eurolaser x 3A Composites: expertise in sheet materials
3A Composites GmbH, Germany
3A Composites is a leading supplier of sheet materials for visual communication and the inventor of brand names such as DIBOND® and FOREX®, which have become globally recognised standards. Thanks to its highly diversified product portfolio, 3A Composites is able to offer its customers unique and perfectly coordinated solutions – all from a single source.
Further information on the cooperation with eurolaser
eurolaser tested the following materials from 3A Composites on its laser cutting machines:
Laser test: SMART-X® – lightweight sheet materials
Laser cutting of polystyrene
Material
SMART-X® is made of 100% polystyrene, with no adhesive used between the core and the cover layers. This makes SMART-X® fully recyclable. The cover layers consist of weather-resistant, UV-stable and impact-resistant solid polystyrene (HIPS). The core is made of foamed polystyrene, which makes SMART-X® particularly lightweight. The all-plastic sheets are insensitive to moisture and can be used at temperatures of up to 70°C.
Test setup
The laser test was carried out on an M-800 laser cutting machine with a Shuttle Table System for automated processing. The CO₂ laser used had a power output of 200 watts. Various material thicknesses of SMART-X® were tested, up to 10 mm. The objective was to achieve maximum precision, even with complex designs, as well as straight and clean cut edges.
Result
The processing tests carried out in the eurolaser application laboratory showed that SMART-X® is excellently suitable for cutting with CO₂ laser cutting machines. The precise and automated processing opens up new application possibilities for high-end advertising.
Advantages
No clamping of the material required.
No chips, no dust.
Precise and delicate cuts.
Practically radius-free internal contours.
Consistent quality, as there is no tool wear.
Laser test certificates
excellently suitable
Laser test: LUMEX® – impact-resistant and food-safe
Laser cutting of PET-G and A-PET sheets
Material
Two types of LUMEX® are available. LUMEX® A is a high-quality A-PET (amorphous polyethylene terephthalate) that is particularly suitable for flat and curved applications, such as signs, elements for refrigerated food storage, and protective glazing. LUMEX® G, on the other hand, is a PET-G (modified polyethylene terephthalate) developed primarily for thermoforming and hot forming applications, such as covers for vending machines, medical devices and products for POS / POP.
Test setup
The laser test was carried out on an XL-1600 laser cutting machine with a 400-watt CO₂ laser. Both material variants were tested in thicknesses of 0.5 mm and 5 mm. The objective was to evaluate cutting quality and material behaviour under laser processing.
Result
LUMEX® can be laser cut without any issues. Due to the thermal cutting process, the cut edges are slightly milky and a minimal burr may occur. All requirements in terms of precision and speed were met. Our test assessment for LUMEX®: suitable for laser cutting.
Advantages
No force applied to the material.
No chip waste – therefore no cleaning required.
Precise laser cutting, even for small details.
No tool wear – consistent cutting quality.
Laser test certificates
suitable
suitable
suitable
suitable
Laser test: CRYLUX® – cast acrylic glass
Laser cutting of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
Material
Thanks to its high transparency, durability and UV stability, CRYLUX® is the perfect choice when visual appearance is paramount. It is manufactured from cast polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and is versatile in use for company signs, shopfitting, the construction sector or bespoke furniture. The product offers excellent transparency for displays as well as vivid, rich colours for visual communication.
Test setup
In the eurolaser application laboratory, the material was tested in thicknesses of 10 mm, 15 mm and 20 mm. The XL-1600 laser cutting machine with a 400-watt CO₂ laser was used, featuring a honeycomb table concept to avoid reflections.
Result
The processing tests showed that CRYLUX® can be perfectly cut and engraved with our CO₂ laser cutting machines. Excellent results were achieved even with thick material gauges (e.g. 20 mm). CRYLUX® was processed using standard parameters for acrylic machining, meaning that no or only minimal process adjustments are required when using this material.
Advantages
Crystal-clear, smooth cut edges without flame polishing.
No acrylic chips – reduced cleaning effort.
Virtually radius-free internal contours.
Acrylic processing with protective film.
No tool wear.
Laser test certificates
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
Laser test: HIPEX® – A-PET and PET-G
Laser cutting of thermoplastic polyester sheets
Material
HIPEX® are extruded A-PET and PET-G thermoplastic polyester sheets. The sheets are particularly impact-resistant, offer high transparency and excellent printability with UV-stable inks. In addition, HIPEX® sheets feature the fire protection classification “flame retardant”.
Test setup
The laser test was carried out on a eurolaser XL-1600 laser cutting machine with a 400-watt CO₂ laser. The material variants HIPEX® A and HIPEX® G were tested in thicknesses of 0.5 mm and 5 mm. The objective was to evaluate cutting quality and material behaviour under laser processing.
Result
All variants of HIPEX® could be processed with the CO₂ laser in our test. The cut edges show no discolouration; however, due to the thermal cutting process they are slightly milky. In addition, a minimal burr may occur.
Advantages
Combined processing with laser and routing.
Chip-free laser cutting and laser engraving.
No tool wear and no tool changes required.
No clamping or fixing necessary.
High repeat accuracy and consistent quality.
Laser test certificates
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
Laser test: PERSPEX®
Laser cutting of PMMA sheets
Material
PERSPEX® comprises cast (GS), continuously cast (CC) and extruded (XT, XT re, XT HC) acrylic sheets. PERSPEX® CC stands out due to minimal thickness tolerances, excellent flatness and outstanding optical brilliance. PERSPEX® XT offers high dimensional accuracy and versatility. The sustainable variant XT re is made from at least 95% recycled material. PERSPEX® XT HC is an extruded sheet with a one- or two-sided abrasion-resistant coating. It is particularly scratch-resistant and chemically resistant, making it ideal for applications with increased requirements for surface durability. All variants are available in clear, coloured or textured finishes and are ideally suited for design, illuminated advertising and architecture.
Test setup
The tests were carried out in the eurolaser application laboratory on an XL-1600 laser system with a 400 W or 450 W CO₂ laser. PERSPEX® sheets with material thicknesses ranging from 2 to 15 mm were examined. The objective was to analyse the processing characteristics of all variants under practical conditions and different requirements for cutting and engraving.
Result
All tested variants showed excellent results in CO₂ laser processing. Cast acrylic (GS) delivered crystal-clear, burr-free cut edges as well as high-contrast engravings with a visible colour change. PERSPEX® XT impressed with precise, dimensionally accurate cuts. The abrasion-resistant XT HC variant could be cut flawlessly despite its coating. XT re also demonstrated the very good laser processability of recycled PMMA materials.
Advantages
Crystal-clear cut edges in a single process step.
Smooth cuts, even for internal contours.
No acrylic chips, less contamination.
Reduced breakage and waste.
Consistently high cutting quality.
Laser test certificates
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
Certificate PERSPEX® XT clear 4 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate PERSPEX® XT clear 8 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate PERSPEX® XT clear 12 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate PERSPEX® XT HC 3 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate PERSPEX® XT opal 5 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate PERSPEX® XT opaque 10 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate PERSPEX® XT re 4 mm
excellently suitable
Laser test: POLYCASA® PS
Laser cutting of polystyrene sheets
Material
POLYCASA® PS is an extruded crystal polystyrene which, thanks to its manufacturing process, is available in clear, coloured and textured variants. It is frequently used indoors, for example for signs, displays, glazing in furniture or sanitary applications, or as a decorative element. The material offers good surface appearance, a planar structure and versatile design options.
Test setup
The laser test was carried out on an M-800 laser cutting machine with a 200 W CO₂ laser. A Shuttle Table System was used to increase efficiency. POLYCASA® PS UV with a thickness of 4 mm was tested. The objective was to analyse cutting quality, suitability for engraving and material behaviour under typical production loads.
Result
POLYCASA® PS UV could be laser cut very well. The cut edges were clean, though not high-gloss. The surface remained intact, making the material ideal for visually demanding applications.
Advantages
Contact-free cutting without material damage.
No clamping or fixing of the sheets required.
High flexibility in contour design.
Consistent cutting quality without tool wear.
Laser test certificates
excellently suitable
Laser test: POLYCASA® SAN
Laser cutting of styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer sheets
Material
POLYCASA® SAN is an extruded styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer featuring high transparency, low weight and excellent rigidity. The UVP variant is weather-resistant and UV-stable and is used in outdoor applications, for example for signs, exhibition stand construction or industrial glazing. The material also shows high resistance to water absorption and chemicals.
Test setup
The laser test was carried out on an M-800 laser cutting machine with 200 W CO₂ laser power and a Shuttle Table System for high productivity. The following variants were tested: POLYCASA® SAN 4 mm, SAN Clear UVP 2 mm, SAN Opal UVP 3 mm and SAN Flat + Q 4.75 mm. The objective was to evaluate the cutting suitability of all variants under real production conditions.
Result
All tested variants showed excellent suitability for CO₂ laser processing. The cut edges remained clean and burr-free, and the surface was not affected. The material properties were fully retained, including in the UVP versions – ideal for high-quality visual applications.
Advantages
Glossy surface remains intact.
No fixing required thanks to the use of a vacuum table.
Delicate contours possible without tool changes.
High contour accuracy and consistent cutting quality.
High flexibility for indoor and outdoor applications.
Laser test certificates
Certificate POLYCASA® SAN Clear UVP 2 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate POLYCASA® SAN FLAT Q 4.75 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate POLYCASA® SAN OPAL UVP 3 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate POLYCASA® SAN 4 mm
excellently suitable
Laser test: CRYLON®
Laser cutting of PMMA sheets
Material
CRYLON® is an extruded acrylic glass (PMMA) featuring brilliant clarity, high colour rendition and excellent weather resistance. Variants such as Clear, HC (with abrasion-resistant coating), High Impact and the recycled version CRYLON®re are available. Thanks to its UV stability and optical quality, the material is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Test setup
Various systems were used in the eurolaser application laboratory: an XL-1600 laser cutting machine with 400 W or 450 W CO₂ laser, as well as an M-800 with 200 W and a Shuttle Table System to increase efficiency. The tested variants included: CRYLON® Clear 8 mm, CRYLON®re 4 mm, CRYLON® HC Clear 3 mm, CRYLON® High Impact 610 3 mm, 620 4 mm, 630 5 mm, and CRYLON® White WO 004 10 mm.
Result
The processing tests showed that CRYLON® can be perfectly cut and engraved with our CO₂ laser cutting machines. CRYLON® was processed using the same, well-established parameters for acrylic machining, meaning that no or only minimal process adjustments are required. Even white CRYLON® can be cut smoke-free with eurolaser systems.
Advantages
Glossy, burr-free cut edges even for complex contours.
Same process parameters as for standard acrylic can be used.
White material can be cut without smoke marks.
No chips for a clean working environment.
High-quality engravings across the entire working area.
Laser test certificates
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
Certificate CRYLON® High Impact 610 - 3 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate CRYLON® High Impact 620 - 4 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate CRYLON® High Impact 630 - 5 mm
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
Laser test: AKRYLON®
Laser cutting of PMMA sheets
Material
AKRYLON® is an extruded PMMA with high optical clarity, excellent surface quality and good weather resistance. Variants such as AKRYLON®re (recycled material) and AKRYLON® HC (with abrasion-resistant coating) complement the portfolio. Its transparency and formability make AKRYLON® ideal for indoor and outdoor applications.
Test setup
The tests were carried out at the eurolaser Application Center on two laser cutting machines: a eurolaser XL-1600 with a 450 W CO₂ laser and an M-800 with 200 W and a Shuttle Table System. The test materials used were AKRYLON®re 4 mm and AKRYLON® HC clear 3 mm. The objective was to evaluate the cutting and engraving suitability of several variants under realistic production conditions.
Result
Both variants proved to be excellently suitable for CO₂ laser processing. The cut edges were clean and burr-free, and the engravings showed sharp contours. The established parameters for acrylic could be adopted with virtually no adjustment. Even with the coated AKRYLON® HC variant, cutting quality remained high and the surface was not affected.
Advantages
Crystal-clear, smooth cut edges without the need for flame polishing.
Less breakage and waste thanks to the contact-free process.
No acrylic chips – less dirt and reduced cleaning effort.
Virtually radius-free internal contours across various acrylic thicknesses.
Acrylic processing with protective film possible.
Laser test certificates
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
Laser test: DISPA®
Laser cutting of paper sheets
Material
DISPA® is a 100% paper-based sheet material with smooth cover layers and a structured core – lightweight, stable and fully recyclable. The range includes standard thicknesses, DISPA® canvas with a canvas texture, and DISPA® outdoor with weather-resistant properties. Thanks to its flatness and good printability, DISPA® is widely used for POS/POP systems, displays and advertising applications.
Test setup
An M-800 laser cutting machine with a 200 W CO₂ laser and a Shuttle Table System was used at the eurolaser Demo Center. The materials tested were DISPA® 2.4 mm, DISPA® 3.8 mm, DISPA® canvas and DISPA® outdoor. The objective was to evaluate cutting quality, material behaviour and level of detail at low laser power.
Result
All variants showed excellent suitability for laser processing. The cut edges were free from material compression, without burr formation and consistently high in quality. Delicate contours with radius-free internal edges could be realised precisely, without overcutting. Only low laser power was required. White areas and the outdoor variant were also cut cleanly and without smoke marks.
Advantages
Cut edges without material compression.
No tool wear, consistently high cutting quality.
Laser cutting of fine contours with radius-free internal edges.
No overcutting.
Only low laser power required.
Laser test certificates
excellently suitable
Certificate DISPA® canvas 3.8 mm
excellently suitable
Certificate DISPA® outdoor 2.2 mm
excellently suitable
excellently suitable
Laser test: AIREX®
Laser cutting of foam material
Material
AIREX® is a closed-cell, thermoplastic polymer foam with a homogeneous structure. Thanks to its low weight and high stability, it is suitable as a core material in sandwich constructions. AIREX® offers high stiffness, chemical resistance and an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.
Test setup
The test was carried out at the eurolaser Demo Center on an M-800 laser cutting machine (200 W, CO₂ laser) with a Shuttle Table System. The variant tested was AIREX® T10.100. The objective was to evaluate fine contours, cutting quality and engraving capability.
Result
AIREX® proved to be excellently suitable for CO₂ laser processing. Fine, radius-free contours were realised with high precision. The cut edges were sealed, clean and lint-free, with no material compression or visible impact. As no tool wear occurs, no post-processing is required. Laser engravings for marking purposes could be integrated without any issues.
Advantages
Fine, radius-free contours.
Lint-free and clean processing with sealed cut edges.
Low tool wear compared to knife cutting.
No post-processing required.
Laser engravings for marking purposes.
Laser test certificates
excellently suitable
Laser test: BALTEK®
Laser cutting of balsa core material
Material
BALTEK® is a specially developed balsa core material with high density and a uniform structure. It combines the light weight of balsa wood with improved mechanical stability and homogeneous material properties. BALTEK® is primarily used in lightweight construction, model making, aerospace applications and prototyping. Its uniform structure allows clean cuts and stable components at low weight.
Test setup
The laser test was carried out on an XL-1600 laser cutting machine with 400 W CO₂ laser power. The BALTEK® SB.100 variant was tested, including thick material up to 25.5 mm. The objective was to evaluate suitability for thick sheets, cutting quality and the level of detail in large workpieces.
Result
BALTEK® SB.100 could be processed very well on the CO₂ laser system. Cutting quality was consistently uniform and the cut edges were smooth. As is typical for wood, a slight browning of the edges was observed, which may even be desirable depending on the application. Even at high material thicknesses, laser cutting impressed with precision and dimensional stability – the material is excellently suitable for laser processing.
Advantages
Laser cutting of extremely fine, virtually radius-free contours.
Reduced breakage and waste.
Smooth, burr-free cut edges – no post-processing required.
No tool wear – consistently high cutting quality.
Clean cuts even with very large material thicknesses (up to 25.5 mm).
Laser test certificates
excellently suitable