Laser Cutting an image into Silk Screen for printing

Can we laser cut an image directly into silk screen, and by pass the exposure unit process?

AI describes my FANTASY

of laser cutting silk screens

Apparently the X-Tool laser cuts through the coating, rather than harden the emulsion:

The xTool Screen Printer - Watch This Before You Buy!

And according to the comments in this Tik Tok video, X-Tool sells precoated METAL screens, that can be used only once.

X-Tools is offering a set-up to do just that -- $400 for a screen printer harness, a screen frame, and apparently one coated screen.

However you also need at least $1000 to buy their laser cutter, and their proprietary "polyester fast-engraved" screen, four for $25.

Screen Printing with a Laser Cutter?

// xTool S1 40 Watt Laser Cutter + Screen Printer Kit

Perhaps we could use a stainless steel screen printing mesh and just coat the screen with emulsion (without "vinyl" or "halogen" in it). Does Amazon sell it?

Perhaps we could just adhere "Blazer Orange".

A UV diode laser might work, like my Laser Pecker 2:

My Laser Pecker 2

My Laser Pecker 2 at work

Reddit Link:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/SCREENPRINTING/comments/1b1p82s/my_first_hand_experience_with_laser_engraved/

Mesh Source:

• https://www.twpinc.com/wire-mesh-material/stainless-steel/270-mesh-t304-stainless-0014-wire-dia

The UNM Printmaking Department uses:

Ecotex® Textile Blue Screen Printing Emulsion:

• Screen Print Direct -- $19 a pint
• Amazon -- $37 a pint
• The Safety Data Sheet does not say much -- so it's unclear if we could laser cut into it safely

******

UPDATE (November 19, 2025): 

We discussed silk screening with a laser cutter with Doug at Quelab Hack Night, and it might be easier to do than we realized.  The key is using metal mesh for the silk screen, as the CO2 laser or Diode laser will not cut the metal.  Keeping this in mind, the cutting power settings might not be critical.

The laser would cut holes into the emulsion, rather than harden the emulsion. While Adric suggested using housepaint to coat the screen, we should probably start by using regular emulsion, as that goes on thin and we know that it works.

The next issue is reclaiming the screen.  We can probably use the recommended chemicals to clean the screen from the ecotex emulsion, or perhaps Clorox like we used to use in San Francisco.  Adric said that we could just burn the emulsion off, say in the laser cutter or with a blow torch.  Rebecca suggested that we could just coat the screen with emulsion again, covering the holes.

The problem is stretching the metal screen.  However Doug had a method to stretch it taught, so stretching might not defeat us.

Ultimately, if this works and is easy, why aren't other people laser cutting into silk screens to make prints?

Yes I did. It worked pretty good.

I bought a replaceable screen frame on Amazon and some very fine steel mesh. I got the steel mesh into the screen, coated it with emulsion and then set the XTool to zap out the emulsion. 

• And how about using an avocado as the emulsion?

Can we build screens with PVC?