Hi! I have some melamine tiles I would like to etch with a laser. These are melamine resin tiles, not melamine mixed with wood or particleboard or anything. I have had success lasering this at my old hackspace (particularly when using some painter’s tape to prevent staining).
Melamine resin is commonly used for Mahjong tiles and kitchen (particularly camping) foodware. It is similar in feel and function to acrylic.
Product information
- Melamine Mahjong tiles: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1XZFX74
- Composition: Thermoset melamine formaldehyde
- MSDS: https://comcoinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/SD1005_H.pdf
Safety information
There is some mixed information online about melamine – wooden-backed melamine is also common material, which has different properties than melamine resin, or pure melamine. (I’m making this request for melamine resin.)
- Here is someone discussing laser-cutting melamine tiles on the Glowforge forms: https://community.glowforge.com/t/laser-safe-mahjong-tiles/141294. The original poster says that melamine is known for “dangerous off-gassing”, but someone questions this in the comments, saying that melamine is no dangerous than most other non-PVC plastics. Neither commenter cites sources.
- Here is a laser cutter company listing melamine as an approved material: https://help.forwardedu.com/inksmith-knowledge-base/what-are-the-recommended-materials-for-laser-cutters#:~:text=melamine
Inspection of the MSDS for melamine resin (note that there are also MSDSes for powdered melamine, which has different characteristics) notes the following Hazardous decomposition products: smoke, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide. This strikes me as okay. The MSDS also notes in its Hazard statements that melamine resin may form combustable dust concentrations in the air. This also strikes me as okay, given that Conditions to avoid in the MSDS says “Dust generation without adequate ventilation”, and given the laser cutter’s ventilation.
I would like to request the Laser Cutter Committee to approve this material! Thanks for all your hard work, we all owe you a beer.