Laser cutting and laser engraving are contact-free transformation processes that allow thermoplastics to be worked with a level of precision and fineness that mechanical processes cannot always achieve. The laser opens up possibilities that machining does not allow: complex contours, fine details, permanent marking on hard surfaces or cutting of already-formed parts.
At Plastisart, laser cutting and engraving integrate into our offering of main transformation processes such as thermoforming, plastic fabrication and CNC machining. After the manufacturing stages, the laser can intervene to refine contours, create complex internal cuts or apply permanent marking without altering the material structure.
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Plastic laser cutting: principle and advantages
CO2 laser cutting uses a focused high-power light beam that vaporises or melts the material along a cutting line defined by a digital file. The movement of the beam is driven by a precise positioning system that follows exactly the geometry defined in the CAD file. The result is a clean cut, reproducible identically from one part to the next, with no physical tool in contact with the material.
This absence of contact offers several concrete advantages for thermoplastics. No mechanical stress is applied to the part during cutting, which avoids deformations, cracks or internal stresses that can appear with rotary tools on fragile or transparent materials. Cut edges on cast PMMA are particularly clean and have a naturally polished appearance that requires no rework. On polycarbonate, PETG or ABS, the edges are clean and burr-free.
Laser cutting is also very competitive for complex contours: free-form shapes, curves, internal cuts, repetitive pattern perforations. This technique allows geometries to be worked that mechanical machining would achieve with significantly greater programming and tooling times.
Plastic laser engraving: permanent marking and precise details
Laser engraving consists of ablating the material surface to a defined depth, creating a permanent recessed or contrasting mark depending on the thermoplastic and the parameters used. On PMMA, laser engraving produces an opacified matt white area that contrasts strongly with the transparency of the material, making it a reference technique for markings on transparent parts.
Industrial applications of laser engraving on thermoplastics are numerous:
- Serial numbers and traceability codes directly engraved on the part
- Pictograms and safety instructions on panels and covers
- Logos and brand identifiers on components
- Positioning and assembly marks on assembly parts
- QR codes and datamatrix for logistics traceability
Laser engraving offers an important advantage compared to screen printing or label marking for applications subject to friction, repeated cleaning or aggressive environments. The marking is in the material, not on the material. It therefore does not fade, does not peel off and does not degrade over time.
Laser cutting and CNC machining: two complementary techniques
These two techniques are not in competition because they respond to different needs and apply to clearly distinct situations.
CNC machining
CNC machining is more effective for deep operations such as drilling, milling, grooving and 3D machining on thick parts. This process allows work across the full material thickness with tight dimensional tolerances.
Laser cutting
Laser cutting is superior for 2D and 2.5D contouring operations on sheets, complex shape cutting in series and permanent surface marking. It is the fastest technique for complex flat geometries and requires no specific tooling depending on the shape.
At Plastisart, we use both technologies in our workshops. For many parts we produce, the ideal is to combine the two: laser cutting for contouring and CNC machining for functional machining operations.
Materials compatible with laser cutting and engraving
Not all thermoplastics are compatible with the CO2 laser. Some materials such as PVC release toxic gases during laser cutting and therefore cannot be processed via this method.
Here are the compatible materials we process at Plastisart:
- PMMA (cast or extruded)
- Polycarbonate (PC)
- ABS
- PETG
- PP
- PE
- POM
- PA
For each material, laser parameters are precisely adjusted: power, movement speed, pulse frequency and air assistance. This mastery guarantees clean cut edges, contrasted engraving and the absence of burnt zones or residual stresses in the part.
The different sectors and applications of laser cutting and engraving
Laser cutting and engraving on thermoplastics at Plastisart cover varied industrial applications:
- Cutting of protections and panels for industrial equipment
- Component marking for traceability in medical and pharmaceutical sectors
- Cutting of transparent parts for glazing and optical protections
- Engraving of marks and identifiers on technical parts
- Cutting of complex shapes for robotics and automated sub-assemblies
- Regulatory marking on defence and security equipment
Our different sectors of activity
Industrial Sector
Machine guards, equipment protections and structural parts for demanding industrial environments.
Medical & Health Sector
Covers, protections and transparent parts for medical equipment in cleanrooms or operating theatres.
Aerospace & Defense Sector
Canopies, optical curves and lightweight parts for aeronautical and defence applications.
Automotive & Transport Sector
Windscreens for special vehicles, cabin glazing and visual protections for transport equipment.
Agri-food & Childcare Sector
Parts in food-grade materials (PETG, PMMA) adapted to hygiene and cleaning requirements.
Communication & Events Sector
Displays, domes and curved visual elements for stands, exhibitions and event signage.
Cosmetics Sector
Curved aesthetic parts for premium packaging and presentation displays.
Office & Business Sector
Protections, dividers and ergonomic curved parts for office furniture and equipment.
Building & Construction Sector
Architectural curves, glazing and decorative plastic elements for the construction sector.
Energy & Environment Sector
Curved covers and protections for energy installations and environmental equipment.
Sports & Leisure Sector
Transparent or tinted parts for sports equipment, leisure vehicles and visual protections.
Why choose Plastisart for your plastics projects?
At Plastisart, laser cutting and engraving integrate perfectly into a broad offering of advanced industrial plastics services and techniques. These processes add to the possibilities of our custom plastic parts production flow. This complete integration of all manufacturing stages avoids supplier transfers for our clients and allows us to control your parts at every stage of the project.
FAQ
What are the advantages of laser cutting over mechanical machining?
The laser is a thermal cutting process with no physical contact with the material. This eliminates all mechanical stress on the part, avoiding risks of cracks, deformations or internal stresses in fragile polymers. Furthermore, the laser excels in ultra-complex contours, fine details and internal cuts that traditional rotary tools struggle to reach or require too much programming time.
Why is laser engraving more durable than screen printing or labels?
Unlike ink or adhesives that are deposited on the part, laser engraving removes material in recess to permanently modify its surface. The marking is therefore anchored in the material. It becomes totally unalterable: it can neither peel off nor fade, even if the part undergoes repeated mechanical friction, intensive washing or contact with aggressive chemical agents.
Why are some plastics such as PVC prohibited from laser cutting?
During CO2 laser cutting, the material is brought to very high temperature to be vaporised. Certain chlorinated thermoplastics, such as PVC, release highly toxic gases for operators and extremely corrosive gases for machine components under the effect of this heat. At Plastisart, we rigorously filter materials and work exclusively with compatible polymers (PMMA, polycarbonate, ABS, PETG, POM, etc.).
How do you manage the risk of burning or yellowing on part edges?
Each thermoplastic reacts differently to the heat of the beam. To avoid burnt zones, soot marks or residual thermal stresses, our teams precisely adjust four key parameters: laser power, movement speed, pulse frequency and assistance from an air or inert gas jet at the cutting point. This expertise guarantees perfectly clean and neat edges on all our productions.
Is it possible to combine laser cutting and CNC machining?
Yes, and that is a major strength of our workshop. These two techniques are perfectly complementary. For complex projects, we combine both technologies: we use the speed of the laser for 2D contouring of free-form shapes and 3 or 5-axis CNC machining for deep operations such as counterboring, thread tapping or functional geometric grooves.
