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View Full Version : tested LMM14 v LMM6000 v LS100 v LS900



Kev Williams
11-03-2019, 8:48 PM
I decided to spend a few minutes with my 2 Gravograph's and 2 Cermarks and see what happens...

First, I shook well the LMM14 and poured a smidge into a shot glass, then dribbled about an equal amount of DNA in then stirred with a small, new artists brush. Then I smeared some on a 1x3 stainless plate. First thing I noticed was you can't brush this stuff, it won't flow. It was a bit thick, but not THAT thick. Wouldn't flow flat. So I smeared it as evenly as possible with the brush. It was a bit lean -and heavy- in spots, but not bad. IF I started using this, I'd have to spray it. Foam brush might work, but...

Then I shook up some LMM6000 and smeared a second plate with it, using an artists fan brush. As usual, the 6000 flowed out nice and flat.

Then I took the 2 plates to the LS100 machine and ran the large text. Then I moved the plates to the LS900 and engraved the small text.

Most of you know that I complain that the lens in my LS100 makes Cermark GRAY instead of BLACK. My LS900, and my GCC, makes Cermark BLACK. I confirmed that the LS100 LENS is the problem, not the machine (the LS900 lens used in the LS100 makes black)..

So I was HOPING that, due to the positive reviews, the LMM14 would go black in the LS100 rather than gray.

Nope.

Both version work identically, to my eye. The 14 is a bit inconsistent, but it matches the inconsistent layer I brushed on. Otherwise, there's no difference between it and the 6000...
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When you view these full size, you'll note the smaller lettering is several shades darker than the large lettering, in both versions of Cermark.
And for fun, I split the colors of this photo to CYMK in CorelPaint, and the negative-yellow version came out like this-
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--at full size, the smaller lettering is much brighter- which means much blacker- than the larger...
It's frustrating to not be able to use the 100 for Cermarking, so I guess it's time to buy a new lens.

I have many lenses for the Triumph (which will make Cermark brown, gray, gold, anything BUT black) that I could test but they're all 20mm lenses, and the LS100 uses a 19mm. But maybe I can jury-rig a holder for testing. I'm real curious if my GaAs lenses will work...

Anyway, next test with the LMM14 is to try spraying it. I do like how it works, just not how it brushes on..

Mike Null
11-04-2019, 12:30 PM
No test here but an example of the density of LMM6000 applied with a foam brush. Consistency of 2% milk.

I always run Cermark at 600 dpi.

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Kev Williams
11-04-2019, 1:50 PM
Looks good :) -That's my normal MO, thin 6000, foam brush, nice black results...

More than anything I just want the LS100 to make ANY blackening agent go black instead of the gray I'm getting. This laser is by far the best-engraving laser I own, and is the most powerful of my 3 metal lasers...

John Lifer
11-04-2019, 4:37 PM
When I've done the LMM14, a foam brush works, but it eats it up. So you have bits of foam in the material pretty quickly.
I successfully used a small acid brush to brush it out. But it doesn't like to be brushed.