Materials Guide for Diode Lasers

Two years ago, I couldn't name a single customer with a diode laser--now I can name dozens! These things have exploded in popularity and availability, so it's important to discuss the materials that these lasers can and cannot cut**. 

Materials diode lasers can cut

• MDF
• This includes raw MDF, all of the MDF core plywoods (we recommend sticking to 1/8" or 1/16" plywoods with diodes), as well as all PatternPly® on an MDF core. You can also cut the SmokeSub and EcoBirch since they are also MDF core. 
• Wood
• As stated above, you can cut any of the MDF core plywoods with your diode laser. You can also cut the wood veneers and Baltic birch. As a general rule, we do not recommend anything thicker than 1/8" with diodes unless you know from your owner's manual that you can cut that thick. 
• Black acrylic
• You can cut plain black acrylic, as well as any of the PatternPly® solid colors or patterns on a black acrylic core.
• Red acrylic
• You can cut plain red acrylic, as well as any of the PatternPly® solid colors or patterns on a red acrylic core.
• Yellow acrylic
• You can cut plain yellow acrylic, as well as any of the PatternPly® solid colors or patterns on a yellow acrylic core. 
• Green acrylic
• You can cut plain green acrylic, as well as any of the PatternPly® solid colors or patterns with a green acrylic core
• Flex substrates
• Before you invest a bunch of money in these, we suggest getting a single, inexpensive raw sheet to test before delving into the patterned sheets. We have had a customer with an Xtool D1 10W cut these (even the clear flex!) successfully, but we always recommend testing. 

Materials diode lasers cannot cut

• Clear acrylic
• This includes plain clear acrylic as well as ALL PatternPly® clear acrylic options, including scattered, two sided, and all thicknesses. It does not matter what colors are in the pattern you choose--you still will NOT be able to cut it. 
• White acrylic
• This includes plain white acrylic, as well as all PatternPly® options on white acrylic core. You will not be able to cut these, no matter the pattern. If you want a white colored material that you can cut with your diode, order our Solid White PatternPly® on one of the cores listed above in the "Materials diode lasers can cut" section. For example, you can cut solid white on an MDF core!
• Blue acrylic
• This includes plain blue acrylic, as well as all PatternPly® options on blue acrylic core.
• Turquoise acrylic
• This includes plain turquoise acrylic as well as all PatternPly® options on turquoise acrylic core. 

**PLEASE refer to your owner's manual as the true guide for what you can and cannot cut. Not all diode lasers are created equal.