Laser Cutting Equipment for thick (3") HDPE Plastics

[Froto]

1. Does anyone know if it is possible to cut holes in thick wall High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe & sheet material with a laser. The trick would be to cut a circle or some other shape out of one side of the pipe without cutting the opposite wall. Up to 3" thick wall pipe.
Does this technology exist? If so who has it?
2. Has anyone ever tried to use ultrasonics to heat fuse plastic specifically HDPE?

 

[28222]

Hi! I work in a Laser Cutting company and we luckily had the same problem...
I assume that the pipe will be on a choke and it will rotate
during cutting, and that type of machine U have moves the head only by x, and the axis of rotation... Place a smaller diameter pipe inside the plastic one and let it roll with the plastic one... The beam will cut the plastic easily but it will always find the inner metal pipe and it will stop there... Of course U must adjust the speed to a higer level to avoid melting of metal on the plastic pipes.
As far as I remember it isn't the most productive way, but it is the only one