Burning Paper: CNC Laser Engraved & Cut Office Paper
It’s amazing to me how CNCROi.com‘s Austrian wide-format industrial machine is able capable of precision burning paper!
The ROI (return on investment) isn’t very good using a laser to burn paper like this, there are far more cost-effective methods of marking paper such as seals, stamps and even stencils, but it’s fun to try different things in the shop.
This is just typical office paper, there is nothing special or especially unique about this material.
I’m sure you have tons of it all around you, just waiting to be CNC laser branded!
Paper has evolved a very long way though, CNCROi.com is able to source paper that mimics just about any material out there, cork through fiberglass, it all looks amazing and yes, it’s still “just paper”!
I’ve also posted videos previously of cutting other “types” of paper, magazine paper really cuts well for instance, because it’s so thin.
I just find it endlessly fascinating, how our laser is able, in one stroke, cut through half-inch MDF removing just a fraction of a mm of material all around a shape and then in the other, precisely cut paper without burning the heck out of it!
Being able to engrave a layer off regular paper without burning straight through is quite a trick, it’s got many great applications such as paper lanterns and other ornamental / artistic endeavors.
Keep in mind that I am burning paper in this application, just an infinitely small layer of it from the office paper surface, that’s how you get the browning of the paper in the seal of my CNCROi.com logo.
There is some slight fading around the outline of the CNCROi.com logo once the laser engraving or paper burning process is finished, that’s because the paper has expanded for the heat of our laser.
There are ways around that issue but I like the effect for this particular demonstration as it adds a bit more realism to the finished disposable paper coaster.
As CNCROi.com is removing a very very VERY thin layer of paper off the paper during the engraving process, we could technically go over it another time to get a slightly darker result but there is also a good chance of going straight through the paper or having it catch on fire as well.
The incredible precision of our laser is only limited by the material under it, and office paper is incredible delicate especially after it has been burned once on the surface.
If you are wondering about a real-world application regarding laser cut paper, check out this video of CNCROi.com making letters for an educational function.
As the engraving processed, you can see that the center of the CNCROi.com logo was starting to raise slightly, paper expands with heat and although this is highly focused and precision placed heat, it’s still heat never the less.
If you are wondering what our logo looks like at the other end of the spectrum, on stainless steel no less, check out this video.
Yep, same laser, same logo, totally different material!
Our amazing CNC laser never ceases to impress me, our Trotec Speedy 400 flexx is just as comfortable engraving or burning paper as it is annealing stainless steel, how’s that for machine flexibility and capability!
As paper is made from wood, you can certainly see some similarities in the results from this paper burning to, in this case, maple award with the same logo.
Just like the stainless steel above, same logo, same laser, just a change in settings for the base material.
Now that our amazing CNCROi.com is just about done being PERMANENTLY burned into the office paper, it’s time to cut it out.
A perfect ROUND cut, not something that’s easy as the two points have to meet (start of cut and end of cut) within a 2D plain, but CNCROi.com‘s equipment makes things this complex look easy!
Not sure what I’ll do with this, it’s so amazingly fragile, paper is a tough material but when you’ve engraved off a layer of it, it becomes a lot more delicate to deal with.
Burning office paper never looked this good!
Looking for some amazing paper related product but can’t quite find a company passionate enough to make it for you in record time to your spec?
You’ve found CNCROi.com and we’ll make what you want for you, and we do cereal boxes too!