DavidR8's shop shenanigans

[DavidR8]

This is like watching someone invent fire for the first time!! Very cool!!

I have made fire!

 

[Janger]

I think so? 100mm/min is agonizingly slow. Outlining the letters was a 2'ish minute burn. I had set it to fill the letter but that was going to be a 90 min burn. That's why I made the little square to see what would happen.
FWIW I'm on the verge of buying a 40w CO2 laser

Great start I think.
How big are the letters? Show us a 12 point and a 9 point font say Times and Arial? On clean metal? with something in the picture for scale like a pen. ? I know quite demanding I am. And can you do colours (well just white) like Timm Rosenthal's laser?

 

[DavidR8]

Great start I think.
How big are the letters? Show us a 12 point and a 9 point font say Times and Arial? On clean metal? with something in the picture for scale like a pen. ? I know quite demanding I am. And can you do colours (well just white) like Timm Rosenthal's laser?

The Lightburn software will use any fonts installed on your computer.
The 'H' is .75" tall but the size is entirely controllable. It's not point size but size in mm or in depending how you config the software. I can set the height, and horizontal spacing (kerning) and vertical spacing (line spacing).

For example, if I had a switch panel to label and each switch was in a .75" square I could size the switch name to be exactly .75" long. Choices would have to be made if name were too long to be legible when shrunk down to .75"
Eg. ON would be fine above a .75" square but Flux Capacitor might be illegible when shrunk to .75" so maybe it would have to be on two lines or capacitor changed to Cap
I can make it darker using Cermark (spendy stuff) but if I engrave something anodized or coated it will basically removed the coating and discolour the surface below.
I have read that molybdenum disulfide powder mixed with dish soap into a thinish paste will leave a nice mark on bare steel.

 

[6.5 Fan]

I can see an upgrade in the power coming into David R8'sshop.

 

[DavidR8]

I can see an upgrade in the power coming into David R8'sshop.

 

[DavidR8]

@Janger Here is engraved anodized aluminum.
3000 mm/min, 50% power. Took 45 seconds.
Could have been smoother if I'd changed the settings to a finer dither level.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

@Janger Here is engraved anodized aluminum.
3000 mm/min, 50% power. Took 45 seconds.
Could have been smoother if I'd changed the settings to a finer dither level.
View attachment 29673

Loads of potential to engrave anodised aluminum, and if you use a masking film that you laser away you can then use traditional marking methods on all sorts of other metals.

so how about cutting 4 mm plywood ?

 

[Janger]

I was googling about the Cermark spray.(it’s a coating to enhance and speed up laser engraving) I see it is expensive $100 ish for a small spray can. That got me googling alternatives and this interesting idea of using tape surfaced. Kapton tape. Put it on, laser it, take it off. An idea for you to try David.

Cermark Alternative? Try this and let me know your results...

I've tried the Moly Lube, and the plaster tricks - but I never was happy with the results. Ever willing to experiment, and with a garage filled with odd geek toys, I tried putting some Kapton Tape on a tool and engraving (100W tube 70% Power at 5 mm/sec), and it seems to work pretty well...

sawmillcreek.org

 

[Janger]

The Veritas logo turned out good David. So with more dither it would look better.?

 

[Susquatch]

@Janger Here is engraved anodized aluminum.
3000 mm/min, 50% power. Took 45 seconds.
Could have been smoother if I'd changed the settings to a finer dither level.
View attachment 29673

Holy Crap! That ruler looks real! That's amazing! It even looks 3D!

 

[Janger]

See @Jwest7788 we need more emoji’s so I can do the face plant one on susquatch.

 

[Janger]

This

 

[DavidR8]

I was googling about the Cermark spray.(it’s a coating to enhance and speed up laser engraving) I see it is expensive $100 ish for a small spray can. That got me googling alternatives and this interesting idea of using tape surfaced. Kapton tape. Put it on, laser it, take it off. An idea for you to try David.

Cermark Alternative? Try this and let me know your results...

I've tried the Moly Lube, and the plaster tricks - but I never was happy with the results. Ever willing to experiment, and with a garage filled with odd geek toys, I tried putting some Kapton Tape on a tool and engraving (100W tube 70% Power at 5 mm/sec), and it seems to work pretty well...

sawmillcreek.org

Cool, thanks John!

 

[DavidR8]

The Veritas logo turned out good David. So with more dither it would look better.?

Yes, more dither would have smoothed the edges.

 

[Janger]

Can you mark 3D printed parts?

 

[DavidR8]

Loads of potential to engrave anodised aluminum, and if you use a masking film that you laser away you can then use traditional marking methods on all sorts of other metals.

so how about cutting 4 mm plywood ?

Here's 3mm ply. First quick attempt at a box. I didn't get the kerf allowance quite right or cut settings dialed in.
I didn't have a honeycomb bed yet hence all the smoke stains. I'll be remaking this.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Here's 3mm ply. First quick attempt at a box. I didn't get the kerf allowance quite right or cut settings dialed in.
I didn't have a honeycomb bed yet hence all the smoke stains. I'll be remaking this.
View attachment 29676

Okay I have to get me one before the end of 2023. I can make so good use of one just for model making. And plaque making.

Interested in a paying gig? I have a model I want plywood and balsa parts cut for.

 

[DavidR8]

Can you mark 3D printed parts?

Yes, high speed and low power or the PLA melts and deforms.

 

[DavidR8]

Okay I have to get me one before the end of 2023. I can make so good use of one just for model making. And plaque making.

Interested in a paying gig? I have a model I want plywood and balsa parts cut for.

It's an amazing tool. I'm definitely getting a CO2!
How big are the parts?

 

[Susquatch]

This
View attachment 29675

Not hairy enough.