Materials
Want to make something out of plastic on the 3D printer? Or lasercut a piece of wood or acrylic? Check out our list of approved materials and prices below. We stock a variety of wood types and different material colors, please contact us for more detailed information. You can use your library card to purchase materials from us, or purchase your own approved materials (please bring a receipt) from a vendor such as Inventables, Peterson Brothers, or Johnson Plastics.
Materials Price List
| Material | Price | Machine |
| Wood | $6 for 24” length ($.25 per linear inch) | Lasercutter, CNC mill |
| Acrylic (regular) | $1 per 25 sq in. | Lasercutter |
| Acrylic (premium) | $2 per 25 sq in. | Lasercutter |
| Vinyl (regular) | 9”x9” = $1 | Electronic cutter |
| Vinyl (heat transfer) | 9”x12” = $5 | Electronic cutter |
| Engravable rubber | 8.5”x11” = $15 | Lasercutter |
| PLA | $1 for 30 minutes, 2 hour max print time | 3D Printer |
| Chipboard | $0, limit 1 sheet per person per day | Lasercutter |
| Magnets | $0, limit 1 per person per day | |
| Mylar | $0, limit 1 sheet per person per day | Electronic cutter, laser cutter |
| Fishhook Earrings | $0, limit 1 pair per person per day | |
| Keyrings | $0, limit 1 per person per day |
Approved Lasercutting Materials
The following table shows which materials are safe to cut with a laser. Some materials are dangerous to cut and can release toxic fumes or can catch fire!
Note: Material dimensions must be less than 20”x12”.
| Wood | Most untreated hardwoods, softwoods up to 1/4” thick (1/8” is recommended). Thin plywood is ok but does not cut as well due to glue layers. |
| Plastics | Acrylic (cast or extruded) up to 1/4” thick (1/8” recommended), Mylar sheets |
| Rubber | Laser engravable rubber only |
| Cellulose | Chipboard, Paper, Cardboard |
| Fabrics | Most thin natural fabrics (no wool or leather due to fumes) |
| Glass | Etching only, cannot cut |
| Metal | Painted or anodized aluminum (engraving only, cannot cut) |
| BANNED MATERIALS | Food, Chlorinated plastics (PVC), ABS, Rubber, Vinyl, Foam, Treated Wood, Galvanized Metal, Fiberglass, Mirrors |
Suggested Lasercutter Settings
The following table shows suggested lasercutter settings for various materials. If the laser power is too low or the laser moves too fast, it won’t cut. If the laser power is too high or the laser moves too slowly, it can scorch and even set fire to the material. Quite often settings will need to be adjusted due to variations in material manufacturing, as well as fluctuations in laser power. We always recommend testing laser settings on a piece of scrap if possible. If you have suggestions, please contact us at makerspace@chipublib.org!
Note: These settings are for the Full Spectrum 45 Watt H-Series CO2 lasercutter.
| Material | Vector Cutting | Vector Engraving | Raster Fill |
| 1/16” Acrylic | Speed: 40 Power: 100 Passes: 1 |
Speed: 100 Power: 20 Passes: 1 |
Speed: 80 Power: 80 Passes: 1 |
| 1/8” Acrylic | Speed: 20 Power: 100 Passes: 2 |
Speed: 100 Power: 20 Passes: 1 |
Speed: 80 Power: 80 Passes: 1 |
| Mirror Acrylic | Speed: 20 Power: 80 Passes: 2 |
Speed: 80 Power: 50 Passes: 1 |
Speed: 70 Power: 95 Passes: 1 |
| 1/8” Plywood | Speed: 40 Power: 100 Passes: 4 |
Speed: 100 Power: 30 Passes: 1 |
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| 1/4” Plywood | Speed: 20 Power: 100 Passes: 1 |
Speed: 100 Power: 50 Passes: 1-2 |
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| 1/8” Basswood | Speed: 40 Power: 100 Passes: 1 |
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| 1/8” Hardwood | Speed: 20 Power: 100 Passes: 1 |
Speed: 100 Power: 60 Passes: 1 |
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| 1/4” Cherry | Speed: 20 Power: 100 Passes: 4 |
Speed: 100 Power: 20 Passes: 1 |
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| Balsa | Speed: 30 Power: 65 Passes: 4 |
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| Cork | WARNING - DO NOT CUT! Raster only. | WARNING - DO NOT CUT! Raster only. | Speed: 100 Power: 32 Passes: 1 |
| Chipboard | Speed: 80 Power: 80 Passes: 1 |
Speed: 100 Power: 2 Passes: 1 |
Speed: 40 Power: 88 Passes: 1 |
| 1/16” Museum Board | Speed: 70 Power: 80 Passes: 2-3 |
Speed: 100 Power: 30 Passes: 1 |
Speed: 40 Power: 88 Passes: 1 |
| Bristol Board | Speed: 100 Power: 15 Passes: 1 |
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| Cardstock | Speed: 100 Power: 20 Passes: 1 |
Speed: 100 Power: <1 Passes: 1 |
Speed: 85 Power: 60 Passes: 1 |
| Real Linoleum | Speed: 10 Power: 100 Passes: 2-3 |
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| 300 GSM Paper | Speed: 100 Power: 40 Passes: 1 |
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| Cardboard | Speed: 85 Power: 50 Passes: 2 |
Speed: 100 Power: 2 Passes: 1 |
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| 3/32” Crescent Board | Speed: 30 Power: 100 Passes: 1 |
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| Oil Board | Speed: 100 Power: 100 Passes: 1 |
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| Watercolor Paper | Speed: 100 Power: 30 Passes: 1 |
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| 1” Closed Cell PU Foam | Speed: 55 Power: 100 Passes: 1 |
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| Laser Engravable Rubber | Speed: 50 Power: 100 Passes: 1-5 |
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| Leather | NO CUTTING!! | Speed: 100 Power: 1.5 Passes: 1 |
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| Cherry Veneer (1/40”) | Speed: 60 Power: 50 Passes: 1 |
Approved Electroknit KH-930 Materials
The knitting machine only works with fingering weight yarn, yarn that is between weights 1 and 3. Yarn that is too thin (weight 0) will snap, and yarn that is too thick (weight 4) will clog the machine. Patrons must bring yarn information with them before starting their projects. If the material repeatedly breaks or clogs the machine, staff may ask patrons to stop their projects until they come back with new yarn in order to reduce risk of damage to the machine.