Fiber laser deep engraving on aluminum

[Neville Stewart]

John,
yeh I’m thinking that really dark black just isn’t possible on aluminum. I can get a somewhat dark grey but that’s about it! I was hoping that there are some settings that I just haven’t found yet that could work! Thanks, Marianne

Iron in alloys allow you to get black marking. As there’s none in aluminum you won’t get black. You’ll get a dark scorch but not shiny deep black like stainless.
994A9945-C2CA-4313-BC63-1FB70A038167.jpeg

[Marianne Rusche]

Iron in alloys allow you to get black marking. As there’s none in aluminum you won’t get black. You’ll get a dark scorch but not shiny deep black like stainless.
994A9945-C2CA-4313-BC63-1FB70A038167.jpeg

Neville,
what you did with, “Jamie, RN” is darker than I have been able to achieve. Do you mind sharing what parameters you used to get it that dark. I know it’s not really deep black but it might be good enough. I think I might have a better handle on deep aluminum engraving but I would also love to make the letters as dark as possible. Again, all this help is really appreciated!
marianne

[Gary Hair]

Bill,
thanks! Ezcad is VERY frustrating! There’s so many combinations and it seems like a million different ways to set up the parameters! I really do appreciate all the help!!!
Marianne

There are so many variables that will give you the same results and they are usually not very intuitive. Some of my best results have been 100% by accident and not by any logical experimenting. The only exception to that is stainless steel color marking - I spent many hours doing test grids and successfully found settings to get a good range of color. The only problem is that the color you get in the .25" test squares isn't the same when you enlarge the area - a 1" square with the same settings may, or may not, give the same color. Chances are it will be a gradient instead of a solid color. That's why color marking stainless is NEVER going to make you any money! Black text is easy, when you find the right settings. Slow, mid-power, mid frequency, tight hatch - .01mm, 2-3mm out of focus, two hatches one at 45 and one at 135, two or three passes.

[Kev Williams]

Just to hi-jack a bit- this is one of my favorite pieces to show people what a fiber is capable of...

BPL3.jpg

plain old black plexiglas, the background detail, love it...

Painfully frustrating these machines can be, but it's a good pain

--enjoy--

[Will Howard]

How many ns is the pulse duration on your machine?... and what line space do you use?

[Marianne Rusche]

How many ns is the pulse duration on your machine?... and what line space do you use?

Hi,
I’m not sure I know what pulse duration is? I use.02mm line space
thanks,
marianne

[Darren Wilson]

Hi,
You can make black mark on anodised aluminium, however, you can not engrave past the anodic coating or you go back to dark grey.
Black on Anodised.jpg

[Kev Williams]

This is about as dark as I've been able to get on aluminum-
RCG.jpg
not close to black by any stretch but makes for some nice variables in grays-