Joe Pelonio
01-02-2009, 3:20 PM
I've discovered that we can countersink installation screw holes on acrylic
with the laser. Someone else may have done this before but I don't remember it.
I'm using 1/4" frosted. For each hole, I'm engraving at 400 dpi, speed 5 100% power. The solid black circles are just a hair larger diameter than the flat screw heads. I combine this with a vector cut just larger than the screw shaft, so it drops in loosely so tightening will not crack it. Doesn't have the nice taper you get from a countersink bit in the drill press, but if you have to cut out the acrylic anyway it's only a few minutes longer on the laser, and the screws are nice and flush. No mess, accurate placement, and you can work on other things instead of standing at the bench with the drill press.
with the laser. Someone else may have done this before but I don't remember it.
I'm using 1/4" frosted. For each hole, I'm engraving at 400 dpi, speed 5 100% power. The solid black circles are just a hair larger diameter than the flat screw heads. I combine this with a vector cut just larger than the screw shaft, so it drops in loosely so tightening will not crack it. Doesn't have the nice taper you get from a countersink bit in the drill press, but if you have to cut out the acrylic anyway it's only a few minutes longer on the laser, and the screws are nice and flush. No mess, accurate placement, and you can work on other things instead of standing at the bench with the drill press.