MATERIALS

CRE8 has multiple laser cutters at their disposal, different in maximum cutting surface and power. This enables us to cut and engrave a wide range of materials to very large dimensions. Below you’ll find an overview of materials and dimensions we have standard in stock. For each material the largest available size is indicated and the price per m2, excl. VAT. The maximum size we are able to cut is 160 x 100 cm, the maximum size of engraving is 120 x 100 cm. If a material you’re looking not in the list, we could always order it for you.

PLYWOOD: MAX. SIZE: PRICE/M2:   MDF: MAX. SIZE: PRICE/M2:
1 mm birch plywood 100 x 60 cm €59,82   3 mm MDF 122 x 81 cm €10,53
2 mm birch plywood 100 x 60 cm €67,95   3 mm MDF black 141 x 103 cm €15,54
3 mm birch plywood 153 x 76 cm €22,59   4 mm MDF 122 x 81 cm €12,38
4 mm birch plywood 153 x 76 cm €23,50   4 mm MDF + oak veneer 122 x 81 cm €46,43
6 mm birch plywood 153 x 76 cm €29,39   4 mm MDF + nut veneer 122 x 81 cm €63,96
6 mm poplar plywood 122 x 83 cm €28,87   6 mm MDF 122 x 81 cm €19,42
9 mm poplar plywood 122 x 83 cm €30,63        
Considerations: Poplar plywood is about 40% cheaper and about 20% cheaper to cut than birch. Though poplar is softer and less stiff than birch, so choice depends on application.
The laser cutter creates a cutting line in wood by burning away the material, resulting in a brown coloured side of the material.
The thickness of plywood can vary about 0.2 mm relative to the nominal thickness. Thus the thickness of a sheet of 3 mm could be between 2.8 and 3.2 mm in reality. Keep this in mind when designing fits.
On the back side (and to a limited extent on the front side) the material could discolour around the cutting edge by means of the kickback of the laser. This discolouration can be just sanded away or we could add protection foil to avoid this. If you would like this please mention it in your application and we wil include this in the estimate.

Acrylate is very well suited for displays or consumer products like jewelry and lighting. Acrylate or perspex or plexiglas is sensitive to scratches, that’s why in general we leave the protection foil on the sheet before and after cutting. The material is relatively brittle and so thin and oblong parts could break easily. The differences in thickness between or within the sheets are small.

FOIL: MAX. SIZE: PRICE/M2:   SHEET: MAX. SIZE: PRICE/M2:
0,5 mm Polypropylene transparent/white 100 x 60 cm €11,67   2 mm Acrylate transparent 150 x 100 cm €56,76
0,8 mm Polypropylene transparent/white 100 x 60 cm €18,69   2 mm Acrylate opal 150 x 100 cm €42,74
1,2 mm Polypropylene transparent 130 x 100 cm €28,03   3 mm Acrylate transparent 150 x 100 cm €61,21
1 mm Polystyrene (PS) white 150 x 100 cm €11,96   3 mm Acrylate white/black 150 x 100 cm €63,34
2 mm Polystyrene (PS) white 150 x 100 cm €23,87   3 mm Acrylate opal 150 x 100 cm €63,34
        3 mm Acrylate black matt 150 x 100 cm €77,92
        3 mm Acrylate glossy color 100 x 60 cm €63,34
        3 mm Acrylate frost color 150 x 100 cm €77,92
        3 mm Acrylate mirror gold/silver 100 x 60 cm €121,61
        4 mm Acrylate transparent 100 x 60 cm €72,07
        5 mm Acrylate transparent 100 x 60 cm €85,22
        6 mm Acrylate transparent 100 x 60 cm €104,94
Considerations: The PP foils suit very well for making stencils. Furthermore they are applicable for making packaging and wrappers and folders, by cutting the material halfaway a film hinge can be created.
The laser cutter creates a cutting line in plastics by melting away the material and will not discolour the sides. Cutting the PP foil could result in accumulation of material along the edges.
We have many colours of acrylate sheets standard in stock, other colours we could order for you of course.

Laser cutting of cardboard is a fine option for example for model building, displays and packaging. Creating a film hinge, by cutting the material halfaway (like PP foil) is not possible though, the material rips after a few bendings.

SHEET: MAX. SIZE: PRICE/M2:        
1 mm grey cardboard 100 x 60 cm €4,61        
2 mm grey cardboard 100 x 60 cm €7,64        
3 mm grey cardboard 100 x 60 cm €11,87        
1 mm white/black cardboard 100 x 60 cm €15,60        
2 mm white/black cardboard 100 x 60 cm €17,32        
1,5 mm brown corrugated cardboard 120 x 100 cm €2,54        
6,5 mm brown corrugated cardboard 120 x 100 cm €4,10        
Considerations: The laser cutter creates a cutting line in cardboard and paper by burning away the material resulting in a brown/black coloured side. This gives off, but could be wiped away with a cloth.