I have an OMTech USB570A1 100w CO2 laser and I’m wondering if it’s possible to seal embroidered patches (polyester with velcro backing) edges using only the laser itself during the cutting process.
You can try with relatively slow speed and a fair amount of defocus.
With certain types of foam it works and with PP and PE I have also had a somewhat sealing effect.
Thanks for the reply! I have tried 11 mm of defocus, and all the way down to 3mm/s and still havent attained a seal. The material i am trying to cut is a top layer of polyester twill, a middle layer of cut-out polyester backing, and finally a later of non-adhesive velcro that has been stitched on.
You are trying to melt three different materials together that likely have three different melting temperatures. I think you are going to have a fine line between did and did not.
I know it sounds silly, but try a “zigzag seam”, I don’t know if it works but you bring more temperature into your seam which may melt the plastic together. (an array of 1mm circles overlapping by 30 to 50% should also give the same effect).
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Yes, it’s possible to seal the edges of polyester embroidered patches with your OMTech USB570A1 CO2 laser while cutting, but results can vary depending on speed, power, and the density of the embroidery. Many users, especially with intricate nexus patches, find that a low-power, fast pass can slightly melt the edge to prevent fraying without damaging the patch or velcro backing. Testing on a sample first is key.
I run a commercial shop and we use the hot cut laser method for most of our custom shapes.
To answer your question about sealing: Yes, the CO2 laser is the standard way to get that clean, cauterized edge on polyester patches. The trick is to have the laser cut just outside the ‘border’ stitching so the heat seals the thread into the backing.
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