# What is the name of this plastic and is it best to carve, laser etc? **URL:** \ **Category:** Projects\ **Created:** [January 2, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174 "2018-01-02T15:43:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HectorDeleon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/hectordeleon/32/85128_2.png) [@HectorDeleon](https://community.inventables.com/u/HectorDeleon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174/1 "2018-01-02T15:43:57Z")
![20180102_103312](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/2/c/2c87613074481ea7207d176845d22d6eb1a51369.jpg) Hello, I need to make some simple placards like this. I was wondering what is the name of this plastic. Its some plastic laminent it seams. NOt sure if its best to do it with a 6W laser or with a bit? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![DarrylKegg](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/darrylkegg/32/84315_2.png) [@DarrylKegg](https://community.inventables.com/u/DarrylKegg)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174/2 "2018-01-02T15:54:52Z")
I worked in a hospital print shop in high school and used the pantograph-style machine to make these, I am not sure if the material was HDPE back then, but the Inventables store has HDPE available with black-on-white: > **[Two-Color HDPE - Black on White](https://www.inventables.com/products/two-color-hdpe-black-on-white)** > > This King ColorCore® unique 3 layer high-density polyethylene sheet is perfect for engraving. A layer of white HDPE is sandwiched between two 0.050″ layers of black, making it easy to expose different colors while engraving or milling. This material... I doubt the laser would work well with this, and it’s likely to produce toxic fumes, your best bet is a very small engraving bit. ---
**Author:** ![HectorDeleon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/hectordeleon/32/85128_2.png) [@HectorDeleon](https://community.inventables.com/u/HectorDeleon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174/3 "2018-01-02T15:58:12Z")
Ahh, nice. Looks like that one there is textured though. I was lookingat this video and it seams like they are able to cut that with laser. Fast fwd to 5min mark. : ---
**Author:** ![Micah\_W](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/micah_w/32/50287_2.png) [@Micah\_W](https://community.inventables.com/u/Micah_W)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174/4 "2018-01-02T15:58:29Z")
This is what I buy from mmc to make labels at work [McMaster-Carr](https://www.mcmaster.com/#85915t22/=1aybjkd) ---
**Author:** ![HectorDeleon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/hectordeleon/32/85128_2.png) [@HectorDeleon](https://community.inventables.com/u/HectorDeleon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174/5 "2018-01-02T16:02:38Z")
Sweet, thanks! How do you cut it? V bit then carve the edges with another bit? ---
**Author:** ![Micah\_W](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/micah_w/32/50287_2.png) [@Micah\_W](https://community.inventables.com/u/Micah_W)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174/6 "2018-01-02T16:05:56Z")
I use a 60deg vbit .125" diam. .02" deep to engrave and the same bit .061" deep to cut it out… the vbit gives it a nice beveled edge I also just use double sided masking tape from mmc to hold it down ---
**Author:** ![DarrylKegg](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/darrylkegg/32/84315_2.png) [@DarrylKegg](https://community.inventables.com/u/DarrylKegg)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174/7 "2018-01-02T16:07:57Z")
Since this is an x-Carve forum I assumed your question was in regard to the lasers available for the XC (e.g. JTech Photonics), the Trotec speedy series are CO2 lasers, and likely a 60W in the video example. I can’t speak to how well the Jtech laser would engrave HDPE, perhaps someone who uses one regularly can comment… ---
**Author:** ![HectorDeleon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/hectordeleon/32/85128_2.png) [@HectorDeleon](https://community.inventables.com/u/HectorDeleon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174/8 "2018-01-02T16:12:25Z")
There is a 6W laser on the market i noticed and ive seen videos of it etching steel. Wondering if that would be able to cut a small 1/8" abs plastic sign like in the video with a few passes being that i saw it cut wood with a few passes. Maybe ill just try a regular bit at first, if that works then great. Don thave my x carve yet, its in the mail. Just asking questions . THanks ---
**Author:** ![DarrylKegg](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/darrylkegg/32/84315_2.png) [@DarrylKegg](https://community.inventables.com/u/DarrylKegg)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174/9 "2018-01-02T16:17:56Z")
Do your research on the 6W here, I am fairly certain there was a discussion about it some time ago and Jay from JTech provided the details behind why the 6W isn’t truly a 6W (technical limitations, and mis-representation of specs on the cheaper Chinese knock-offs) … I HIGHLY recommend the Jtech product, @JTechPhotonics has done a great job supporting the XCarve community. also… I"m just a happy customer, I have no other affiliation w\ JTech ---
**Author:** ![HectorDeleon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/hectordeleon/32/85128_2.png) [@HectorDeleon](https://community.inventables.com/u/HectorDeleon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174/10 "2018-01-02T16:22:28Z")
Ive found some info on laser and it seams to be more involved than what I thought for engraving/cutting on ABS, HDPE ---
**Author:** ![MichaelGrigg](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/michaelgrigg/32/12420_2.png) [@MichaelGrigg](https://community.inventables.com/u/MichaelGrigg)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-plastic-and-is-it-best-to-carve-laser-etc/48174/12 "2018-01-02T17:09:45Z")
My 150w Laser will cut UHMWbut it turns into a puddle and does not come out clean in any way shape or form, it just melts all together. I tried several settings with no prevail. I do not think that it can be Cut with a laser unless it is an extremely high powered laser. As to engraving I believe this will be the same result. It took multiple passes to get through one color layer of the 3-color blanks sold by Inventables.