Specialty Materials

Beyond the wood-acrylic-leather-paper core, CO2 lasers handle a wide range of niche materials, each with its own technique, hazard, and use case.

Cork

Natural cork (wine bottle stopper material) cuts and engraves cleanly. Common in coasters, message boards, decor.

Cut 3mm cork	30 mm/s · 60% · medium air
Cut 6mm cork	15 mm/s · 80% · medium air
Engrave	400 mm/s · 25% · 0.08 line

• Pro tip: Cork can flare up. Watch closely; keep extraction running.
• Bulletin-board cork: often has fabric/glue backing. Cut from the cork side; the backing burns badly.

EVA / craft foam

Soft polymer foam. Cuts cleanly with low power. Used in cosplay, kid's crafts, packaging inserts.

Cut 3mm EVA	100 mm/s · 30% · low air
Cut 6mm EVA	50 mm/s · 50%
Engrave	600 mm/s · 15%

Avoid: closed-cell foam of unknown composition (some release toxic fumes). Stick to EVA labeled as such.

Rubber stamp blanks

Specialty laser-rubber gives clean stamp impressions. Engrave reverse (mirrored) of the design at depth.

Laser-rubber stamp blank (~2mm)	400 mm/s · 50% · 0.05 line · 2-3 passes
Photopolymer plate	300 mm/s · 30% · 0.08 line · 1 pass

• Mirror your design before engraving, stamps print backward.
• Air assist HIGH: rubber dust + smoke is severe.
• Clean afterward: bristle brush + IPA. Rubber dust fills crevices.

Mat board (museum / framing)

Acid-free paper-based board used in framing. Cuts cleanly, scores beautifully, engraves with subtle relief.

4-ply mat board cut	25 mm/s · 70% · low air
8-ply (premium) cut	15 mm/s · 85%
Engrave / score	300 mm/s · 25% · 0.08 line

• Use for: custom photo mats, art-framing inlays, decorative cards.
• Bevel cuts: CO2 cuts perpendicular to the bed. For 45° bevel mats, use a dedicated mat cutter, the laser can't replicate that angle.

Gaskets (rubber, paper, fiber)

Functional industrial cuts, engine gaskets, valve gaskets, machinery seals. Production work for restoration shops.

1.5mm rubber gasket sheet	15 mm/s · 60%
0.5mm paper/fiber gasket	30 mm/s · 40%
1mm cork gasket	25 mm/s · 70%

• Tolerance: CO2 cuts are within ~0.1mm of design, fine for most gasket work.
• Verify material is laser-safe. Some industrial gasket materials contain asbestos or PTFE, both unsafe to laser.

Veneers (paper-backed wood)

Thin (~0.5mm) wood veneer with paper backing for inlay work.

• Cut: 100 mm/s, 35% power, low air. Single pass.
• Mask with painter's tape; peel after, leaves a clean veneer ready for inlay glue-up.

Specialty plastics on CO2

• Delrin / acetal: engraves and cuts cleanly. Used for laser-cut gears, mechanical parts. Settings: 50 mm/s, 95% power for 3mm cuts.
• Polypropylene: cuts but melts unevenly. Not recommended.
• Polyester (PET, Mylar): cuts cleanly in thin sheets. Good for stencils.
• HDPE: melts before vaporizing. Don't bother.
• NEVER: PVC (toxic chlorine), polycarbonate (yellow burn, no clean cut), foam-core that contains styrene.

Food / edible (caution)

Some chefs use CO2 for edible engraving on bread, chocolate, sushi nori. Doable but specialized:

• Use a CLEAN laser dedicated to food (no PVC residue, no marking spray contamination).
• Soft materials (chocolate, marzipan, bread) work; hard materials (crackers) char.
• Settings vary wildly; test extensively.
• Local food-safety regulations apply, consult before selling laser-engraved food.