摘要：

The invention is both a method and apparatus for cutting thermoplastic materials in an aesthetically pleasing fashion. A laser is used to cut a preselected pattern in a thermoplastic material, resulting in a removable cutting being created, which is extracted from the material. Using a contrasting color of thermoplastic material, an identical laser cutting is made. The cutting from the first laser cutting operation is mated to the cavity created by the second laser cutting operation, resulting in a mosaic-type thermoplastic material which is pleasing to the eye. To ensure that the by-products of combustion from the laser cutting do not contaminate the heat-sensitive surfaces of the thermoplastic material, a directed source of vacuum is applied to the cutting table to ensure by- products of combustion are directed away from the cutting field.

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