But the problem is that aluminum laser engraving is not as simple as engraving a piece of wood. What is a name of the machine that you own, If you have any issues with it, describe them here or simply share your thoughts, Infrared lasers: 6 / 8 / 10 / 15 watt (6000 / 8000 / 10000 / 15000 mw), An Endurance water cooling system (water + TEC peltier chiller) a chiller for your laser. Their FM series are fiber lasers that can engrave aluminum much deeper than other lasers on this list (especially their FM7979 laser). On our older 3D printers we can only go up to about 1000mm/min because the backlash starts to show. The term anodizing refers to an electrochemical process that adds an oxide layer on aluminum. With the increase in the demand for aluminum, we also notice the massive demand for aluminum laser engraving that can be used for marking serial numbers, QR codes, logos, brand names, and other information. Your laser settings are vital for engraving anodized aluminum. However, laser engraving removes the anodized layer, causing the contrasting aluminum color to shine via the engraving. Laser beam focusing. There are two types of lasers used for etching or scribing (laser engraving) metal surfaces. We always recommend engraving a serial number and/or other identifying information on 80 percent lower receivers. I used simple napkins for cleaning your nose which you can buy everywhere, the thicker ones, not the thin ones you get out of them paper napkin boxes. This laser ability can be used both for home and for more complicated production. It is one of the widely used metals in almost every industry for making parts and products. I have the OMTech version of the K40 and have done lots of business cards with it. Whats the difference between CNC cutting and laser cutting? Aluminum Laser Engraving: All You Need to Know, But the problem is that aluminum laser engraving is not as simple as, If you are new to aluminum laser engraving or want to. Then youll know what settings to use for your intended contrast. WebRTB is now offering engraving services on mail-in 80% lower receivers. It fits for engraving and color marking. Laser Engravers & Laser Cutters from Endurance Lasers. Stepcraft CNC D840 Review: High-Quality Versatile CNC? Or how did you do it? Here are the three main types of anodized aluminum that can be used for laser engraving projects. As it already has a coating, there is no need for any pretreatment. Additionally, lasers require less maintenance and parts replacement which means more savings. YAG (for yttrium, aluminum, garnet) is a crystalline, solid-state laser that emits a wavelength of 1.064 micrometers (1064 nanometers). Various interesting processes based on a number of factors start to take place. A diode laser is the most cost-effective solution for engraving anodized and powder-coated aluminum. For me, putting in on my running heat radiator for 15 minutes did the job, or just let it dry for 30 minutes under normal room temperature. I don't have the settings I used handy but if/when I find them I'll post. As long as you have good material and a good laser engraver, you should get good results. Heres our step-by-step guide to laser engraving anodized aluminum: Aluminums anodized layer comes in different thicknesses and colors. If you are using a fiber laser, you can directly engrave bare, anodized aluminum, or powder-coated aluminum. You can have any of the 5 lines below engraved. On top of that, you can also engrave and cut wood, leather, plastic, acrylic, stone, rubber, etc. There are a good number of video tutorials and guides to help you get started with much ease. You can also buy a rotary attachment for it and engrave metal pens, beakers, and more. Anodized aluminum is available in various colors, such as red, pink, green, blue, yellow, etc. You can use it to create myriad shapes and sizes. This type of laser is capable of scribing right through the anodic coating to the bare substrate underneath. The cutting parameters: power 99%, speed 300 mm/sec, number of passes 10. You can use your laser to engrave your companys brand or logo on promotional items such as bottle openers, pens, and key chains. This leads to scattering of light that produces a color that falls somewhere between clean and white. You might have heard about different types of laser engravers, such as CO2 laser engraver, diode laser engraverandfiber laser engraver. Depending on the metal type and laser parameters, it is possible to get either black or color marking. In this case, the engraving mechanism absorbs the dyed color in the anodic coating. That said, it is a good idea to use a laser engraver that handles aluminum well. For me, 14mm above the object surface, measured from the aluminium part of my laser, works best). xTool D1 Pro 20W Review: Best Desktop Diode Laser? It really depends on your machine setup. You can engrave bare aluminum with a CO2 or a fiber laser. Rust and dirt removal from metal equates the laser machine with the sandblaster. Fiber vs CO2 vs Diode Laser for Aluminum Engraving, A diode laser is the most cost-effective solution for engraving anodized and powder-coated aluminum, What is a Good Laser Engraver for Engraving Aluminum, The 20W laser module of the machine is the most powerful diode laser in the world. This metal has high thermal and electrical conductivity. The exact type of anodized aluminum used will influence exactly how the engraving is done. Here, well tell in detail what happens to the metal surface when the laser beam, generated by a laser machine (a DPSS or diode laser) and focused by a lens, hits it. An anodized exterior coating is applied on the bare aluminum through a process called anodizing. Your Snapmaker lets you turn your ideas into reality. Today I made a small 90x60mm interior grade plaque for my blog. The greater is the power the deeper is engraving, the brighter the color of the processed metal surface. Therefore, you cant scratch the paint off anodized aluminum easily. Due to the powder coating, the laser beams of CO2 and diode lasers are absorbed, which is why the material is easily engraved. We try to publish at least once per week, and were always up for talking anything DIY and making! Anodized aluminums color is not a mere paint that lays separately on the surface and peels off easily. Put it under your laser and let the program run the engraving process (focus it first, so the point gets as small as possible, depending on your lens, mine is a short range one, adjust the hight. This will give the most contrast when engraved. WebLaser marking -- engraving or etching -- of anodized aluminum is perfect to do direct part marking. The only laser I've ever used is a Trotec which I can't afford. For this you need to run the laser with maximum power and speed, doing many passes. LightBurn, Omtech 40W CO2 (not the stock controller), Aufero with LaserTree 80 watt (10 optical) laser, 30 Watt MOPA from But that is more expensive and unnecessary for arts and decorative items. The color is removed, but no anodic coating is actually removed. That said, it is a good idea to use a laser engraver that handles aluminum well. The same happens with aluminum. The most popular use of lasers in metal processing is engraving. I don't have the settings I used handy but if/when I find them I'll post. It has to be on the surface while engraving. Metal is undoubtedly one of the most popular materials. Thanks for doing the research into this, cant wait to experiment. As you can see, the final product looks uniform, has high contrast and because of the speed of the Trotec laser, it was done extremely fast. That said, brass is a PAIN IN THE BOTTOM to engrave anyways, always. Thus, if you need a laser machine only for marking metals and you can bear the upfront cost, you can go with a fiber laser. Laser etching anodized aluminum requires less laser power than engraving, and can be done at higher speeds. The coating is durable and appealing, and it never wears off from the surface. But keep in mind that the coating on anodized materials varies in terms of thickness. During the engraving process, the protective anodic layer (usually ranging between 8-30um) is partially removed. This operation can be used for souvenir and promotional items production. When you engrave coated metal, there are harmful fumes that can pollute your working area. What Kind of Laser Do You Need to Laser Engrave Aluminum? On the other hand, a CO2 laser has a higher wavelength that is usually around 10,600 nm. Some lasers that cost several times the price of xTool D1 dont have a rotary option for example Glowforge lasers do not. Yes, you can also laser etch anodized aluminum. You can make promotional items from aluminum products like flashlights, pens, and flasks. Aluminum is a metal with a much higher boiling point (2,470C) compared to non-metals, but still, You might have heard about different types of laser engravers, such as, Now that we have a clear idea of Bare aluminum, Anodized and Powder Coated, lets look at the type of, For laser engraving bare aluminum, fiber laser machines can be used to engrave directly on the object. Only very powerful lasers are able to engrave it. by Miroslav Sarcevic. A variety of materials selected by xTool. i was able to get decent results on brass and stainless. 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