Can I Cut Shadow Foam with a Laser?

[@flytechalpha]

What’s this later pen and or specs needed to use for cutting or cleaning up cut edges?

[@cheekyoscar1353]

is that type of foam fireproof ! if the laser was to get stuck in one position can it catch a fire !! would appreciate a reply thanks 🙏

[@ShadowFoam]

it does get warm and the product melts if that were to happen

[@philiprogers5772]

Can shadow foam be cut with a cnc machine? If so what cutter would you use? I need to do multiple cuts of the same shape with a sculptured bottom.

[@ShadowFoam]

We cut our custom sheets with a CNC cutter, well put a video out in the future!

[@adrianscarlett]

Use a ball end milling cutter.

[@andrewfielden5345]

Fascinating video for me as I have been laser cutting as a small business for the last 6 years and have occasionally cut foam although not shadow foam. I do have a couple of suggestions. To get the outline for your cut run the tests on cheap material. I use cardstock which works out at about 20p per A3 and cuts really quickly. For placement I have a jig with a squared hole in it. This allows the item being cut to be placed exactly at the origin of the square and by pushing it up against the edges you know its relatively square on. For total accuracy I make the hole the size of the item to be laser cut or etched. A final thought is that i moved from a laser like the hpc to a trotec, a lot faster, and I'm thinking about doing a shadowfoam test

[@engineer9975]

One thing to note: the diode laser might be having a hard time using a blue light laser to cut a blue object. I would like to see the results with the different colors you offer.

[@ShadowFoam]

Never even thought of that mate 😳

[@eriksiegler5832]

Please do this with a red foam!!! Do it for the Waikiki.

[@chaaalyy]

Well... Just right at the beginning: Using a "50W" laser pen and fiddling around some shiny and reflective material by hand... Good luck, if that beam gets reflected and hits that chinese "laser goggle". Even the most professional goggles would have a hard time to resist a reflected "direct hit". Maybe you should place a serious warning, not to try that at home.

[@w3bow]

A much lower tech question please? If you have existing shadow foam already cut and you buy a new tool, how can we just trim an existing opening if it’s just a tad larger?

[@alexouretski115]

Please Do a video with various CNC machines. I want to know if there is a good option that can do accurate cutting not just of the outline but also cut the 3d shapes into foam itself (i.e. allow for various depth of 3D objects).

[@ShadowFoam]

Just have to get our hands onto various CNC machines!

[@three-phase562]

Did you try cutting the Shadow Foam with the engraving cutter on the XTool? Would be interesting if you could cut out the whole shape or logo with that instead of just the outline.

[@ShadowFoam]

😅 don’t know why I didn’t think of that, definitely going to try that!

[@paigedavis5039]

@@ShadowFoam If you use the Cutter Function on the xTool and auto-measure the thickness of the material, it will cut all the way through. So play with the numbers on the measuring if you don't want it to cut all the way through but make it deeper or you can glue another piece of foam on the bottom to enclose it if you do end up cutting all the way through.

[@Zawakawaka]

I was recently looking at purchasing a 2000 watt handheld laser. It can weld metal and cut through plate steel over an inch thick. Yes you can cut foam with a laser lol. You can also cut your car in half 😂.

[@adrianscarlett]

Been looking at 1064nm fiber lasers for a while. I'm confused why the price is so varied, some claim to sell them for £2k, and others want £6k for what looks to be the same thing... Not seen anyone on KZbin buy one and review it yet.

[@Zawakawaka]

Basically it depends on the markup. Some of the sellers are the Chinese manufacturers themselves and some are western resellers. The resellers will have better customers service(in china all products are buyer beware and no after service support). The Chinese sellers may have some customer support but in my experience and experience of others its usually lacking/slow/unhelpful.@@adrianscarlett So you can buy a part for sometimes 1/5 the cost but it maybe harder to get support for and you will have to deal with shipping if its a larger item(example a laser cutting cnc table) which could cost around 7,000-10,000 for a larger laser cutting table.

[@flyingskull]

on laser diode u just need moving z and step down every pass

[@TheWebstaff]

You showed James Bond. But I was thinking Austin Powers, sharks with lasers.

[@ShadowFoam]

Sharks with frigging laser beams on their heads 😂

[@TheWebstaff]

Do you offer cutting services? If so can you do it with just a picture overhead of the tools layed out on the floor with a scale in the pucture?. If not you should do, technically easy enough to do!

[@TheWebstaff]

And I realise you did it with one tool but could you send a set in and have them done?

[@ShadowFoam]

We don’t currently offer that service but never say never for the future

[@S.JCarpentry]

you'll have to do a CNC machine now to see how it compares to the laser.

[@ShadowFoam]

All of our custom sizes are done with a CNC cutter 👍

[@S.JCarpentry]

@ShadowFoam I guess that's the outside of the foam. I mean, it will be interesting to see the comparison of a cnc machine cutting the tool inlays compared to the laser.

[@abreef543]

I gave up trying to cut mine with the scalpel only ended up doing 1 of my drills 😂 ended up having to use a jab saw to cut it out

[@ShadowFoam]

How did the jab saw cut turn out?

[@abreef543]

@@ShadowFoam not the best cut in the world but it cut through it ok and my impact driver fits in nice and snug think it was the 50mm or 70mm foam I used

[@pantster9855]

Good job the pointer didn’t cut as it was pointed at your crotch when you turned it on!

[@ShadowFoam]

😂😂 I don’t think the safety goggles wouldn’t been much help with that either

[@TheWebstaff]

@@ShadowFoam Now ribbed, because you forget the purple snake eye protection.

[@crooked-halo]

LOL! You bought a Chinese laser! Ebay is full of these very low-quality, mass produced lasers and they all LIE about all the info & specs of every laser! That laser is a common body style & is probably under 1 watt. The Chinese lasers are easy to pick out because the ads all look the same. There _are_ legitimate laser hobbyists and companies selling good quality 1 to 2 watt lasers on eBay & on laser forums.