Question on laser engraving different materials

[superskaterxes]

So i recently had an idea to buy a set of density blocks and have them laser engraved with elements of the periodic table for my wife to use as a name plate (shes a chemist by trade).

Her name (Kristina) would be spelled out as

Kr I S Ti Na

with 1 block for each element.

The block set looks like this



and after engraving i am imagining something like this




i have been told i need a CO2 laser engraver to be able to engrave on the metal blocks but what about the other materials like wood and plastic? I imagine the wood will be fine but i am a little worried about the nylon, PVC, and acrylic. I could prob CNC the PVC and then fill in the text with paint and wipe away but i am not sure about the other materials.

Do you guys have any experience with this?

 

[matt_i]

With a VMC (vertical machining center) you can engrave with a little V-bit as the milling cutter on any of those materials. Not sure that's what you want, but well within the realm of possibilities.

Laser, being a super concentrated heat source might do strange things to the plastic...are you going with a laser-job shop or is are you going to enter the realm of DIY (?) Be careful, a laser powerful enough to engrave is an eye-destroying machine with no second chances....

 

[superskaterxes]

That's what I was thinking for the white plastic but I'm not sure how well that would show up on other materials.

 

[tarbellb]

You are correct about the metal engraving, a fiber laser is required. Check around, they are becoming more and more common.

But first you should do some simple research on laser engraving and see what materials engrave and which do not (or do but produce toxic fumes).

Epilog and Universal have literature out there concerning what materials work with which machine.

Woods almost universally laser well, as does acrylic, other plastics need some research.

 

[WhiffySpark]

The off gas is a problem. I’m not sure which materials but there’s certain materials you’re not supposed to laser.

I almost brought a glowforge. We had a reservation for 18 months and got a refund. Got tired of waiting

 

[JABgj]

You might try to see if you can find someone local that does decorative sand blasting using a photo mask like a trophy dealer or stained glass shop. On metal the blast will only change the surface and not cut deep, wood is easy, but plastic may not cut or cut much depending on what kind it is.

 

[bullnerd]

Pretty sure the PVC is one of the problem materials. Has chlorine in it.

I worked in a machine shop in the early 90s that was one of the first in the area to get into laser engraving. My boss loved that thing! Engraved everything that would fit under it. Metal, stone, slate, glass, plastic you name it. We did crank arms for Canondale and carbide inserts for Sandvik. It wasn't store bought, we had an engineer design it and we built it and others for production companies.

 

[superskaterxes]

i really only need 9 of the blocks so i can leave the PVC one out if needed

 

[Gotcha640]

Have you talked to an engraving shop? The one I used to use would have no problem doing whatever the correct method was on each piece of material. A cnc mill will do that more easily than a laser, since the laser has certain limitations and settings changes for each piece.

 

[mrramsey]

CNC would be the best option. Not all metals can be successfully lased even using a fiber laser. Also you would need to have multiple blocks of each if the laser engraver had never done that particular type of material.

 

[4 FN 27]

You are correct about the metal engraving, a fiber laser is required.

Etching can be accomplished on YAG, CO2 or Fiber.

YAG is the most cost effective.

CO2 has risk of a beam bouncing back and taking out a $750.00 Lens.

Fiber...well...I know what I would charge to tie up my $800000.00 Fiber Laser.

The off gas is a problem. I’m not sure which materials but there’s certain materials you’re not supposed to laser.

This is true. The other issue with cutting other than metal in a Laser with a dust collector on it is the filters get contaminated with flammable particles. In my 30 years of Lasering I have seen 3 dust collectors burn to the ground because one of my wizards decided to accept and cut an Acrylic part.

OP check around your area for a Plastics Fab Shop. They run YAG Lasers which are more than adequate to accomplish the task.

 

[superskaterxes]

thanks for all the tips guys!!!

 

[kazlx]

Have you purchased the block set yet? If not, this is just me being nerdy (also a chemist), obviously the engravings won't match the elements, so you could just do all matching blocks with the different engravings or something like that to make it easier.

 

[superskaterxes]

Have you purchased the block set yet? If not, this is just me being nerdy (also a chemist), obviously the engravings won't match the elements, so you could just do all matching blocks with the different engravings or something like that to make it easier.

i have already purchased the blocks. I also realize that the elements wont match (some of which are radioactive isotopes lol) but i liked the fact that they were all different and unique. I will try and make sense of which element goes on which material but ultimately i dont think it matters.

 

[ovrrdrive]

I've got a buddy with a 60 watt co2 laser and he can engrave all of that, except for any of the metals. At best they use a solution that turns black where the laser etches, but it rubs off fairly easily. To actually cut into the metal needs a fiber laser as mentioned above.

 

[APEowner]

I don't have anything to add advice wise but I do want to say that's an awesome idea for a gift.

 

[superskaterxes]

I don't have anything to add advice wise but I do want to say that's an awesome idea for a gift.

thanks!

 

[tarbellb]

Etching can be accomplished on YAG, CO2 or Fiber.

YAG is the most cost effective.

CO2 has risk of a beam bouncing back and taking out a $750.00 Lens.

Fiber...well...I know what I would charge to tie up my $800000.00 Fiber Laser.

4FN27 has great insight to mfg processes, thanks for chiming in. I was responding from a small shop / hobby laser perspective where most <100w CO2 lasers struggle to engrave most metals besides anodized Aluminum. There are speciality coatings that I believe engrave some metals. They cost a lot, and the results are not as ideal unless the shop specializes in this kind of work.

I would probably call a trophy shop or jewelry store and see what they would charge for engraving?

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I don't have anything to add advice wise but I do want to say that's an awesome idea for a gift.

I agree!

 

[bullnerd]

I agree!

Same here, I meant to say that in my post! LOL!

Very cool!

 

[bushmechanic]

This will sound a bit stupid, but give it a test run. Engrave a line (or find one somewhere, like on a fan speed controller in your house or the little lettering on light switch rockers) and then run back and forth over it with a crayon.

It'll fill the voids, and once wiped down, it's nearly always clean as hell with edges as sharp as your engraving, and holds up extremely well. You even get whatever color you want.

Works on all kinds of stuff; even selector levers on firearms. It's not as cool as laser engraving, but it's a fine "Plan C" if you find yourself against the clock.