i wanted to try laser cutting those shrinky dink shrink plastic things that they sell at the craft store.
i know you can bake them , so they can withstand heat but i am not sure if they are safe to laser cut? any ideas?
[OP]
Member
laser cutting shrinky dink plastic?
i wanted to try laser cutting those shrinky dink shrink plastic things that they sell at the craft store.
i know you can bake them , so they can withstand heat but i am not sure if they are safe to laser cut? any ideas?
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Nadia
I am not familiar with shrinky dink plastic things. Is that a technical term?
Do you have a picture?
Mike Null
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Nadia,
Don't you think the edges would shrink with the heat and just make a humped up shape in the middle?
Mike - Shrinky Dink is a brand name for a thin plastic sheet you draw on with markers, cut out with scissors and then bake. The result is a mini version of your drawing, slightly thicker and denser color on a hardened plastic.
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Mike, it is a plastic item that's cut into a shape and then you paint it all up (or color it somehow), while it's full size. Then you put them in the oven on a cookie sheet, heat them and they shrink a great deal, retaining their original shapes and all the coloring you did on them.
I don't recall how you color it. I tried them about 30 years agoHonest
Dang it, she beat me too it!
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If you don't have any on hand to play with (and don't want to make a special purchase), pick up a salad at your local fast food joint... the clear plastic cartons are made of the same material as Shrinky Dinks (non-extruded polystyrene). Look for the number '6' inside of the tri-arrow recycling symbol embossed into the plastic to make sure it's the correct type. Plenty of posts here about good settings for polystyrene.
For coloring, use permanent markers.
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Well, I guess it's obvious that I don't get out much.
Mike Null
St. Louis Laser, Inc.
Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
Gravograph IS400
Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
Dye Sublimation
CorelDraw X5, X7
Member
Originally Posted by Mike Null
I'm with you Mike, I did not know what it was but figured I'd sit back and let someone else ask.
Scott: 30 years back? Did we have plastics then?
Dave J
Forums: Where all too often, logic is the first casualty.
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Sure we did Dave, it's what the handle on your walker was made fromScott: 30 years back? Did we have plastics then?
Oh, that was wrong. Sorry about that Dave, I know you're not THAT old
Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers
Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.
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