Hi.
I haven’t personally done foam cutting with (diode) laser, but from what I’ve read over the years, it will be somewhat hard to do no matter what.
Especially if die-, knife- or hot wire cut appearance is the goal.
If the answers to list of things @MikeyH posted (#5 being the most critical of course) doesn’t prove that that kind of cutting can’t be done feasibly, one adhesive that has been proven to work with blue laser is hide glue.
Providing of course that the properties the final product has to have and the conditions it has to withstand will be met with hide glue.
I haven’t used hide glue with synthetic materials and I do very well know that the bonding methods differs quite drastically between synthetic- and natural materials.
And I also do know that the varying densities of the materials and adhesives to be cut play a significant role in the task You’re trying to accomplish.
IMO worth a shot though.
One option that I would try if faced with such a task would be the various PVA glues.
Yet another often suggested adhesive for foam repairs are cyanoacrylates, but those obviously pose a serious health risk when lasered, and foam safe (no melting and/or shrinking) varities of CA glues tend to be even more expensive than the “regular” varities.
If no-one has previously and succesfully done what You’re trying to do, or if no-one who has doesn’t come forward, the only option is obviously try every imaginable adhesive and to find out which works best.
Or at least somewhat acceptably.
On the positive side, if You find a solution -and I do believe You well may- it will benefit others with same sort of desires.
Regards,
Sam
