5 Surprising Materials You Can Laser Cut and Engrave with a CO2 Laser
When most people think of laser cutting, they picture wood, acrylic, or maybe leather. But your CO2 laser can handle so much more! In our latest test, we fired up the AEON Nova 14 and tried cutting and engraving five unusual materials that you might not realize work beautifully in a laser. The results? Some shocked us, some failed, and some turned out to be total game-changers for future projects.
Whether you’re a hobbyist, small business owner, or seasoned maker, testing new materials opens the door to fresh product ideas and profits. Here’s what we learned when we put EVA foam, cork, foam core board, craft plastic sheets, and MakerStone flex sheets to the test.
1. EVA Foam – Lightweight and Versatile
✅ Cut: Smooth and easy.
✅ Engrave: Crisp detail, but flammable — don’t leave it unattended.
💡 Ideas: Cosplay armor and props, craft stamps, tool inserts, or kids’ projects.
Best Settings (100W AEON Nova 14):
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Cut: 25 speed / 40 power
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Engrave: 150 speed / 30 power
EVA foam is flexible, waterproof, and comes in many colors. If you’re in cosplay or need durable inserts, this material is a winner.
2. Cork – Eco-Friendly and Flexible
✅ Cut: Beautiful and precise.
✅ Engrave: Dark, clean, and sharp.
💡 Ideas: Coasters, trivets, wall art, maps, pin boards, drawer liners.
Best Settings:
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Cut: 25 speed / 45 power
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Engrave: 200 speed / 37.5 power
Pro tip: Spray with LA’s Totally Awesome cleaner to remove char marks, then dry with a hairdryer. Cork is inexpensive and easy to source, making it perfect for sellable products.
3. Foam Core Board – Great for Prototyping
✅ Cut: Works with “slow and low” settings.
❌ Engrave: Don’t bother — it burns and crumbles.
💡 Ideas: Prototypes, models, temporary signage, photo booth props, UV printing backers.
Best Settings:
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Cut: 35 speed / 50 power
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Engrave: Not recommended
Foam core melts easily, so expect some messy edges. Still, it’s useful when you want cheap mockups or temporary displays.
4. Craft Plastic Sheets – Strong and Flexible
✅ Cut: Fantastic results.
⚠️ Engrave: Light etch only, low contrast.
💡 Ideas: Stencils, bookmarks, jewelry, outdoor signage, accents, templates.
Best Settings:
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Cut: 50 speed / 45 power
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Engrave: 125 speed / 30 power
We tested silver and black, but craft plastic comes in a rainbow of colors. It’s durable, waterproof, and lightweight — perfect for creative projects where acrylic would be too brittle.
5. MakerStone Flex Sheets – Real Stone Veneer
✅ Cut: Yes, it really cuts stone!
❌ Engrave: Results were poor, little contrast.
💡 Ideas: Furniture inlays, jewelry, wall art panels, awards, decorative signs.
Best Settings:
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Cut: 30 speed / 45 power
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Engrave: Not recommended
MakerStone is thin, flexible, and backed with mesh, making it surprisingly laser-friendly. While engraving didn’t give us much detail, the cut pieces open up exciting possibilities for high-end décor projects.
Final Thoughts
Testing new materials keeps laser crafting exciting and helps you stand out in a crowded market. Some of these unusual substrates, like EVA foam and cork, engraved beautifully. Others, like MakerStone and foam core, are best used for cutting only. But every experiment gave us new project ideas and inspiration for future designs.
If you’ve been stuck in the wood-and-acrylic loop, give these five materials a try. They might just become your next bestsellers!
Watch the Full Video
Want to see the test cards in action (and the hilarious mistakes we made)? Watch the full video here:
👉 5 Surprising Materials You Can Laser Cut and Engrave
Tools and Supplies We Used
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AEON Nova 14 Laser: https://aeonlaser.us/promos?ref=kandgmakeit
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MakerStone Flex Sheets (via Houston Acrylic): Shop MakerStone
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Craft Plastic Sheets (via Houston Acrylic): Shop Craft Plastic
Join Our Maker Community
We share more laser files, behind-the-scenes testing, and exclusive tutorials inside our Patreon group. If you love experimenting and want to level up your laser business, join us here:
👉 Kim & Garrett Make It on Patreon
