Materials

Standard Materials

All dFab laser computers are preloaded with settings for the following;

	where to purchase
Balsa	Campus Bookstore
Bamboo	Campus Bookstore
Basswood	Campus Bookstore
Boxboard	Campus Bookstore
Coloured Cardboard	Campus Bookstore
Matboard	Campus Bookstore
Pasteboard | Screenboard	Campus Bookstore
Polypropylene	Campus Bookstore
Acrylic	Monsu Workshop
Plywood	Monsu Workshop

If you would like to cut, etch or engrave a non-standard material, or material purchased from an external supplier, the following procedure must be followed.

1. Contact dFab via consultation form including the Material Type & Desired Thickness

2. Source a sample piece of the material & a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

3. Drop sample material at dFab. dFab will do a range of test cuts to refine the material settings. You will be notified when the material has been added to the Material database.

4. Purchase Material & Laser Cut

Suitable Materials

dFab laser cutters are capable of cutting, etching or engraving the below Suitable Materials. These material settings are NOT preloaded on the dFab laser computers and will need to be created by a staff member. find out more

	Etch | Engrave	Cut
Fabric (eg, Felt)	x	x
Glass	x
Ceramic	x
Delrin	x	x
Cloth	x	x
Leather	x	x
Melamine	x	x
Mother of Pearl	x	x
Mylar	x	x
Pressboard	x	x
Rubber	x	x
Wood Veneer	x	x
Fibreglass	x	x
Painted Metals	x
Tile	x
Cork	x	x
Corian	x	x

Prohibited Materials

The following list of Prohibited Materials cannot be cut on any of dFab's epilog laser cutters.

Medium Density FIbreboard (MDF)	not allowed in any MADA workshop carcinogen, formaldehyde
Exterior Grade or Marine Plywood	emits harmful gases
Polyvinylchloride (PVC) or VInyl	emits harmful gases - Chlorine
Pleather | Artificial/Synthetic Leather	emits harmful gases - Chlorine
Coated Carbon	emits noxious fumes
Polycarbonate (PC) or Acetate	risk of fire and severe discolouration
ABS	melts & emits cyanide gas
HDPE	high risk of fire & melting
Polystyrene Foam	high risk of fire
Polypropylene foam or sheets >1mm	high risk of fire
Epoxy	high risk of melting
Foodstuffs	high risk of fire & difficulty regulating
Adhesive Backed Materials	may damage vector table