Laser Cutting Fabric provides more precise and neat cutting results.
If you want to start your own fabric business, a laser cutting machine is the right choice.
It can repeatedly complete high-precision cuts, which are more difficult to do by hand.
This article will show you everything you need about laser cutting fabric.
If you want a fabric cutting saw and want to learn more about it, you can read this complete guide.
Advantages of laser cut fabric
High precision: you can cut the laser cut fabric to any size. Compared to manual cutting, laser cut fabric is more precise.
Batch production: You can quickly produce many products with the same cutting effect as the laser cutting machine.
Good results: Laser cutting fabric has neatly cut edges and does not have a stained, toothy look.
Which types of fabric can be laser cut?
Different fabric types and techniques must be considered when cutting differs from material type to another. The following are some of the fabrics we commonly see when laser cutting.
Cotton fabrics
The main component of cotton fabric is cotton, which is a natural material. Cotton tends to show burn marks when heated, so always use a low power test when cutting for the first time.
Silk
Silk's main component is silk, a wonderful natural fiber. Silk is also very thin, and you can easily carve intricate designs. However, it is advisable to set small parameters to avoid uneven edges.
Felt
Felt is also classified as a synthetic or natural material, and both types are ideally suited for cutting with lasers. Fabric laser cutting machine is resistant to burning when exposed to heat during the cutting process, and the cut will melt and seal, effectively preventing wear and tear.
Leather
Leather is also a type of fabric that is extremely easy to cut and engrave. Many beginners to laser engraving choose to engrave leather, which you can easily cut out. However, it is important to note that there are now many synthetic types of leather with various gums added to them, which can produce a lot of fumes and harmful gases during the cutting process. When laser cutting fabric, try to do it in a ventilated environment.
Fur
Although fur is one of the cruel fabrics, it is still a viral material. Fur is expensive, so it is best to test it before cutting. Secondly, cut so that the side without hair faces the cutter so that the cutting process is smoother.
Cotton and linen
Cotton linen is also known as polyester and must not over-stretch the material during cutting. Otherwise, the material will be deformed after the cut.
Denim fabric
Denim fabric is one of the most commonly used clothing fabrics and an extremely easy material to cut.
Fabrics that are not suitable for laser cutting
Not all fabrics are suitable for cutting with a laser, as some are synthetic. These fabrics can produce large amounts of toxic fumes during the cutting process,
Which can be hazardous to your health
All fabrics containing PVC are not recommended for laser cutting. PVC produces toxic fumes when exposed to heat, which can be a serious health hazard if inhaled. Many artificial types of leather will have PVC in them, so extra care should be taken when cutting synthetic leather.
What kind of laser is needed for textiles
Many different types of lasers are on the market today, including CO2, diode, and fiber optic. The main reason for recommending a CO2 laser is that the CO2 laser beam itself is ideal for cutting. If you need to start your own laser cut fabric business, we recommend a CO2 laser cutter.
The CO2 laser emits mainly infrared light, which can cut various materials quickly and accurately. It is a non-contact laser, the whole production process is safer, and the laser has fewer losses.
CO2 lasers can make your production more efficient.
What are the tips for using laser cut fabric?
Please familiarise yourself with the machine's workings, ideally using it proficiently.
Understand the characteristics of the fabric and choose a material that is easy to cut for the first time. And when trying to cut material for the first time that you have not cut before, check out what others have done and what to look for during the cutting process.
Testing materials before cutting
Cutting your design on scrap material first is advisable to ensure that the real thing looks the same as your design.
Parameter settings
The fabric is very thin, and you can start by selecting low power for your first cut. Then slowly adjust the machine parameters until you find the optimum speed and power.
Turning off the air assist
Switching on the air assist during the laser cutting of fabric is not recommended, as the fabric is very thin, and small pieces of cut material can be blown around by the air assist. They can cause severe fires if they are attached to the laser head. If air assistance is required, tape can fix the fabric to the honeycomb plate.
If it must switch on the air assist, the fabric can be fixed to the honeycomb plate using tape first.
Adjusting the laser head height
The laser head should be positioned close enough to the fabric. It can easily catch fire if it is too close.
Adding air filtration and fans
Fabric will inevitably generate fumes during the cutting and engraving process. If the gases generated are large, we must use a fan to vent the fumes outside on time. If you want exhaust to be less polluting, you can install a filter cabinet on the machine to filter the air.
This will protect the environment, but generally, the filter cartridge in the filter cabinet has a certain life span, and you will need to pay for a new one after a specific time.
Does laser cutting wear out fabric?
The answer is clear: No. Cutting with a laser does not wear out the fabric. However, the edges of the laser cut will vary depending on the material, and flammable fabrics will melt away after laser cutting.
When cutting with a laser, you don't need to worry about melting with natural fabrics such as cotton and silk. Fabrics with a tight texture and a smooth surface are more suitable for laser cutting.
Laser cut fabric applications
Laser machines are used for the precise cutting and engraving of fabrics. This is an ideal cutting machine in the textile industry. We can apply laser processing in the following sectors.
Cutting designs
Laser cutting fabric can achieve difficult results with scissors or other tools, and laser cutting has driven the textile industry forward.
The accuracy and precision of the laser can provide you with a perfect cut.
Engraving patterns
You can engrave unique designs on leather, denim, and other textile products. These designs can make your products even more competitive.
Bespoke designs
This doesn't just mean customised clothing patterns, but customised clothing or dresses with the laser cutter; you can even take private orders.
How to laser cut fabric at home
If you want to use a fabric laser cutting machine to make your garment at home, you can follow these steps to cut it.
- Check the material composition of the garment: This is a crucial step to check that the fabric does not contain harmful materials such as PVC. The fiber content will then help you to choose the most suitable cutting parameters.
- Finishing the fabric: Once you have chosen the right fabric, you need to finish the fabric flat. If creases are in the cut pattern, you must use an iron to smooth the fabric.
- Measure the size: After measuring the fabric with marking tape, set the appropriate parameters on your computer. Make sure that the actual engraving area is smaller than the fabric size.
- Importing the design: If you design directly from the website, there will be no problem. If you need to import a file, you must ensure that the file is compatible with the software beforehand.
Choosing the suitable fabric laser cutting machine for your business
Not all laser machines are suitable for cutting fabric. Based on the experience of cutting users, CO2 lasers are the most suitable machines for cutting materials.
Go to a fabric manufacturer for clothes, bed linen, curtains, etc. You will find that they all use a CO2 laser cutter, whose exclusive fabric better absorbs infrared light and which now has advanced features to deal effectively with fires or large amounts of smoke when cutting fabric.
Gweike cloud pro II
The Gweike cloud pro II is a CO2 laser ideal for small businesses. It cuts fabrics perfectly and with a neat cut.
The 50w module is adequate for quickly cutting a wide range of rigid fabric fabrics.
Offering exquisite engraving and accuracy, the machine is accurate to 0.001,'' and you can use it for wonderful patterns.
This can bring greater profits to your business.
Also, this machine has an extra large working table, so you can quickly work on larger fabrics in their entirety.
The machine is also very safe, with an emergency stop button so that you can stop the machine in case of danger. If you open the lid while the machine is in operation, the machine will immediately stop and become a standby.
The most important thing is that the laser fabric cutting machine can cut at speeds of up to 600 mm/s, which means that the machine can cut in a short time. This allows you to achieve higher profits with high production speeds.
Gweike cloud pro II fabric laser cutting machine
Price：$3,099.00
Conclusion
Laser-cut fabrics guarantee perfect results and are the first choice of many designers and garment and bed linen production factories. You can trust gweike cloud Pro II to cut and engrave all kinds of fabrics perfectly.