Lasering or milling??

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Rchan63

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
672
Location
Framingham, MA
I'm needing someone to laser or milled some chinese characters out of maple. I don't know if it can be done but if I don't ask I'll never know.:biggrin: It's for some mantel clocks I'm making.

Thanks
Richard
 
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How big are the characters and how thick is the maple? I have a laser and have done maple product tags and they come out nice.

Also, I am in MA too.

Real Mercier
West Springfield MA
 
I'm looking for something around 2" x 2" or 2.5"H x 2"W by 1/4" thick. I don't know if it'll help but I have a word file I can send.
 
Well the size is no problem, but the thickness may be. I cut 1/8" plywood a lot. I have cut 1/4" but very slowly and I dont remember what the edges looked like. I have mid-size laser.

PM me and we can discuss further.

Real Mercier
 
Look for someone locally that has at least a 60-80W laser. That should cut 1/4" pretty well. My 45W will cut it but very slow. Lots of engravers out there a lot closer.

Jeff in northern Wisconsin
 
If you just want a simple cut out then a laser is fine. If you want any other shape (than a flat face and 90 degree side) to your characters then someone with a CNC machine might be able to offer a lot more options.

Also, the more work you are willing to do (tab removal, sanding , finishing and such) the less the job should cost you. Providing good quality vector artwork should save you money as well (as opposed to a word file with some text using a chinese font).

If I were you (and I'm not) and I didn't own my own CNC machines (but I do) I would hit the Shopbot forums and Vectric forums. A post in either place looking for someone to take on your work would likely get you plenty of interested locals.

Ed
 
Real said:
Well the size is no problem, but the thickness may be. I cut 1/8" plywood a lot. I have cut 1/4" but very slowly and I dont remember what the edges looked like. I have mid-size laser.

PM me and we can discuss further.

Real Mercier
Click to expand...
Real, If I can help, let me know. I have a 60 watt and have cut 1/4" BB.
 
Real said:
Well the size is no problem, but the thickness may be. I cut 1/8" plywood a lot. I have cut 1/4" but very slowly
Click to expand...

That's where the inverse square law kicks us in the butt.
To cut 2x the thickness, you need 4x the power at the same speed
or 1/4 the speed at the same power.

.. on my machine, that means the minute hand on the clock moves
faster than the laser beam..
 
Thanks Guys. Richard came over and I got him squared away.

But wouldn't you know it. We decided to try a piece first (1/4 inch). It was slow but cut cleanly and popped right out. So we set up to do 16 pieces, cut and only two pieces pop out. He can get others but some just wouldn't cut through.

Anyway, I cut his pieces in 1/8" and he was happy.

Real
 
Last edited:
Here are the characters Real did for me.
Starting top left Prosperity, Long Life, bottom left Good Fortune and Double Happiness usually reserved for couples being married. But hey we can all use any type of luck whenever we can get it.

Thanks again to Real for all the help.

BTW he makes some really nice signs and I found out he also engrave pens

Richard
 

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