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Stencil cutting is another creative CO2 application made easier due to the simplicity of changing or customizing designs seen on paper, cardstock, or plastic templates. Depending on the overall finished size, graphic designs are cut using either an FH Series marking head (9.5” x 11.7” maximum field size) or an XY motion system, where substantially larger sheets are handled.
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We cut the decorative sample shown to the left from paper stock using 40 watts of power focused through an FH Series head and a 200 mm lens. The 290-micron (0.011”) focused spot spans a rectangular mark area measuring 134 x 165 mm (5.3” x 6.5”). Marking Velocity was set to 40 inches per second and Resolution was set to 250 while all other WinMark Pro settings were left at default values. Cycle time to cut this stencil pattern was 1.3 seconds. Paper edges cut cleanly and exhibit no discoloration.
The industrial side of stencil cutting is gasket making. Although generally made from thicker (and often, multilayer or composite) materials, gaskets are similar to stencils in that the CO2 laser system is easily programmed to cut contours and trepan mounting holes precisely and repeatably.
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