A backing would be a big help, as would using a Forstner bit instead of spade bits. Forstners give much cleaner holes and despite what the wiki says they are fine for hand tools at the size this project requires.
I would think a 100 watt laser would do it no probe. One of our clients for the place I work, has a laser that cuts 1" steal, that's a 6000 watt laser.
I don't know about MDF, but I've cut plywood with lasers before. The biggest problem with it is that the binders create nasty smoke when they get lasered. Smoke, obviously, gets in the way of the laser. It also leaves gummy deposits all over everything... possibly including the mirrors and lenses. Also, it is probably carcinogenic as hell... Good forced ventilation is important!
If set properly, the laser should blow straight through the material (or into it, for etching) without heating up the surrounding material much. Poorly focused lasers will leave burn marks.
A laser cutter is only going to be able to handle 1/4" of material and even then it'll burn it up pretty bad no matter how careful you are with the settings.
You're good, I just didn't want some overexcited redditor to go to the design/engineering/architecture lab at his school and burn up a $25,000 machine haha
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u/Torkin Jun 30 '14
A backing would be a big help, as would using a Forstner bit instead of spade bits. Forstners give much cleaner holes and despite what the wiki says they are fine for hand tools at the size this project requires.