Sub-surface laser engraving

[Joe Peacock]

Is my Versa Laser 30 watt capable of doing sub-surface engraving or is that a process caling for a completly different type of machine?
Joe

[Tom Gooch]

Well I can't say for sure that your machine can't do it, but I really doubt it. When I first looked into getting a laser I looked at the sub-surface machines they were REALLY expensive, so I suspect there is more to them than the CO2 lasers. I also found the end product to be "gimmicky".

[Rodne Gold]

It cant do it.
I also think its a fad type thing, even in a country like South Africa which is a little slow , there seems no demand for it these days apart from one site which is a kiosk in a touristy spot. One of my customers bought an expensive machine to do this a year or so back and at the end of 09 complained bitterly over the relaibility and lack of work for it. Cost him 2x the price of a top notch Co2 laser.
We have a few shops here which specialise in cheap chinese imported giftware and other stuff and they have these crystals with subsurface praying hand and dolphins etc and they are dirt cheap - even the flea markets sell em for under $10 for a fair sized one with a lighted LED base - cant see how one can make big bucks outa this these days.

[Mike Null]

I think Rodney has nailed what's going on in the US market as well.

[James Stokes]

I have seen them going here for 5 bucks. You could not buy the Cristal for that.

[Belinda Barfield]

Subsurface engraving is done with a YAG laser. IIRC Disney was one of the first companies to produce the crystal cubes that are now found on nearly every corner. The difference being, Disney produced a quality product at a very high price.

[Martin Boekers]

I have seen them going here for 5 bucks. You could not buy the Cristal for that.

Isn't it amazing that you can buy this engraved cheaper than the crystal alone!

Marty

[James Stokes]

Yes it is amazing but the chinese have completely ruined the market on these. I am not seeing near as many now as I was a few years ago. I think they made them in to a short lived fad.

[Joe Peacock]

Thanks very much for letting me know what is going on with this.
Joe

[Richard Rumancik]

Another thing to keep in mind is that you need a storefront or kiosk in a mall with a "studio" so you can take a 3D photo using a special camera. (You can do flat subsurface images in crystal with the machine but there isn't much point.) With normal laser engraving you don't necessarily need to have a retail location. With conventional laser, even if you are doing photos on granite etc. with PhotoGrav, you can get the image from the customer by email and work in your house/garage/shop. I'd stick with doing flat images on glass or mirror or acrylic and expand your techniques in that area using the equipment you already have. But you still have to convince yourself you can make money on these one-offs.

[sal shepherd]

I was looking into them a while back, I out sourse them now I pay 25.00 crystal, shipping an handling. Now I can get generick crystals anywhere from .50 to 2.50 . We sell them for 15.00 w base an battries. And Yes I am sitting on 700 crystals after 3 years. The laser that produces sub surface engraving is a green laser some are small but cost alot an need to be water cooled. Don't forget the 3-d scanner an very high dollar software an photo booth

[Bill Cunningham]

Got an email last year from someone wanting to sell one of these things. I think the bottom has dropped out of the market on these here as well.. I still get the odd call from someone wanting a custom piece done, and I still think there is someone in Toronto doing it, but I guess it's like a lot of other stuff, they see one with a made in China sticker on it for 5 bucks, and think a custom one would probably go for..heck.. three or four times that amount.. They look around, then 'sticker shock' sets in when they find out what their going to have to pay..

[AL Ursich]

Is my Versa Laser 30 watt capable of doing sub-surface engraving or is that a process caling for a completly different type of machine?
Joe

I have never seen a machine. I was told that the sub surface bubble is made by shooting two laser beams into the item and where they meet a small bubble or dot is formed. At least that is what I was told, could be wrong...

AL

[Dan Hintz]

Al,

Focusing at the desired point (with a single laser) will produce the same effect (though you have to take the waveguide effect of the crystal into account).

[Tom Bull]

Someone had a system for sale on ebay a year or two back. Looked as big as a refridgerator. Had a 3D camera with it so you could take a photo of someone and engrave them into a crystal. Seems like they wanted 50K or so for the system. Have to sell a lot of do-dads to pay for that.