What should be noted when using laser cutting reflective film?

Reflective film is a type of reflective film material made using microprism technology, synthetic resin technology, thin film technology, and other processes. Based on the principle of reverse reflection of light, reflective film can reflect the light emitted by the light to illuminate the direction of the light and remind relevant personnel of the distance to the object in front.

The characteristic of reflective film makes it widely used in various fields such as road traffic, mining areas, and water transportation. In addition, reflective film is also used in the production of performance costumes, as well as various graphic and textual advertisements and outdoor decoration scenes. It is one of the most common thin film materials used by people in their daily lives.

The use of reflective film requires cutting and processing into specific shapes, and laser cutting is one of the main methods for processing reflective film. Although reflective film has the characteristic of reflecting light, highly energy intensive lasers can still easily cut the reflective film, and the cut edges are smooth and beautiful, without the need for secondary processing. Therefore, it is very popular in the advertising industry that pursues processing effects.

When using laser cutting reflective film, the following precautions should be taken:

Material characteristics: Reflective films come in various types, such as Class I engineering grade reflective films, Class III high-strength reflective films, Class V high angle reflective films, etc. These reflective films have a multi-layer structure (substrate, adhesive layer, reflective layer, etc.), and materials with different characteristics correspond to different cutting parameters. We need to determine the specific material composition in advance to prepare for subsequent processing.

Laser type: Because the wavelength of CO2 laser matches the light absorption characteristics of reflective film, reflective film is usually cut using CO2 laser, and the equipment is usually a laser cutting machine. If it is a thinner reflective film, a marking machine can also be used for cutting processing.

Laser parameters: Adjust the laser power according to the thickness and material characteristics of the reflective film. Excessive power may cause melting or burning of the cutting edge, while insufficient power may result in incomplete cutting. Reasonably set the cutting speed. Too fast may result in incomplete cutting, while too slow may cause the expansion of the heat affected zone, leading to material deformation.

Ventilation and exhaust: When laser cutting reflective film, smoke and potentially toxic gases may be generated. Ensure good ventilation in the work area and use exhaust equipment to promptly remove these gases.
Laser cutting of reflective film requires comprehensive consideration of material characteristics, cutting parameters, safety measures, and other factors. It is best to conduct appropriate testing before processing to solve errors in details in advance and ensure correct processing.