Rowmark Textures Difficult to engrave

[Scott Anders]

Hi all, i'm struggling with engraving Rowmark textures (i used to use multigraph till they stopped supplying it) does anybody have any tips on engraving 2 pass 30watt. I'm having to do 4 passes 100% power 75% speed on a GCC Spirit GX. Any help will be greatly appreciated as this will have to be my new standard material. Or if anybody has a suggestion on a similar material with the same durability (used in mining and agricultural machinery).

[David James]

Wow, your not kidding. Funny you bring this up today. I am doing 30 plaque signs for the local SPCA. I selected the plastic for them because of their durability specification.

35 watt epilog, 2 passes, 80 speed, 100 power, with the focused down about 10 clicks to try to eliminate the raster lines. Cant say I'm to happy with it, the engraving replicates the texture. I am cutting it no problem with 20/100/5000. It works, but sure takes a long time for us small time guys with low watts. Make sure you are keeping you equipment clean too, the residue builds up quick and can burn your lenses up.

[Michael Bareno]

To engrave this material in one pass on our 35w epilog we use 30 speed, 100 power. I cannot remember what speed/power/freq we cut it at, but remember to use air assist. We have used this material for electrical tags, hotel room signs and other signage. Just finished an order for 160 6x12" signs, which took forever. Like David said, you will need to clean off the residue from your lens and mirror frequently.

[Martin Boekers]

I've had problems too. even with a 75watt mach.

It left so much dust it was incredible! I did about a 1000 2x4 door tags.

I had to stop and clean dust out of the motor gears about 10 times to keep registration for the vector and raster.

Next time my pricing goes way up!;)

Marty

[James Rambo]

I also use Rowmark textured for club name tags. I have resigned to use two passes. 1st pass raster at 75% speed and 45% power. 2nd pass raster at 100% speed 25% power and vector at 75% speed, 45% power at 2500 Hz.

[Mark Sipes]

Same here, I use 600 dpi 85 % pwr 55% speed 1000 hrz on 1st pass and then cut the power back to 55% on 2nd pass to clean it up 20watt Trotec.

DPI makes a difference, I have 125, 250, 333, 500, 600 and 1000 I can use as output setting....


Mark

[Bob Cole]

I get a much better finish running two passes. Laser seems to stay cleaner longer also.

First pass is 40pwr, 80spd,500ppi. Second pass is 20pwr, 80spd,500ppi.

When I was trying to do it in one pass, I was getting debris all over and the quality of the engraving was horrible. If there is a setting that can just get you through the very top layer a second run either faster or with less power may work out nice. I also adjust my focus away from the material just slightly. This reduces the appearance of lines.

[Rodne Gold]

Is the Rowmark texture range laserable?

[Belinda Barfield]

Is the Rowmark texture range laserable?

Yes.

I have also resigned myself to two passes with a 60 watt. Speed 85 Power 90 DPI 500.