Zeller Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Hello, I am wondering if anyone knows what kind of plastic GW uses in its model kits, specifically the Land Raider and Rhino. I want to use a VLS4.60 laser cutter to etch script work and images into the hull. If I could get either the plastic's name or a MSDS recommendation that would be great. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grotsmasha Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Emailing GW themselves would be your best bet here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddarz Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 I'd love to hear the answer to this question too Any luck emailing them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtle Discord Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 The injection moulded plastic kits made by GW are HIPS; High Impact Polystyrene. The exact flavor would be hard to say, but from my research into cutting styrene with a laser, they are all essentially the same. Read: tricky to work with and will produce very toxic off-gasses. Careful equipment tuning and proper venting will be required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeller Posted August 7, 2015 Author Share Posted August 7, 2015 GW e-mailed me back the next business day. It is indeed a HIPS. I need to ask if they can send me the MSDS though. The laser system has a vent that pulls air and debris out but I'm not sure how toxic the toxic gases are allowed to be for me to use that material in their machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarl of Wulfen Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 Doing a Google search for high impact polystyrene msds will pull up the msds on a site for westlake plastics. The msds is from Dow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Mehman Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 Gentlemen, do you understand that you all are talking about lasers? Actual lasers? Truly, we hobbyists are the geniuses of our time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imren Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 "Our research shows that pulsed 122 nanometer Nd YAG lasers with S2 AP5 rapid fire can be used for HIPS polystyrene in order to etch in a controlled way without melted residue between etched and non-etched areas. Etch dept around 0.14 +- 0.01 mm has been achieved with this method." Magos Electrologicus Nermi Adra Collegia Indagatus Divisio Opto-electronica Adeptus Mechanicus Forge World Mars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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