Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Minibits Topics => General Minibits => Topic started by: Si Tyler on 12 June 2014, 02:42:13 PM

Title: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Si Tyler on 12 June 2014, 02:42:13 PM
Is it possible to laser cut foam board for a custom building project ?
Title: Re: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Leon on 12 June 2014, 04:29:15 PM
Not that I know of, it's the wrong type of plastic and would give off some pretty funky fumes as it cut.  Some people have tried, but I've not heard of any successes yet.
Title: Re: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Leman on 12 June 2014, 05:56:15 PM
Probably because they're dead!  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Techno on 12 June 2014, 06:56:58 PM
What power is the laser that you use to cut the MDF (?), Leon.
Genuine question. :)
Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 12 June 2014, 07:10:26 PM
Something like this:
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps57664724.jpg) (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/madlemmey/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps57664724.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Leon on 12 June 2014, 07:16:20 PM
Quote from: Techno on 12 June 2014, 06:56:58 PM
What power is the laser that you use to cut the MDF (?), Leon.

It's a 60W tube, about 3ft long.  It crackles with blue light when you're using it as well, like a lightsaber...!   :D
Title: Re: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Techno on 12 June 2014, 08:46:47 PM
Coo ! :o
Wonder how far the 'spot' would go if you pointed it outside. :-\
(Don't try that at home children.)
Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Leon on 12 June 2014, 08:52:37 PM
Quote from: Techno on 12 June 2014, 08:46:47 PM
Wonder how far the 'spot' would go if you pointed it outside. :-\
(Don't try that at home children.)

Probably quite a distance!  I could pop a couple of extra mirrors in the machine and have it firing at Dave instead...  :-\
Title: Re: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Womble67 on 12 June 2014, 09:00:26 PM
Lol poor dave

Take care

Andy
Title: Re: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Techno on 13 June 2014, 06:59:39 AM
I think the green laser I bought to drive feral pigeons away, by 'flashing' it close to them, is a 10mW (Milliwatt ?) version.
That'll put a spot on a tree/shrub/whatever up to 50-100 yards away, so a 60W one would go a LONG way.

Pretty sure I saw a blue 'pen'  laser for sale, years ago, which allegedly went some ridiculous distance....(1 mile ?,10 miles ?)...Don't think you're allowed to buy those anymore.. :D
It was certainly well out of my price range as a 'toy'.....Wouldn't have just frightened the pigeons way...It would probably have made holes in the barn roof. ! ;D ;D ;D

Cheers - Phil
Title: Re: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Hertsblue on 13 June 2014, 08:30:28 AM
Why would you want to laser foamboard when it can be cut easily and accurately with a sharp knife?
Title: Re: Can you laser cut Foam board ?
Post by: Si Tyler on 13 June 2014, 07:43:29 PM
QuoteWhy would you want to laser foamboard when it can be cut easily and accurately with a sharp knife?

Because I want to build a number of 3 storey buildings for 15mm Modern skirmish using individual floor layers with doors and windows. While I can cut it all by hand the amount time then spent with filler etc makes it a long job.  I have seen gamecraft use laser cut foam but they don't do what I want so I thought I would ask.

Regards

Si