reduce the temperature during laser processing. The wet kitchen towels will also work.
What do our customers say about Thunder Laser?
At Thunder Laser, our customers trust the quality of our machines as well as our customer services, which stands out from other laser companies. If you want to see for yourself, check out ratings on Trustpilot.

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