I know this subject should go elsewhere but since I know we have quite a few guys with lasers here, and that I also know mostly everyone from the laser group had recently acquire some new material called Laserboard from Northeastern Lumber, I wanted to ask how's your first impression about it? And maybe show and tell your tests with pics if available. Me? I did not have time to test it yet, but it is quite scratched on one side, so I wonder if I could replace some of my most fragile parts with it and still ahve good results (I should try it this week end). Ben
Mine is scratched on the backside and smooth on the front side. It really looks just like #170 or #200 pound bond index paper or cover paper, as paper grade names go, treated with Flecto Varithane or similar, however it's MSDS number translation say's it's cellulose powder and polyureathane. Chris tried his, and say's it's great stuff. Kim has some coming, so there will be 4-5 guys on the Z forum here to try it out real soon. I found out about it from Rich at rslaser, and posed questions at Sawmill Creek to see if those guys knew anything, but they really had never heard of it either. I have not yet had a chance to try it either. I will give it a shot tomorrow. As far as smoothness? I am going to try some 400 grit in my random orbital on the backside and see if it fibers up to a cotton fluff or sands powder smooth!
OK, Finally! Today I get my first chance to try the Lazerboard product! 3 engraving depths on this .015" material, 1 pass Stucki Error Diffusion Algorithm: This stuff passes the muster. It's paper, plain and simple. After cutting it and examining it, I am very sure what Lazerboard is, and how it was made... It's either 170 pound or 200 pound bond index or cover grade cardstock. One side has been roughened up with blades or some very thin sharp automated instrument for the purpose of creating a way for the Flecto Varithane to soak in. Maybe also aide in quick drying. At the price they sell it for, I will not bother to make my own, just purchase it from them unless I need different thicknesses. This is .015" this stuff.
Sharp transistions but pretty damn rough backgroud where you hogged it out. Interesting that the "untouched" surface is smoothed. Can you try a "retrace" to clean up tht fluff ? .
Laser board Robert, I am wondering if it is anything like we are using on our soon to be released kits? We're using a clay impregnated artist grade card stock. It glues up easily with white glue and paints easily with acrylics, enamels, and lacquers. You can't use water colors on it though. Have to send you a sample of it. Loren
Rob, Hahahah I was hoping you would try it before I posted my results with this card thing, since you had so much hopes on this one I did not want to be the one to disappoint you . When I rastered it was like paper just rough, good for 200-300dpi raster. So still on top on my list is Delrin, 1200dpi and it shows all textures, difficult to work with, does not take paint and cannot glue easily... The quest for holy grail is still on. This is still good for vector cuts though. I think the lines on the card comes because of some old putty knife kind of device removing the excess liquid that is used to impregnate the card stock. Loren, How does the raster look on your material. Kim
I like it very much for vector cutting. I'm using it for windows, doors, brickwork, and shutters. It vector cuts like Bristol board but can take paint, white glue, and even alcohol & India ink washes without separating. I would like to be able to get it in different thicknesses.
Yep! It would have to be the holly grail of material for me to import it, currently it will cost me more than my cardboard veneer. And results are not as I thought. So Indiana Jones is still searching here..... Last weekend I tried a local store where they sell all kind of paper for Scrap booking, including Poly-paper, but they don't know about the material in it, I could have definitely bought paper coated with PVC, so it is a no no for that material. Loren, any insight as to where you bought your clay cardboard? I tried to reply to Karin on the other forum, but I lost my reply 3 times, (weird bug happening on the forum) so I had given up. Ben
Kim and Ben, Our board seems to raster fine. Takes the paint real well. We haven't done a lot of experimenting with the rastering, but so far we were rastering about 600 I believe. So far the only paint that doesn't work is a water color type. Takes spray bombs and acrylics just fine. Thing is, we haven't tried getting a lot of different textures yet by changing the rastering dpi. We get our board from the local paper supply here. Ben, maybe your computer is mad at you since it won't reply. Have you contacted her off line? Loren
I think this Lazerboard will simulate brick quite well. It is grainy, but that is due to the paper fibers. What is good is that it does not warp or distort while rastering. After I paint it, I am going to give it a shot of glosscote which has a self leveling filling effect, then dullcote, and see if the texture goes away. As for not being able to get it in Canada Ben, you can make your own by painting cardstock with polyureathane sealer. When used as Michael plans for doors, windows, shutters, etc, I think this material is perfect. I am going to do the same thing, because it is not as thick as wood. It definetly vector cuts very good, and had lots of uses, which you will see me using it for soon. Not quite the holy grail I had hoped, it is a step in the right direction.
Noted! And thanks for the tips! I would say we have found one of the 3 knights brothers in our search for the grail!:bear-laugh: Let's keep searching! Ben
Hi All Yes. Laser board is paper from the info Northeastern sent me when it first came out is that it it is a Polyester Resin impregnated Kraft paper product. I like it and use it for windows and my detail parts , but ply is still a option. As for taking paint I have had no problem with Acrylics or gluing with white glue so far. Plus it sure does cut clean, but does smoke. Here a test build that I cut totaly from Laser Board as is the wagon. Z scale of course. rich www.rslaserkits.com
Yes, Rich is who I heard about this product from, and who generously supplied some. Rich's wagon wheels are a perfect example of the capabilities of this product, and it does have beneficial uses for us Z Scalers.
