Cutting foam board

[marche247]

I really wanna be able to cut foam board with my desktop chinese laser .

Would multiple passes work?
Is there a different free software i could use?
Is that even a possibility?

[Zax]

Software isn't the issue, it's a combination of the laser power and lens.

[marche247]

Is there any type of modification i could use maybe?

[Zax]

There's probably not much you can do with your laser, my 40W CO2 cuts it cleanly at high speed (both sides) sitting on a honeycomb bed.

If you get foam board with dark layers it may work, I have some that's black but the inside foam is still white which reflect the diode wavelength and doesn't absorb the energy.

[Lob0426]

The blue diodes are the wrong wavelength to cut the foam. I think you would have to get a blue diode at very high power to cut the foam. There are no diodes at that level available to us at this time.

[wild.bill]

I have tried the black foam board and the only difference is you get a lot of burnt black paper on the top.

[Lob0426]

I tried the newer "waterproof" board with about the same results as the white or black.

I have a 1W 850nm diode I am going to test on the foam board. I hope its wavelength will be more successful. I probably will not be able to try it out until the holidays are over.

[Nick-Nitro]

i want to try with mi violet laser, 2.5W 445nm if i can cut it... hoping so

[Administrator]

I just tried...using a 1.6w laser, speed mm 100, 100% power...12 passes I can get about 80% through but not all the way.

[wild.bill]

I just tried...using a 1.6w laser, speed mm 100, 100% power...12 passes I can get about 80% through but not all the way.

The way I cut this foam is one pass with the laser, and the second pass is with the X-acto knife. The only way I have seen that works every time.

[Zax]

What you need for this stuff is a tangential knife plotter (the flatbed kind). Some of the better vinyl cutters still use this setup rather than the cheaper drag knife configuration. They're excellent for cutting thick rubber mask used in stone and marble engraving.

[mightygrom]

The way I cut this foam is one pass with the laser, and the second pass is with the X-acto knife. The only way I have seen that works every time.

what settings are you using for the scoring cut?

[ggallant571]

I suspect it also depends on the color. Black is probably easier to burn than white but I have not tried either.

[pedwards2932]

Has anyone tried the blue insulation foam?  I have a hot wire cutter to make it in sheets of any thickness.  It is blue thru and thru so maybe it would work.  When I get a chance I'll try it.

[ggallant571]

I think the blue laser will have little effect on blue foam board. I use brown masking tape when I want it to be cut and blue when I don't.