Materials

Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics are home turf for the laser and the 3D printer: they melt, soften and reshape with heat. But this family holds both the material makers love most and the one most dangerous to work.

How to read the table

Laser — “Yes” for acrylic and many thermoplastics, but a categorical “No” for PVC (toxic and corrosive fumes) and “With limits” for polycarbonate (yellows). CNC — almost always “Yes”, with the melting risk to manage through correct speeds and feeds. 3D printing — “Yes” for most: this is the family FDM printing was born for.

Polyolefins

Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP): tough, flexible and low in surface adhesion. Hard to glue and paint without treatment, they mill but can melt; on the laser they give mediocre results compared to acrylic.

Material	Laser	CNC	3D printing	Food safe
HDPE (PE-HD)	No	Yes	No	Yes
LDPE (PE-LD)	No	With limitations	No	Yes
PP (Polypropylene)	No	Yes	No	Yes
UHMWPE	No	Yes	No	Yes

Styrenics

Polystyrene and sheet ABS. ABS mills and thermoforms well; laser cutting is possible but tends to fused edges and unpleasant fumes, so always ventilate. Versatile prototyping materials.

Material	Laser	CNC	3D printing	Food safe
ABS	With limitations	Yes	Yes	No
ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate)	With limitations	Yes	Yes	No
HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene)	With limitations	Yes	Yes	No
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
PLA	With limitations	Yes	Yes	Yes

Acrylics and methacrylics

PMMA (plexiglass) is the star of CO2 laser cutting: glossy edges without polishing. The difference between cast (engraves white, excellent for engraving) and extruded (more prone to melting at the cut) matters. Also excellent in milling with sharp tools.

Material	Laser	CNC	3D printing	Food safe
Cast PMMA (Cast acrylic)	Yes	Yes	No	No
Extruded PMMA (Extruded acrylic)	Yes	Yes	No	No
Opal and coloured PMMA	Yes	Yes	No	No

Polycarbonates and engineering plastics

Polycarbonate and engineering technopolymers: high mechanical and thermal resistance. Polycarbonate is excellent in milling but disappointing on the laser (it yellows and burns rather than cutting cleanly). Technical rather than decorative materials.

Material	Laser	CNC	3D printing	Food safe
Nylon PA12	With limitations	Yes	Yes	No
Nylon PA6	With limitations	Yes	Yes	Yes
PC-ABS Blend	With limitations	Yes	Yes	No
Polycarbonate (PC)	With limitations	Yes	No	No
PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone)	With limitations	Yes	Yes	Yes
POM (Delrin, Acetal)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
TPU (Flexible thermoplastic polyurethane)	With limitations	With limitations	Yes	No

PVC and vinyls

PVC and vinyls: NEVER to be laser-cut. When burned they release hydrochloric acid, toxic to the operator and corrosive to the machine. They're worked in milling and, as film, with the cutting plotter. The chlorine rule applies to the whole category.

Material	Laser	CNC	3D printing	Food safe
Expanded PVC (Forex, Palight, Kapa)	No	Yes	No	No
Rigid PVC	No	Yes	No	No

Fluoropolymers

PTFE (Teflon) and the like: chemically inert, non-stick and heat-resistant. They mill but are hard to glue and paint. Overheating can release dangerous fumes: no operations that overheat them.

Materials coming soon

Working with Thermoplastics: what to know

Acrylic (PMMA, “plexiglass”) is the star of CO2 laser cutting: glossy, transparent edges with no polishing at all, and crisp engravings. Mind the difference between extruded and cast acrylic, though: cast engraves white and frosted, while extruded behaves differently and is more prone to melting at the edges.

The golden rule, never to be broken: PVC is not laser-cut. When burned it releases hydrochloric acid, toxic to the operator and corrosive to the machine's optics and mechanics. If you're not sure a transparent material is acrylic and not PVC, don't put it in the laser. Polycarbonate also disappoints on the laser: it tends to yellow and burn rather than cut cleanly, even though it's excellent in milling.

In FDM 3D printing, thermoplastics are the daily bread: PLA easy and rigid, PETG tough and moisture-resistant, ABS strong but prone to warping, requiring an enclosed chamber and a heated bed to avoid lifting and deforming.

In milling, the opposite risk to wood: plastic can melt if speeds are too high and the feed too slow, “welding” to the tool. You need sharp cutters, generous feeds and, on some materials, an air blast to clear the heat.