Plastic business cards

[James Mooney]

I have been asked to laser cut and engrave plastic business cards / membership cards. Anybody got any suggestions as what material to use?
Acrylic would be too brittle in the thickness I need.

[Gary Hair]

James,
I have a Fargo HDP5000 card printer that prints full color on the front and black and white on the back, the cards a credit card sized and 30mil thick. That would be the best color solution. If you want a different solution try stainless. I made up about 200 stainless cards and give them out to the better prospects I meet. They are all very impressed - it's not going to get thrown away and they can see exactly what I can do with my laser.

Other than that, I think plastic isn't going to work very well at a thickness thin enough to call a business card.

You could try veneer, it's thin enough, but still brittle.

Gary

[Brian Robison]

I use Rowmark or IPI. I think the brushed silver and brushed gold look the best. If it's up to you, be creative in the shape cutting and a magnet on the back for business cards is a big plus. I think the material I use it 1/16" think. The thin stuff warps really bad.

[Rodne Gold]

I use Rowmark Flexibrass..
Here's some pics

[James Mooney]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I should have mentioned he wants a translucent plastic. He brought in a folder made of some sort of flexible plastic which he wants to match.

After a bit of googling I was looking at polyester (PETG) it seems similar but without the matt appearance. I gather it cuts ok but don't know about how it engraves. Anyone aver tried it?

[Rodne Gold]

It doesnt engrave well , it becomes "melty"

[Dan Hintz]

Laserlites?