Laser Options

[Frank barry]

you don't have to use the full power as you can adjust it but in my opinion its better to have a little more power than you need you will adjust the power and speed ratio to get the effect you need

[Tim Bateson]

Tim, that is what I need to know. Would you suggest a 40w or 60w for that application? Thanks for your insight....

I'll have to defer to someone else who has a more powerful machine and works with Powder Coatings. I can just say for sure, my 35 watt machine isn't enough to do that type of work.

[jon christlieb]

Thank you Tim for the info.

[Scott Shepherd]

I've found powder coatings work better for us with multiple passes anyway. Too much heat in them will stain the surrounding coating.

[Mike Null]

Like most things powder coat is not all the same. The biggest difference you'll notice as an engraver is the variable thickness of the application. Typically, in industrial applications, powder coat is roboticly applied while in custom applications is it hand applied and this is where the big variance shows up most often. Regardless of the application though I always run at least two passes with the last one being a "clean-up" pass.

My machine is a 45 watt so I'm a little surprised that Tim has trouble with his 35 watt machine. Anodized aluminum is one of the easier materials to engrave and can be achieved easily with even a 25 watt machine.

Here's an example of a one off panel with powder coat.

[jon christlieb]

I am doing the powdercoating myself and know that the thickness will vary (part of the design). Could the lens be the variance between your two machines?

[jon christlieb]

Also any new opinions on Full Spectrum Laser? Just curious.....

[Bert Kemp]

Jon I have a 60 watt Rabbit see my signature, If you want I can do some samples for you or I'm sure Ray at Rabbit will do samples for you also. I don't do anything with cermark so I don't have any but I do have Baltic Birch, leather, anodized Alum.ceramic tile, and granite on hand, as I'm sure Ray has all that too.Let me know what you might like and cover shipping and were good.
Also almost everyone here uses corel to design and then transfer to laser.no big deal.

[jon christlieb]

Thanks Bert

[Bert Kemp]

If you've read the forums here and elsewhere you know to Stay away from Full Spectrum. Cheap machines, no support.

[jon christlieb]

Thats what I kept reading. I was really hoping to stay in the US until I read the reviews for them