Has anyone tried to burn Polypropylene? I been trying to engrave Pelican Cases and I only get one to try it on. Any Ideas Gents?
Has anyone tried to burn Polypropylene? I been trying to engrave Pelican Cases and I only get one to try it on. Any Ideas Gents?
Eddie Castaneda
Wire-Tech, Inc.
Trotec Speedy 300 flexx 60W CO2 Laser/30W Fiber Laser
EngraveLab 9.0
CorelDraw X6
Eddie
If I recall accurately, the last time I tried it the poly tended to melt rather than engrave. I did get an image but it was a bit ragged. I would suggest lower power and more than one pass.
Here is the Synrad applications page with some info. http://www.synrad.com/Search/search....=0&zoom_sort=0
Mike Null
St. Louis Laser, Inc.
Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
Gravograph IS400
Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
Dye Sublimation
CorelDraw X5, X7
Mike You have been a really big help!!! Thank You!
Eddie Castaneda
Wire-Tech, Inc.
Trotec Speedy 300 flexx 60W CO2 Laser/30W Fiber Laser
EngraveLab 9.0
CorelDraw X6
Eddie - have you tried it yet? If not try to experiment on other items that you know to be polypropylene. For recycling they will often be marked 5 in a triangle with PP below. In my experience polypropylene engraves like a block of wax - meaning not very well. Not unexpected, as the polyethylene and polypropylene molecules are not very far from wax. It even smells like wax when lasered.
I don't know if I have ever tried polypropylene but most plastics that only melt with a co2 mark very well with a yag.
Universal M-300 (35 Watt CO2)
Universal X-660 (50 Watt CO2)
Hans (35 watt YAG)
Electrox Cobra (40 watt YAG)
Glass With Class, Cameron, Wisconsin
Richard I did try on a small section of the case, but just like you said it melted pretty quick. I'm going back to the drawing board see what else I have in house I can test it on!
Eddie Castaneda
Wire-Tech, Inc.
Trotec Speedy 300 flexx 60W CO2 Laser/30W Fiber Laser
EngraveLab 9.0
CorelDraw X6
Eddie, your signature says you have a Flex. Are your results with CO2 or Fiber?
Scott Challoner
30W LaserPro Spirit (Need more power)
30W Wisely Fiber Galvo
Scott the setting I used were for the CO2
Eddie Castaneda
Wire-Tech, Inc.
Trotec Speedy 300 flexx 60W CO2 Laser/30W Fiber Laser
EngraveLab 9.0
CorelDraw X6
I can't say I know much about fiber lasers, but I thought that apart from being able to mark metals without a product like Cermark, they are also supposed to be better for plastics that don't mark well with CO2. I certainly could be wrong, but I think I would play with the fiber. At least give your Trotec rep a call and see if they can point you in the right direction. Just my $.02
Scott Challoner
30W LaserPro Spirit (Need more power)
30W Wisely Fiber Galvo
I had tried the Fiber and I kinda melted the Plastic but then again I was 25% power.
Eddie Castaneda
Wire-Tech, Inc.
Trotec Speedy 300 flexx 60W CO2 Laser/30W Fiber Laser
EngraveLab 9.0
CorelDraw X6
I did some engraving with Polyethylene, not the same but similar issues....masking tape on the top made the result acceptable, otherwise was not too pretty. I think the tape helps dial down the power a little (this is on an 80w chinese tube) and stops the melt/splatter that the plastic produces from re-sticking and making a mess.
80 watt RECI 1290 Shenhui laser.
Chinese Quick CNC 5x10 toolchange
Unofficial record holder of 6 tubes shipped for one machine. 2 defective and 4 broken. Recommend Coletech for replacement tube!
With fiber, frequency has a huge effect on mark visibility... I think you need to revisit that.
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
If the Help and advice you received here was of any VALUE to you PLEASE! Become a Contributor
Rabbit RL_XX_6040-60 watt Laser engraving/cutting machine Oh wait its a 3D Printer my bad LOL
Lasercut 5.3
CorelDraw X5
10" Miter Saw with slide
10" Table Saw
8" bench mount 5 speed Drill Press
Dremel, 3x21 Belt Sander
Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers
Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.