The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • Laser Cutter: High Power Vectors vs. CD-Rs

    Just to see what happens, I tried cutting a shape from a scrap CD-R:

    Laser cut CD - in progress
    Laser cut CD – in progress

    Cutting polycarbonate is a terrible idea, because that cloud consists primarily of The Big Stink™. AFAICT, the cutting fumes are not much more toxic than what burns off acrylic / wood / whatever, but they definitely smell much worse.

    In any event, the laser produces a clean cut:

    Laser cut CD - on platform
    Laser cut CD – on platform

    Modulo the charred edges and discoloration:

    Laser cut CD - finished
    Laser cut CD – finished

    Some of that buffs right out, but overall it’s not worth the effort unless you really need tiny diffraction gratings.