Polyester Fabric
Overview
Synthetic polyester fabric. CAUTION: polyester melts and can produce toxic fumes when lasered. Cutting produces sealed edges from melting. Engraving is less controllable than natural fibers.
Properties
Difficulty
intermediate
Pros
- Synthetic fiber cuts cleanly
- Good for textile applications
- Wide color selection
- Resists fraying better than cotton
- Consistent color
Cons
- Can melt and fuse at high power
- Produces synthetic fumes
- Not natural fiber aesthetic
- Can shrink from heat
Best For
- Sealed edge cuts where fraying is unacceptable and odor/fumes are manageable with ventilation
Avoid For
- Engraving (uncontrollable melt)
- enclosed spaces without ventilation
- food-adjacent applications
Laser Compatibility
Polyester melts rather than burns — creates sealed cut edges. CO2: cut 300mm/s 40W, engrave 500mm/s 25%. Diode: 400mm/s 70%. Fumes from melting polyester — ventilate well. Sealed cut edges prevent fraying.
Brands
General polyester fabric