Why You Should Never Laser Cut ABS
Can you laser cut ABS plastic?
No. Cutting ABS releases hydrogen cyanide, and the material melts into flaming goo rather than cutting cleanly — a fire risk and a toxic one at once. (Surface marking ABS with a UV or fibre laser under strong extraction is a different, industrially common process — the danger is cutting.)
Hides inWhere it turns up
LEGO and most toy bricks, 3D-printer filament and prints, electronics enclosures, automotive interior trim, keyboard keycaps.
InsteadSafe alternatives
Cast acrylic for laser-cut parts. If a part must be ABS, 3D-print it.
If it happensAccidental exposure
Stop, ventilate, and clear the melted residue from the bed once cool. Check the lens for smoke film.
⚠ The golden ruleNo safety data sheet, no material spec, no cut. When in doubt, leave it out.