new project letters burnt

[Bert Kemp]

I'm trying to vector engrave some small letters in a key fob even at 100 % spd and 10% pwr the letters are a bit burnt. 10% is the lowest I cab set my power and still fire laser. Is there anything I can do to get a lighter cut line??

[Dave Sheldrake]

You need an attenuator Bert, it's a lens that goes in the optical path and reduces the power of the beam it allows to pass through. Usually water cooled but it's the only real way to drop the power below the tube minimum

[Bert Kemp]

Thanx Dave I'll look it up see if I can find one

You need an attenuator Bert, it's a lens that goes in the optical path and reduces the power of the beam it allows to pass through. Usually water cooled but it's the only real way to drop the power below the tube minimum

[Bert Kemp]

Didn't find a whole lot of places that sell them and what I did find didn't show price's ,So that kinda tells me their expensive .

[Keith Winter]

what are you calling 100% speed bert? What mm/s? Is this a wood fob? If so 60watt should be fine for it.

[Ross Moshinsky]

Try raster engraving rather than vector. Type in your text. Set the stroke to a reasonable width. Convert stroke to curves. Vector engrave it. You'll get more control over the power and speed.

[Makrel Johnson]

Can you put a sacrificial layer between, like masking tape, to take some of the heat off the cut line?
Something just thick enough to reduce the power getting to the plastic...

[Chris DeGerolamo]

Would it be an option to soak or spray the leather before engraving?

[Mike Null]

+1 on putting tape on them.

[Keith Winter]

Can you put a sacrificial layer between, like masking tape, to take some of the heat off the cut line?
Something just thick enough to reduce the power getting to the plastic...

great idea!

[Dave Sheldrake]

A lot of the problem brother is with small vector engraves the laser has to fire at the start of the line, if the letters are small (1.5mm or less) a lot of heat will build up in the project.

[Bert Kemp]

I don't understand what your telling me here

Try raster engraving rather than vector. Type in your text. Set the stroke to a reasonable width. Convert stroke to curves. Vector engrave it. You'll get more control over the power and speed.

[Bert Kemp]

Keith its leather and I don't really know what the mmps is as speed is set by %.

what are you calling 100% speed bert? What mm/s? Is this a wood fob? If so 60watt should be fine for it.

[Bert Kemp]

Thanks for this Idea I'll try masking.

I just tried masking tape and that made a real mess on the leather, waters not an option because the leather is treated and will just roll off and not be even. I'll try some different tape maybe painters tape not so sticky.

Can you put a sacrificial layer between, like masking tape, to take some of the heat off the cut line?
Something just thick enough to reduce the power getting to the plastic...

[Dave Sheldrake]

Keith its leather and I don't really know what the mmps is as speed is set by %.

Lasercut is set mm per second Bert, that may be a lot of the problem