I currently use a small drill with a CNC machine to drill hundreds of pilot holes in sheets of foamed PVC. The holes are 1mm diameter and about 3mm deep in a 10mm thick sheet. It would have to be a clean hole in a white sheet, no scorch marks. Is this something a relatively cheap laser could do please? Possibly into other substrates as well, MDF, thin aluminium? I use MACH 3 software. Thanks
Is the hole something you could punch rather than drill? A needle on a solenoid would make rather quick work of this.
Hi, not really, the drill works fine though. I just thought would it be possible with a laser, cleaner and no changing drill bits halfway through a job.
Would need at least a 40-60w laser (CO2) due to the thickness PVC is out for Laser though: "Although polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can in fact be cut with laser, the thermal process produces hydrochloric acid and toxic fumes. For this reason, we advise you not to use laser for cutting PVC in order to prevent corrosion of your laser system and to ensure the safety of the machine operator." The health risks on this one is no joke, I've seen one machine used for PVC and the rails rusted to bits in about a month and a half (steel+chrome rails)! a 60-80w laser will do MDF up to 10mm, Aluminum cannot really be lasered in the home game (need about 1kw as alu acts like a heatsink, need a lot of power to punch clean through)
Thank you very much for your advice Peter, much appreciated. Looks like I am not going down the laser route carry on drilling
