Melamine and Laminated Boards: It's the Coating That Bites
Can you laser cut melamine or laminated MDF?
With real caution, and often better avoided. The board core (MDF or chipboard) lasers with heavy formaldehyde smoke already; the melamine or foil laminate on top adds its own fumes, and any unknown laminate could be PVC — which is never safe. Unless you can confirm exactly what the coating is, treat a laminated board as an unknown material.
Hides inWhere it turns up
Flat-pack furniture panels, shelving, melamine-faced MDF, foil-wrapped mouldings, worktop offcuts, whiteboard backing, and decorative 'wood-effect' boards.
InsteadSafe alternatives
Bare MDF or plywood, which you can finish yourself after lasering. Laser-grade laminates sold specifically for engraving (two-colour acrylic laminate) are made for the job.
If it happensAccidental exposure
If the coating smells sharp or acrid — a sign of possible PVC content — stop at once, ventilate, and clean the optics and rails as you would after a PVC exposure.