How to Avoid Top Four Mistakes in Laser Engraving

Learning to perfect the use of design equipment is important in order to avoid the mistakes regardless of your position in your career. It’s important to learn the art of perfection.

From time to time, there are issues that leave designers questioning about where they went wrong or finding the way they can better the skills. This pattern of thinking is in each and every creative field even in laser engraving.

If you know the correct ways, you can avoid small mistakes and are less likely to make them again. So, let’s see the top four mistakes laser engravers make and ways to overcome them:

1. Avoid Burning Fabrics

As a laser engraver, you must understand your fabrics. You need to know what type of laser engraving machines you should use, make sure it has high-quality parts like Amada parts and bystronic spare parts, and how much heat the fabrics can handle. Fabrics such as denim, canvas and leather can withstand high power settings during laser engraving. But, with delicate fabrics, it’s necessary to reset the settings keeping high speed i.e. near 100% and low power at 5% to 10%. 

Test these initial settings on some extra materials and if the fabric can withstand it then increase the heat power until you get the output you are looking for. When you work with direct-to-garment engraving, it is necessary to lower the dots per inch at which you engrave. The higher the DPI, the more it removes material. While if you engrave at low DPI it helps to ensure that the laser slightly vaporizes the top layer and doesn’t burn entirely through the fabric. Most fabric engravings are perfect at 150 to 300 DPI.

2. Acrylic Produces White Laser

Two types of acrylics are useful in laser engraving and both have different applications. First, there are cast acrylic sheets. Its objects are of liquid acrylic that it pours into a mold and then you can set them into various shapes and sizes. This type of acrylic is perfect for engraving as it turns a frosty white color making it suitable for awards and plaques. You can cut the fabric with a laser, but it does not give projects flame-polished edges.

Extruded acrylic is the other type of acrylic; it forms into sheets by machines. It is less expensive than cast acrylic because it is made through a high-volume manufacturing technique. However, it reacts differently to the laser engraving machine. This type of acrylic cuts cleanly and smoothly and produces a flame-polished edge. But when you engrave, it does not produce a frosted look, instead provides clear engraving. Hence, as a fabricator, you need to make sure that you are using correct acrylic depending on your requirements.

3. Imperfect Glass Engraving

Usually, when a laser comes in contact with glass, it breaks the surface but does not engrave it deeply or removes the material needed to engrave fully. The breakable glass surface will produce a frosted appearance, but this can be rough and chip depending on the type of glass you use to engrave. Additionally, it also depends on the type of laser machine you use and parts it has like Amada parts and bystronic spare parts. 

Here, are some of the tips you should follow to produce better, smooth glass:

• Use low resolution i.e. around 300 DPI which produces better results on the glass as you separate the dots you engrave.
• Change the amount of black texture in your graphic to 80 percent.
• If possible apply a thin, wet sheet of newspaper or a paper towel to the engraving area. This will help you with heat dissipation and improve the engraving process. Just make sure that there are no wrinkles in the paper which you apply.
• Another way to make the heat disappear is to apply a thin coat of liquid dish soap over the area you are engraving using your finger or a paper towel.
• Lastly, if there are fragments of glass after you engrave, polish the area using a non-scratch scour pad.

4. Wood Engraving

Wood is one of the most laser friendly materials because we can cut and engrave easily. Usually, different woods have different ways of reacting when we engrave them with lasers and produce different results. Lighter woods like cherry or maple can produce a nice contrast where the laser burns away the wood. Whereas, with the denser woods requires more laser power to cut or engrave.

Grain density can change dramatically depending on the type of wood you are using. Cherry, alder, walnut, and maple have fairly small veins of grains in them and oak has medium to large veins.

Final Words:

As a fabricator, it is very easy to make mistakes and suffer loss because of it. But, I am sure after reading how to solve these four mistakes you will come to know what are the things which create these issues and better your skill. Make sure that you know what type of laser engraving machines you should use and if they have the right parts like Amada parts and bystronic spare parts as these things do matter and affect the quality of the outcome.

Source: https://altpartsinc.wixsite.com/altpartsinc/single-post/2020/07/28/How-to-Avoid-Top-Four-Mistakes-in-Laser-Engraving

Your Detailed Guide to Laser Marking

Laser marking, engraving, and cutting are present in almost all industries. They are widely known for the advanced features, advantages, and ease it brings to fabricators. There is not a single industry that is untouched by laser machines. 

As you know, it is useful in various industries, but it has become an integral part of the medical, aviation, and military industries. These are the places in which safety and security are some of the major factors. 

More manufacturers put permanent identification labels on their components, so it is easier to identify and trace them.

Almost every industry is using laser technology to add barcode and unique identification numbers to various parts. One of the major factors they are useful is because laser marking provides non-contact, abrasion resistance, and permanent marks to any type of material.

But you need to understand the fact that not all types of laser marking technology are good for your business. If you are looking for an efficient laser technology that can create permanent, fast, and high contrast marks for identification and traceability then fiber laser machines are your go-to solution.

The versatility, minimal maintenance, and zero requirements are some of the things that a fiber laser machine brings with itself. Because of these things they are the ideal solution for marking various types of materials.

Since laser marking is required in every industry, it has become an inevitable part of fabricators. You might be thinking what is it?

Don’t worry!

Here, we will talk about the basics of fiber laser marking and the different ways it is useful.

What is Laser Marking?

It is an ink-free technology useful to add characters and graphics to various parts of products.

If you are an owner of the company who manufactures specific parts for finished products, then you know the importance of marking. You might be marking them with different marks like bar codes, serial numbers or with your logo.

This process does not involve the use of physical tools to etch the surface. In fact, it just uses a beam of laser light to create characters. 

It uses Precitec spare parts and Trumpf laser consumables, a focused beam from a laser interacts with a qualified material like steel, aluminum, ceramic, etc. to produce a permanent, solvent resistant, and scratch-proof mark. Some machines are capable of marking plastic materials as well. 

 How does Laser Marking Work?

In simple terms, it is a process of burning paper using a magnifying glass.

You need to place the lens over the paper at the focal point of the lens and concentrate the rays to a central point on the paper. The convergent beam lands on a small spot on the paper that result in heat that smokes the paper.

The same principle applies to fiber laser marking having Precitec spare parts and Trumpf laser consumables. Here, instead of sunlight, it uses laser light. It steers through an F theta lens which is a powerful and sophisticated lens compared to the magnifying glass.

An F theta lens has an advantage in that it maintains its focus throughout the surface rather than on one spot.

Once the laser light focuses on the surface of the component which needs marking, it passes through F theta lens and controls electronically via a computerized program.

This leaves a mark on the surface if there is a good match between the wavelength and material. The mark can take a form of text, graphical image, or any other form.

Now comes the main question, most fabricators ask i.e. 

Why use fiber laser marking machines?

It has multiple advantages over other types of laser marking technologies. The minimal maintenance requirements and the decrease in the use of any consumables, fiber lasers are cheaper and simple to use than other forms.

In terms of space requirements, fiber laser marking systems have small footprints; this means you can operate them anywhere without worrying about space. Plus with Precitec spare parts and Trumpf laser consumables, it brings efficiency to your production.

Talking about the quality of laser beam even experts agree that fiber laser beam is better than most of the other types of laser marking machines.

Final words: 

If you are someone who was confused about whether they should start laser marking or not then I think this article must have cleared your doubts. It is something that helps you to make your product stand out from the competition.

Source: https://altpartsinc.wixsite.com/altpartsinc/single-post/2020/07/24/Your-Detailed-Guide-to-Laser-Marking

Prevention Techniques to Avoid Laser Burns

The most common material to cut and engrave using a laser cutting machine is wood. But, the problem with laser cutters is that there will be laser burn marks around the edges of the wood.

So, in this article, we will learn about the ways you can overcome the issue of burn marks. 

The major reason behind this is the fumes and debris emitted while the cutting process is going on. There are multiple ways you can overcome this problem. We will see each of them as we walk ahead.

These burn marks don’t occur on every material you will cut, but laser cutters will incinerate, vaporize, or melt certain materials depending on the composition.

1. Factors that lead to laser burn

As we read earlier, laser burn occurs due to fumes or debris when a laser touches the wood surface. Because of the high temperatures, fumes scorch the surface right around where the laser beam cuts materials.

If we think, what is happening is that a CO2 laser finely burns through some materials like wood. Hence, you might see at least some browning or amber color along the edges of a cut particle.

Some amount of charring is acceptable but becomes problematic when it turns excessive and is not looking good. The most significant charring and scorching appear chiefly on combustible materials. 

Other materials like acrylic usually appear slightly melted or glossy but are hardly noticeable where laser beam cuts. Many times, burn marks appear where the laser comes in contact with the cutting bed as it slices through the reverse side of the material.

While working with laser cutting machines different parts of the machines also play a major role. You need to take care that the machine parts are according to the standard of the market i.e. it has parts like Trumpf eco nozzle, Amada laser parts, etc.

2. Preventing laser burn

Let’s discuss some of the prevention tips you can take for laser burn marks. 

• Use Tape

One way of makeshift measure that works for a lot of people is the everyday use of masking tape. You can find and purchase it at the office supply or arts and crafts stores. Using this tape, you can cover the wooden surface before cutting it. Remove the tape once you finish cutting the design.

This method works well because it prevents the edges of engraved particles from being stained. The removal of the tape may be a time-consuming process but, in the end, it will turn out to be a worthy process.

• Types of tapes:

If you are cutting wood that has an uneven grain or high moisture content, then you’ll need to rely on a higher tack masking tape. The low tack variety may not offer sufficient protection since it will peel off too easily.

• Application Tape:

This is a similar process as using masking tape. But, this material can be found in your everyday arts and craft store. The lower the tack the cheaper the material is to acquire in general.

If the low-quality application tape doesn’t hold well, then use the higher tack. Apply all the application tape to the entire surface of the wood you need to cut. Make sure to smooth out all bubbles beforehand or it can lead to results that are even worse. 

3. Other preventative techniques

Here are some of the tips you can follow if the above ones are not working well:

• Adjust the focus of the laser: To do this, you have to switch the setting of your machine to “manual” and then back out the focus of the laser. Suppose, if you slightly lower the focus it will keep the level of smoke at bay while still allowing for the cuts to be on the material. Also remember to use laser machines that have parts like Trumpf eco nozzle, Amada laser parts that match market standards.
• Immerse thin plywood or other woods in water before cutting them
• Avoid cutting thick wood
• Make sure to use air assist while cutting wood. It is just a compressed air that redirects to the point where the laser beam meets the material. The constant stream of air can reduce scorching on a variety of surfaces.

4. Removing burns

Following are some of the things you can follow to remove burns:

• If you don’t have charring, try using a little bit of fine-tooth sandpaper on the edges as long as it doesn’t risk the details of the project.
• You can also use the normal brush to scrub the small areas and parts like the Trumpf eco nozzle and Amada laser parts to keep the machine clean.

Final Words:

It is very important to give your clients a perfect product that does not have any burns, cuts, or any other stains. As a fabricator, it is wise to know which type of laser cutting machine to use, other simple hacks, and more.

Source: https://altpartsinc.wixsite.com/altpartsinc/single-post/2020/07/22/Prevention-Techniques-to-Avoid-Laser-Burns

4 Tips Before Purchasing Laser Cutting Machine

Fiber laser is a widely popular laser cutting tool.

Every year, the prices of these machines keep changing, depending on its design types, laser power, brand, parts like mazak spare parts, mitsubishi replacement parts and other aspects.

So, it is obvious to have misconceptions while inquiring and end up with an under-satisfying offer.

Hence, here, we discuss some tips which you can take into consideration while purchasing CNC machines.

1. Don't directly ask the price:

Usually, the sellers analyze the authenticity and intention of the customers before pitching their product. You should not simply walk into the showroom and ask directly "What's the cost of your laser cutting machine.

If you do so, then there are chances that they might not be active or responsive to your inquiries.

Before asking anything, make sure that you are clear in your head and know what you want your machine to do. Discuss those points with the salesperson and make your point clear. This will give them clarity in providing you better services.

Additionally, you can prepare these details in advance. This will give you time to think about which things you want in your CNC machine. And this will also become easy for a salesperson to understand your requirements and provide you the perfect laser machine.

Before going in and asking him, it would be great if you do some research from your end. Understanding the basics of laser machines will help you more while purchasing a machine.

2. Laser cutting machines and manufacturers are not equal:

One common mistake most of the buyers make is assuming that metal laser cutting machines and manufacturers are equal.

But, the truth is, different manufacturers provide different metal laser cutting machines with parts like mazak spare parts, mitsubishi replacement parts. Usually, fiber laser cutting machines vary in brands and core parts such as laser source, laser cutting head, motor, etc. these are the important factors for pricing the machines.

The machine might have an enclosure which prevents laser radiation, double shuttle pallets to save the loading time. There are also sheets and tube integrated laser cutting machines suitable for customers that need to process sheets and tubes.

Hence, the more functions and larger the size, the costlier these machines will be.

Additionally, the laser power of the metal laser cutting machines differ from 500kW-12kW or even more.

Similar to size, higher the laser power, higher the price.

Sometimes, some sellers might give you a high configuration laser to gain more cost margins, some might tell you about some pretty low priced laser machines but not good quality.

Hence, you should check carefully all the quotes. Remember, that different machines have different configurations and a simple comparison between prices will help you to end the choice of metal laser cutting machine.

Additionally, there are different manufacturers that have different levels of experience and provide different service supports. This often affects the schedule of your projects too.

It's necessary to do your research about suppliers and find which companies are good and fast at it. You must be thinking of why researching suppliers is important.

So, let me tell you if the supplier is not good at keeping the count of the spare parts they might keep you waiting for a long time to continue your production.

3. High Laser Power:

Usually, it is said that the higher the power in the laser machine, the better it is. But, it even affects the cost.
The laser cutting machines with high power have high requirements for their components. This makes the whole equipment cost soar. So, if budget is important and thick metal cutting is not your priority then having a low power laser suits well.

4. Don't choose low-cost machines:

While finalizing any deal, the cost is the major factor. You might think to choose the lowest cost machine to save some money. However, the cheaper machines are not always best with the given quotes.

Nowadays, the metal laser cutting machines in the market vary depending on its quality and price. Some might cost very high as they belong to good companies and use quality parts like mazak spare parts, mitsubishi replacement parts while some might cost low. But, you need to make sure that whichever laser machine you choose should serve your purpose.

Final Words:

Laser machines are widely useful and cost efficient yet highly recommended by most of the fabricators. They are here to stay and make working with lasers easy for fabricators. So, now prepare your list before your next laser cutting machine purchase.

Source: https://altpartsinc.wixsite.com/altpartsinc/single-post/2020/07/10/4-Tips-Before-Purchasing-Laser-Cutting-Machine

9 Applications of Laser Machines

Fiber laser machines are gaining popularity in metal processing industries. In this article we are going to talk about nine major applications of fiber laser metal cutting:

1. Decoration Industry:

The high speed and flexibility of cutting make the fiber laser cutting a go-to solution for the decoration industry.

There are many complex graphics that you can process easily using laser machines that have parts like lvd strippit parts and Amada laser parts. When customers order a special design and relevant materials, they can directly cut them once the CAD drawing is ready and you don’t need further customization.

2. Automobile Industry:

We can process various metal parts of the automobile industry like cars, doors, automobile exhaust pipes, brakes, and many more with the help of the laser cutting machines. In comparison with other traditional metal cutting methods like plasma cutting fiber laser cutting ensures wonderful precision and increases work efficiency. This helps them to improve productivity and safety for automobile parts.

3. Advertising industry:

The increase in using custom products leads to replacing traditional processing methods with fiber laser machines. Regardless of complex designs, the laser machine can produce high-quality laser cut metal products for advertisements, hoardings, customized gifts, and many other purposes.

4. Kitchenware Industry:

Nowadays many people have a high demand for the types of designs and applications for kitchenware. Hence, with the increasing demand for these products, we can now foresee the promising future of this industry. With the help of a fiber laser machine, you can easily cut thin stainless steel with fast speed, high precision, good effect, and smooth cutting surface. Additionally, the entry of laser cutting machines having quality parts like lvd strippit parts and Amada laser parts makes one realize the importance of custom and personalized products.

5. Lighting Industry:

The mainstream outdoor lamps are of large metal pipes that share manufacturing with different cutting types. Traditional cutting methods have low efficiency and cannot create custom products. Whereas, fiber laser metal plates and pipes cutters serves as a perfect laser solution for this problem.

6. Sheet Metal Processing:

The aim of fiber laser machines is to process metal sheets and pipes in modern metal processing industries. In this industry, precision, and productivity, are the two most important factors? MORN fiber laser cutters are reliable and efficient for the sheet metal industry.

7. Fitness equipment:

There is a rapid increase in the development of public fitness equipment and home fitness equipment in recent years. The fitness industry is growing rapidly thanks to fiber laser machines. Fiber laser machines are useful and people are using them by customizing from time to time.

8. Home Appliance Industry:

With the development of modern technology, the traditional processing technology for the home appliance manufacturing industry continues to transform and upgrade. Metal laser cutting machines are one of the most powerful processing methods in the metal processing industry.

In the home appliance industry, fiber laser machines are very helpful to improve the processing quality or optimize the appearance of the product; there is not a single thing that fiber laser machines cannot do for creating custom home appliances.

9. Scientific Research:

Fiber lasers greatly affect the advancement of scientific research in multiple ways. It is useful in many scientific processes as it provides extra efficiency and results. Scientists have begun to look at different ways we can use fiber laser machines and bring the best out of it for different industries.

Let’s say there is a lot of scientific research conducted in the military like looking at the laser guns. There are also developments in this field; in fact, these laser machines are also very helpful while creating prototype models for army bases.

Other uses of fiber lasers are in the field of science i.e. of spectroscopy. This field of science investigates and measures the spectrum which produces when a type of matter interacts with electromagnetic radiation.

Final words:

Fiber laser cutting machines are flexible and have processing precision in comparison with traditional processing methods. It uses a contactless processing method and does not need mold making or extra cost. Hence, fiber laser cutting technology having quality parts like lvd strippit parts and Amada laser parts effectively improves product quality, reduces production costs, reduces labor intensity, improves traditional sheet metal processing technology, and brings ample benefits to manufacturers.

Source: https://altpartsinc.wixsite.com/altpartsinc/single-post/2020/07/07/9-Applications-of-Laser-Machines