Answered: <R7> f. Laser Cutting plastics

[Welshkiwi]

Hi Karthik,

You previously answered a question regarding laser cutting here. In this instance the answer was that the laser cutting was illegal because it was being used to essentially try and double the area of the polycarbonate.

My questions relates more to cutting functional pieces of polycarbonate.

a) Does the answer to the linked Q&A also relate to laser cutting plastics in general, is it legal to have laser cut plastic on a robot?
b) Specifically, are we able to laser cut functional polycarbonate into the size we want?
c) If not, could we laser cut into functional polycarbonate that was cut by hand? In this instance it would be to engrave a team logo into the piece of plastic.

Relevant rule here would be <R7> f.

Non shattering plastic from the following list; polycarbonate, acetel monopolymer (Delrin), acetal copolymer (Acetron GP), POM (acetal), ABS, PEEK, PET, HDPE, LDPE, Nylon (all grades), Polypropylene, FEP; as cut from a single 12" x 24" sheet up to 0.070" thick.
i. Plastic can be mechanically altered by cutting, drilling or bending etc., but it cannot be chemically treated, melted or cast. Teams may heat the polycarbonate to aid in bending.

Thanks in advance.

[Karthik]

@Welshkiwi

You previously answered a question regarding laser cutting here. In this instance the answer was that the laser cutting was illegal because it was being used to essentially try and double the area of the polycarbonate.

Laser cutting was not ruled illegal. Creating two thinner sheets of plastic by laser cutting was ruled illegal. Use a laser cutters in general is not illegal.