Special Considerations

PVC Safety Warning

Both CO2 and UV lasers produce chlorine gas when marking PVC. This gas is corrosive and toxic. You MUST use a properly vented fume extraction system. Never mark PVC in an unventilated space.

Additive-Enhanced Plastics

Some plastic manufacturers offer “laser-markable” grades with special additives that improve contrast. These are worth the premium if you’re doing high-volume production — they produce consistent, high-quality marks with either laser type.

Transparent Plastics

Marking clear polycarbonate or acrylic is challenging with any laser. UV can produce subtle marks on clear PC, but contrast is low. For high-visibility marks on transparent parts, consider:

• Using a laser-markable coating
• Marking on a painted or printed surface
• Switching to a tinted or white plastic grade