TBCbushings
Member
I did this today to see how it looks. I am not liking the font but I think it looks kinda cool.
laser marking.
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thewishman
Member
That is cool!
TBCbushings
Member
I tried to do a pen and didn't work out well. It is made to mark metal. I need to play with some settings to see how I can do acrylic.
Dalepenkala
Member
I'm not an expert on laser engraving but from what I've learned is a CO2 is what you would want for marking on wood, acrylic and other non metallic parts.
I'm guessing Brian is using a fiber laser which is used for marking mostly metallic parts.
Again I'm know expert but that's my understanding based on my reaserch.
Edward Cypher
Member
Should would make it easy when the bushings get dumped. I really like it.
TBCbushings
Member
That's kinda what I was thinking...
TBCbushings
Member
That's right..a fiber laser...I also run a 2500 watt co2 laser for cutting aluminum up to .250 and steel up to .750 thick.
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TBCbushings
Member
Tony, this is a very expensive piece of equipment...lucky to have access to it...I heard about 70,000
TBCbushings
Member
Took less than a second after the program was written...lol
kruzzer
Member
There is certainly a market for that service on this site... I'm in
low_48
Member
It's not going to be cheap when you use a $70,000 machine!
Thank you. So what you are saying is, "for another $69,887 and I too can engrave my bushings." Teasing of course. We get what we pay for and that is an outstanding piece of equipment. Thanks for the reply and sharing your work!
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TBCbushings
Member
Lol very true
Rich L
Member
Fiber lasers in this realm typically operate producing energy with around 1. µm wavelength although variants are possible. CO2 lasers are roughly 10 times that wavelength (longer) and that's why they don't work too well on metals. Anything producing concentrated energy at that 1µm wavelength will work well on metals to include the common marking lasers such as NdYAG and NdYVO4. I've used a 1 watt and 10 watt of each and they do the trick but, of course, power is everything. Delicate work on nibs and such can be done easily with a 1 watt system and some deeper marking can be accomplished as well but you don't want to be there all day - so more power helps. A 1 watt US made system can run upwards of $15K for a turn key system. Double it for 10 watts. Fiber lasers can be more bucks and they are very popular for higher powered systems. Who knows what you can get from the far East.
'course y'all know these things are pulsed lasers so the pattern you get on the workpiece is a series of dots. Dot pitch is variable. It's the pulsing that allows them to burn into the metal because the power is stored for a few microseconds and then blasted out thus making the pit in the metal.
Cheers,
Rich
'course y'all know these things are pulsed lasers so the pattern you get on the workpiece is a series of dots. Dot pitch is variable. It's the pulsing that allows them to burn into the metal because the power is stored for a few microseconds and then blasted out thus making the pit in the metal.
Cheers,
Rich
TBCbushings
Member
The one I use is 50 watts...
Dalepenkala
Member
I have talked to full spectrum lasers on a number of occasions. Long story short they said that they could build a fiber laser for right around 10K.
Search results for: 'fiber laser'
Search results for: 'fiber laser'
Charlie_W
Member
Very nice Brian!
Have you thought about numbering bushing sets such as the Cigar
#1 for the nib - #4 for the finial
Just a thought!
Hope to see you at MAPG,
Have you thought about numbering bushing sets such as the Cigar
#1 for the nib - #4 for the finial
Just a thought!
Hope to see you at MAPG,
TBCbushings
Member
I thought about that...but with an x or 0.....I like the idea of 1 to 4...I was thinking of keeping the bushings together for upper and lower barrel s...
Rich L
Member
That would be super. Are you going for it? I see it on their web site but there's a dearth of information. I wonder if it comes as a complete system with software otherwise it's like buying a basic car these days where you have to keep adding stuff to get what you really want. Comes with rotary chuck, too? Power? (10W for 10K?) Spot size? Specs, man, specs! :wink:
I looked around quite a bit before choosing mine and I ultimately got one from Rocky Mountain Instruments (RMI). The deciding factor for me was the quality of the entire unit, the rotary chucking mechanism, and the marking algorithm used in laying down marks around a cylinder. It does not use a print driver and I didn't want it to. I also looked at Epilog (fiber), and Kevron (fiber) before settling on the NdYVO4 system I use now. All those guys are local to me so that was nice. It's interesting that Full Spectrum can offer one that inexpensively because when I was looking just the fiber gain units were costing $10K never mind the diode pump, enclosures, galvo units, good lenses, etc.
Full Spectrum also has some "interesting" press out there so caveat emptor, as always. I will say that some of their technical ad comments are very misleading. Where these manufacturers get their parts or subassemblies is always a question, too. I do know that RMI pretty much builds the whole thing themselves but don't take that as me trying to push them. Kevron (I don't even know if they're still in business) got their tubes and fiber gain units here in the States.
One of the Fslaser web sites advertises their F Series Fiber Laser with a CO2 tube. Huh??
Cheers,
Rich
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Dalepenkala
Member
Hi Rich
Honestly at this point I have a source for doing all my laser work 10min away from my house. And they treat me very well.
Most of my engraving is done on metal so that's kinda how I found out that a fiber laser and CO2 lasers are different.
I have some ideas that I could use one of there co2 lasers but right now I'm getting so busy that I have to just keep making blanks and pens and rely on my guy for the laser marking.
Got to admit it sure looks like a fun new toy for me!:biggrin: