Semi-technical - laser cut acrylic cases. How does a laser cut something tranparent?

[Jeff7]

The title says it all - wouldn't a laser just pass through? I do understand that there's impurities in the acrylic that would absorb a little bit of energy; wouldn't this mean that an incredibly powerful laser would be needed?

 

[sgtroyer]

One possibility: not all lasers emit at visible wavelengths. For example, one of the most powerful lasers is a C02 laser, which is in the infrared range. Acrylic is clear for visible wavelengths, but perhaps it's opaque in the IR or UV region. If it's opaque at CO2 laser wavelengths, I'd bet that's how it's cut.

Okay: I just looked at a link (Sam's laser FAQ), and it confirms that most glass and plastics are near opaque in the IR. So that's probably how it's done.

Sam's Laser FAQ: CO2 Lasers

 

[Jeff7]

Ah, of course. Other wavelengths. Geez, and I'm even using wavelengths outside the visible in my other case - have UV CCFL bulbs in it.🙂

 

[Fencer128]

Please tell me you don't want to build a CO2 laser!

😉

Cheers,

Andy

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Fencer128
Please tell me you don't want to build a CO2 laser!

😉

Cheers,

Andy

Only if I can have it mounted on the car, so that it would come out the roof like the phaser emitters on Enterprise. 🙂

 

[Fencer128]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Fencer128
Please tell me you don't want to build a CO2 laser!

😉

Cheers,

Andy

Only if I can have it mounted on the car, so that it would come out the roof like the phaser emitters on Enterprise. 🙂

That would bring a whole new dimension to "road rage"! 😛

Cheers,

Andy

 

[dakels]

actually they do use lasers though for highway speed monitoring and also license plate scanning. IIRC some states issue license plates that have sort of a holographic laser detectable bar code. Just spouting off the top of my head. I'm sure there's lots of info about in on the web.

btw your car CO2 laser kept making me think of Kit from knightrider for some reason....... 😛

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Fencer128

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Fencer128
Please tell me you don't want to build a CO2 laser!

😉

Cheers,

Andy

Only if I can have it mounted on the car, so that it would come out the roof like the phaser emitters on Enterprise. 🙂

That would bring a whole new dimension to "road rage"! 😛

Cheers,

Andy

Nah, no "rage" - I actually have extraordinary patience on the road (and when I'm working at Walmart), but that's about it. 😉 There are some drivers out there that should be "removed" from the road, and probably from the gene pool as well.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

btw your car CO2 laser kept making me think of Kit from knightrider for some reason....... 😛

"Kit, I need more power"

"OK Michael"...

LOL... that show cracks me up.

 

[Goatsan]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Fencer128

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Fencer128
Please tell me you don't want to build a CO2 laser!

😉

Cheers,

Andy

Only if I can have it mounted on the car, so that it would come out the roof like the phaser emitters on Enterprise. 🙂

That would bring a whole new dimension to "road rage"! 😛

Cheers,

Andy

Nah, no "rage" - I actually have extraordinary patience on the road (and when I'm working at Walmart), but that's about it. 😉 There are some drivers out there that should be "removed" from the road, and probably from the gene pool as well.

yeah, but i dont think you would need to mount it to yourt car, just to the entrance to the trailer park

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
The title says it all - wouldn't a laser just pass through? I do understand that there's impurities in the acrylic that would absorb a little bit of energy; wouldn't this mean that an incredibly powerful laser would be needed?

did you do a search in google?

 

[FrustratedUser]

The material absobs energy of that wavelength and melts.