John Kleiber
06-29-2017, 4:40 PM
A customer provided 3mm thick sheets to have engraved with clip art style images.
He identified the material as Polycarbonate. I happen to have some like thickness Polucarbonate here so I ran a test on it and it laser etches a really nasty looking yellow.
I then ran a test mark on a spare sample he provided and the results were like you would expect with acrylic, but...
But here is the problem, I looked closely at the engraving and could see super fine hair line cracks extending out from the character edges.
I tried various settings;
Power 35
Speed 300
Interval .065
In Focus and out of focus by 1/8"
Power 25
Speed 300
Interval .065
In Focus and out of focus by 1/8"
Power 20
Speed 300
Interval .065
In Focus and out of focus by 1/8"
Power 15
Speed 300
Interval .065
In Focus and out of focus by 1/8"
This setting worked the best. But when I turn the piece at just the right angle, I can see cracks.
Power 20
Speed 300
Interval .065
In Focus
I also noticed in general handling and DNA cleaning cracks developing on the outer edge of the material.
I have etched 1/4" Plexiglass which I presume was extruded, not cast, and never had this issue. At this point I am not sure what this material is and that is the problem or the issue is thickness.
Anyone have this type of issue?
362886362887362888
He identified the material as Polycarbonate. I happen to have some like thickness Polucarbonate here so I ran a test on it and it laser etches a really nasty looking yellow.
I then ran a test mark on a spare sample he provided and the results were like you would expect with acrylic, but...
But here is the problem, I looked closely at the engraving and could see super fine hair line cracks extending out from the character edges.
I tried various settings;
Power 35
Speed 300
Interval .065
In Focus and out of focus by 1/8"
Power 25
Speed 300
Interval .065
In Focus and out of focus by 1/8"
Power 20
Speed 300
Interval .065
In Focus and out of focus by 1/8"
Power 15
Speed 300
Interval .065
In Focus and out of focus by 1/8"
This setting worked the best. But when I turn the piece at just the right angle, I can see cracks.
Power 20
Speed 300
Interval .065
In Focus
I also noticed in general handling and DNA cleaning cracks developing on the outer edge of the material.
I have etched 1/4" Plexiglass which I presume was extruded, not cast, and never had this issue. At this point I am not sure what this material is and that is the problem or the issue is thickness.
Anyone have this type of issue?
362886362887362888