Explain Hatching

[Lee Childers]

Hi, I do gunsmiths work and purchased a 30watt fiber laser to do some engraving and marking on firearms . I have searched the internet and various forums for information on the different hatch functions but have found very little information on this topic. Is there a preferred hatch thats more suited for a "deep engrave" opposed to hatch more for marking ? smoothest?best detail?..TY

[Bill George]

Hi, I do gunsmiths work and purchased a 30watt fiber laser to do some engraving and marking on firearms . I have searched the internet and various forums for information on the different hatch functions but have found very little information on this topic. Is there a preferred hatch thats more suited for a "deep engrave" opposed to hatch more for marking ? smoothest?best detail?..TY

You must not of Searched here, and a lot of fiber work is trial and error plus a log book to keep track of those settings you find that works.

[Kev Williams]

What Bill said. After a year and a half with my machine, I just recently found some settings that work to engrave Glock slides fairly deep, fairly quickly, and with very little if any edge burr, very smooth and easily paintable. Yet, these settings only work for Glock slides and some aluminum. Stainless steel plates and other steel gun parts engraved identically leaves me with a nasty slag burr along the edges. Still trying to figure out what I need to do differently. It's a problem with many firearms parts because you can't sand or scotchbrite the burr off, it simply must not be there in the first place.

My fiber is the most fascinating, AND the most frustrating piece of equipment I've ever owned :)

[Lee Childers]

Ty for the response

[Tim Bateson]

Completed this yesterday. Customer wanted a slag free edge, but that rough look deep down. Here's the process I used on my 50 watt:

Painter's tape for first 10 passes, then remove. Not sure this helped, but didn't hurt.
10 passes at 1000 Sp / 100 Power / 35 KHz
Removed tape
10 passes at 3500 / 75 / 45 x 7 at different angles
5 passes at 3500 / 45 / 80 with Contour x 2 at different angles

Note - The rough looking edge was the Font used, not slag.

376622

[Lee Childers]

Looks Great !!! thanks for the info

[Bill George]

Looks Great !!! thanks for the info

Tim is using a 50 watt machine, so more than likely not will work or look the same on yours.