Problem with white etchings from black material - tips?

[Steve Garber]

I am having some issues etching a black-on-white acrylic material from Johnson Plastics - LZ901M, which is this material:


http://www.johnsonplastics.biz/detail/M37/1/1/LZ901M



It etches beautifully (removing the top layer of black and exposing the white underneath in the etchings), but there is a lot of black dust on on the sides/back of the material when cut out, and this easily gets into the white etchings and smudges/smears/stains on the white when touched.


I am curious if any of you have heard of this issue before, and how you got around it! I can etch any other color (red-on-white, green-on-white, blue-on-white, purple-on-white...) and the dust is not an issue. I'm not sure if it's the actual material I'm using (I have considered using their alternative "lasertuff" material, or an inverted color material where I will etch the black areas rather than the white) or the settings, or what... but it is a big problem since as soon as the user touches it they stain the etchings!

I've tried everything I can to fix the parts after the fact - putting them in an ultrasonic cleaner helps a little, but not that much...



Any tips would be really appreciated!

[Dave Sheldrake]

What machine Steve? what focal length? what air assist if any? what extraction?

[Mark Sipes]

Use Magic Eraser with a mild soap to wash dust from material.

[Mike Null]

You can run a clean up pass at low power and high speed that will help. Do not rub the material before putting it in water.


Red that engraves white is the worst combination for this problem.

[Clark Pace]

I have done a lot of that stuff.You did not say, but I found that I have to turn off air-assist or I get that dust

[Tony Lenkic]

Steve,

To eliminate the issue you could try with applying transfer tape after etching on the sheet before cutting. It will protect sheet from smoke residue and will pull off dust when removing.

[Clark Pace]

Steve,

To eliminate the issue you could try with applying transfer tape after etching on the sheet before cutting. It will protect sheet from smoke residue and will pull off dust when removing.


Oh yeah. I forgot. I also use transfer tape :)