Engraving Polypro

[John Lifer]

I've been playing again. Some free time with my laser. My wife asked me if I could mark, engrave is probably not good description here, on a plastic box for my daughter.
Yep, polypropylene ammo box from my favorite store. Harbor Freight.

So I started on the bottom, OOPS, almost burnt thru the bottom.. Go to do better than that.
Tried again and it worked.
So I played around with some images I grabbed and some I converted.
362741
Side Image isn't quite as good, but more the image and running it with one pass.
362742

Successful with 2000 speed, 50% power on my 20Watt, and 20kHz frequency. Filled with 90 degree 0.03mm spacing.

Just passing on!

[Merritt Conner]

Very interesting, you got me thinking of some ideas. I believe a trip to HF is in order this weekend...as if I needed an excuse. Thanks for posting John.

[John Lifer]

$4.99 with one coupon, had a coupon for $3.99 for this one. NEVER, NEVER buy Anything from HF without it being on sale, (less than their normal price) AND using a coupon. :D I was really upset when the stopped 20% off coupons being used on their larger items :(

OH they have a 25% off coupon for the 4th floating around. Chinese stuff Geeeee. I'm a sucker for tools. Even cheap stuff:)

[Erik Goetheer]

Nice. Thanks for the suggestion using stuff like this with the fiber. :)

[John Lifer]

ABS works really well, the backs of my remote controls can tell you that! Start power low and keep increasing. Too much will bubble a lot of the material.
I posted link in this thread. Go dl their guide, may help with settings. Btw, their software is based on ezcad, but it is altered. Their videos do help,. Especially the basic ones, but things like much of altering vector graphics is proprietary to their software. Settings work for my 20 watt, reduce power for 30 at bit.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?255733-Purchase-update-and-questions

[Mayo Pardo]

I tried engraving the polypro ammo boxes I got from Walmart and although it did mark them, it's very difficult seeing and reading the mark from my CO2 Trotec. Probably would have worked if I masked and then painted but was short sighted and too anxious to try something new at the time.