Trying to engraving this running medal with cermark. Tried a variety of settings on my 30W Epilog Mini. Can't seem to get cermark Black to stick.
Any suggestions or tips appreciated. Thanks
MEDAL Issues.JPG
Trying to engraving this running medal with cermark. Tried a variety of settings on my 30W Epilog Mini. Can't seem to get cermark Black to stick.
Any suggestions or tips appreciated. Thanks
MEDAL Issues.JPG
That appears to be brass, Cermark doesn't work well with some brass at all, like 'engravers' brass. I laser etch brass cowbells, the brass they plate them with is recycled ammo brass, which takes a lot better than engravers brass. My 40w LS900 will leave a mark but it's not permanent at all. My 80w Triumph leaves a 'reasonably' permanent mark, but just a little abrasion will remove part of it. I give the bells 2 heavy clear coats to seal the black on.
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ELEVEN - rotary cutter tool machines
FOUR - CO2 lasers
THREE- make that FOUR now - fiber lasers
ONE - vinyl cutter
CASmate, Corel, Gravostyle
30W is unlikely to leave a lasting mark with Cermark...
Hi-Tec Designs, LLC -- Owner (and self-proclaimed LED guru )
Trotec 80W Speedy 300 laser w/everything
CAMaster Stinger CNC (25" x 36" x 5")
USCutter 24" LaserPoint Vinyl Cutter
Jet JWBS-18QT-3 18", 3HP bandsaw
Robust Beauty 25"x52" wood lathe w/everything
Jet BD-920W 9"x20" metal lathe
Delta 18-900L 18" drill press
Flame Polisher (ooooh, FIRE!)
Freeware: InkScape, Paint.NET, DoubleCAD XT
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I found the spec sheet with the product really does not point out, but you need a Lot of power to make the stuff stick. I could not make it work with my old tube, the new one has a lot more power and not a problem.
Retired Guy- Central Iowa.HVAC/R , Cloudray Galvo Fiber , -Windows 10
Um, Dan, I beg to differ. My 1st machines were 25W LMI's and I did lotsa (Cerdec - then - Cermark now) markings.
I will admit these were for stainless steel switch plates, receptacles, control plates etc.
But yes!, never had luck with Al, brass, MOST chromes, Au, Ag,--oh well I tried and there wasn't a SMC back then!!
Boy I could have learnt faster had there been.
Bruce
Epilog TT 35W, 2 LMI SE225CV's
CorelDraw 4 through 11
CarveWright
paper and pencils
Hi-Tec Designs, LLC -- Owner (and self-proclaimed LED guru )
Trotec 80W Speedy 300 laser w/everything
CAMaster Stinger CNC (25" x 36" x 5")
USCutter 24" LaserPoint Vinyl Cutter
Jet JWBS-18QT-3 18", 3HP bandsaw
Robust Beauty 25"x52" wood lathe w/everything
Jet BD-920W 9"x20" metal lathe
Delta 18-900L 18" drill press
Flame Polisher (ooooh, FIRE!)
Freeware: InkScape, Paint.NET, DoubleCAD XT
Paidware: Wacom Intuos4 (Large), CorelDRAW X5
30W is unlikely to leave a lasting mark with Cermark..
I disagree with your general statement as well. A 30 watt will readily mark stainless steel with Cermark. Not so with brass and aluminum.
Last edited by Mike Null; 11-03-2014 at 8:59 AM.
Mike Null
St. Louis Laser, Inc.
Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
Gravograph IS400
Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
Dye Sublimation
CorelDraw X5, X7
Hi-Tec Designs, LLC -- Owner (and self-proclaimed LED guru )
Trotec 80W Speedy 300 laser w/everything
CAMaster Stinger CNC (25" x 36" x 5")
USCutter 24" LaserPoint Vinyl Cutter
Jet JWBS-18QT-3 18", 3HP bandsaw
Robust Beauty 25"x52" wood lathe w/everything
Jet BD-920W 9"x20" metal lathe
Delta 18-900L 18" drill press
Flame Polisher (ooooh, FIRE!)
Freeware: InkScape, Paint.NET, DoubleCAD XT
Paidware: Wacom Intuos4 (Large), CorelDRAW X5
I'm not one to pick nits... ok, I am... the OP didn't specify the material, it was the second post that "assumed" it was brass. I assumed you were responding the the OP's question and making a general statement about 30 watt machines and Cermark, not responding the the second post re: brass.
Although it is possible that it is brass, there is little evidence other than the slight color in the photo. Some higher cost medals may be made in brass, but medals are often made from zinc, pewter, and other low-melting temperature alloys that can be spin-cast. The catalogs often don't even say which metal is used. Medals can be colored after casting to look like brass or whatever finish you like. So I would be reluctant to identify an alloy based on the color of the item without any other evidence. On top of the unknown proprietary platings, there is often lacquers and coatings to prevent oxidation of the medal. So now you have an unknown substrate, with unknown plating, with a possible organic coating on top. Most of which the supplier will not disclose.
It is very challanging to mark such an item with CerMark and even more challenging to give advice on what will work as we really don't know what the item is. These types of items are R&D projects. If it doesn't work right away, the required R&D often isn't worth the effort unless there are large volumes and repeat business involved.
Given all that has been said about what will not work, what is the best way to handle brass. I have a 50w Univesal with a 1.5 lens. I've been asked to run a sample job for someone that if everything works out will become a standing order. I have not order the brass as of this evening, will most likely do so from Laserbits, just to see how ans what settings I'll need. Any help or input would be great.
Thanks in advance and I really think is one of the best forums I've seen, lot of great advice.
A 1.5FL lens will net you a good boost in power density, and with 50W behind you, you shouldn't have a problem.
Hi-Tec Designs, LLC -- Owner (and self-proclaimed LED guru )
Trotec 80W Speedy 300 laser w/everything
CAMaster Stinger CNC (25" x 36" x 5")
USCutter 24" LaserPoint Vinyl Cutter
Jet JWBS-18QT-3 18", 3HP bandsaw
Robust Beauty 25"x52" wood lathe w/everything
Jet BD-920W 9"x20" metal lathe
Delta 18-900L 18" drill press
Flame Polisher (ooooh, FIRE!)
Freeware: InkScape, Paint.NET, DoubleCAD XT
Paidware: Wacom Intuos4 (Large), CorelDRAW X5
Bruce, the problem with brass is its high thermal conductivity. CerMark can work on brass, but you can only mark at about 25% the speed as used for stainless. So although you might be able to do it, the question is whether you can do it profitably. If I charge $1.00 to mark a logo on stainless, will the customer be willing to pay $3.00 or $4.00 to mark the same logo on brass? In my markets, I'd say no.
The LMM6000 would probably need a speed of about 20 ips for your laser. You could start with that setting. But you really need to test before quoting as there are a lot of variables.
Johnson Plastics will probably send you a sample of the new LM6060 which has been developed for brass.
Mike Null
St. Louis Laser, Inc.
Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
Gravograph IS400
Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
Dye Sublimation
CorelDraw X5, X7