LASER CUTTING
CO2 Laser Cutting Services for Industrial Plastics
While fiber lasers rule the metal world, organic materials and thermoplastics require a specific wavelength to be processed cleanly. Graphie offers specialized CO2 Laser Cutting services dedicated to the precision processing of non-metallic materials. Located in La Pocatière, Quebec, this department operates in synergy with our Digital Printing and Metal Fabrication divisions, allowing us to supply complete industrial assemblies; integrating metal chassis with perfectly fitted, laser-cut plastic components.
Our 200W CO2 system is an industrial workhorse designed for speed, precision, and superior edge quality. We process a wide range of materials including Polycarbonate (Lexan), Acrylic (Plexiglass), Cardboard, Vinyls, and technical insulators.
Stress-Free Cutting: The Laser Advantage
Processing rigid or semi-rigid plastics for industrial applications involves a hidden danger: mechanical stress.
Laser vs. Oscillating Knife
Many fabricators attempt to cut materials like Polycarbonate or Polyester using an Oscillating Knife (mechanical cutting). While effective for soft foams, the physical impact of the blade on harder plastics creates micro-fractures along the edge.
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The Risk of Mechanical Cutting: These micro-cracks allow chemicals, solvents, or moisture to penetrate the material edge. Over time, especially under vibration in transportation applications, these cracks propagate, leading to part failure.
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The Laser Solution: Our CO2 laser cuts without physical contact. It uses a high-frequency pulse to vaporize the material instantly. This ensures there is zero mechanical stress applied to the sheet, eliminating the risk of crazing or cracking inherent to knife cutting.
Versatility: From Cardboard to Vinyls
The versatility of our CO2 laser allows us to handle materials well beyond rigid plastics, supporting both production and prototyping needs:
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Cardboard & Packaging: We can rapidly cut cardboard and paperboard for packaging prototypes, custom boxes for shipping fragile parts, or stencils. The laser seals the edge of the paper instantly, leaving a crisp finish.
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Vinyls & Films: For intricate decals or masking films where a mechanical knife might drag or tear fine details, the laser offers exceptional precision. It allows for the cutting of complex geometries in adhesive vinyls used for identification or decoration.
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Acrylics: The laser naturally produces a flame-polished edge on acrylic. This eliminates the need for manual buffing, providing a high-end aesthetic finish ideal for commercial displays or visible equipment covers.
Diverse Industrial Applications
Our laser cutting capabilities extend far beyond simple windows. We manufacture a vast array of components for the transport, energy, and manufacturing sectors:
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Technical Shims and Spacers: We cut precise spacing elements used in mechanical assemblies to adjust tolerances.
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Gaskets and Seals: For harder gasket materials that resist knife cutting, the laser provides intricate geometry capabilities.
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Protective Shields: Manufacturing of custom guards for machinery, ensuring operator safety without compromising visibility.
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Internal Components: Cutting of complex internal guides, baffles, and air flow deflectors used inside HVAC units or cooling systems.
Precision Integration with Digital Printing
A major advantage of Graphie is the ability to combine Laser Cutting with Digital Printing. Through the use of optical registration systems (camera recognition), our laser can "see" the registration marks printed on a sheet.
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Print-then-Cut: We can print complex control panel graphics, logos, or dials onto a rigid plastic sheet, and then laser cut the perimeter and internal holes with perfect alignment.
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Membrane Switches & Overlays: This technology is essential for manufacturing the graphic overlays used on electronic interfaces. The laser cuts the button reliefs and LED windows with a precision that die-cutting often struggles to match on low-volume runs.
