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Thread: Laser engraving sterling silver

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    116

    Laser engraving sterling silver

    Is is at possible to to laser engrave sterling silver--- maybe with cermark.

    My gut says no way. But SMC members know best.

    Merry Christmas--

    Mark Conde
    Mark Conde
    Fishers, IN
    Epilog 30 Watt (wished I went bigger)
    FULLY equipped woodworking shop

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Sammamish, WA
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    7,630
    I read something on this in a Cermark tip sheet, possibly from Epilog or maybe Laserbits. As I recall it may require more power,
    50 watts or more? and slower speed and sometimes will not work at all. Perhaps try it on one of your wife's old silver forks.
    I think sterling has a high percentage of silver and is therefore softer than most materials Cermark is used for.



    Sammamish, WA

    Epilog Legend 24TT 45W, had a sign business for 17 years, now just doing laser work on the side.

    "One only needs two tools in life: WD-40 to make things go, and duct tape to make them stop." G. Weilacher

    "The handyman's secret weapon - Duct Tape" R. Green

  3. #3

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Shefford, United Kingdom
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    685
    nope but a yag does a great job, if you get stuck have a word with Ted laser laserscribe in Indy, hes a great bloke and can engrave stuff for you.
    L Squared Lasers UK
    2 x Halo Lasers 20 watt fiber
    1 x Halo CO2 Galvo System
    1 x Shenhui 1512 80 watt
    3 x Electrox D40
    3 x electrox Scriba 2
    1 x Electrox Scorpion 40 watt Fibre
    1 x Epilog EXT36 75 watt.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Newstead, NY
    Posts
    18
    Keep in mind that sterling is frequently lacquered and if that's the case Cermark will not be an option.
    Jeff Aichinger
    Class Act Engraving, Inc.

    Epilog Laser Distributor
    for Upstate NY, W PA and WV

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
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    Thanks for the good info. And now I am anxious to meet Laserscribe in my backyard.

    Merry Christmas

    Mark
    Mark Conde
    Fishers, IN
    Epilog 30 Watt (wished I went bigger)
    FULLY equipped woodworking shop

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Shefford, United Kingdom
    Posts
    685
    Hes not doing the same thing a you so you have nothing to worry about, also here been doing his thing for over 20 years, i worked with him in Indy 12 years ago, its all galvo laser he has. Also hes way down on the south side, from memory fishers is up north (but it has been 12 years)

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Conde View Post
    Thanks for the good info. And now I am anxious to meet Laserscribe in my backyard.

    Merry Christmas

    Mark
    L Squared Lasers UK
    2 x Halo Lasers 20 watt fiber
    1 x Halo CO2 Galvo System
    1 x Shenhui 1512 80 watt
    3 x Electrox D40
    3 x electrox Scriba 2
    1 x Electrox Scorpion 40 watt Fibre
    1 x Epilog EXT36 75 watt.

  8. #8
    i have had no luck with my epilog 40w, I have tried it with cermark and 2 speed with 100 power, just rubs right off, just needs a more powerful tube........

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
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    Cape Town, South Africa
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    There is a major problem , sliver tarnishes and is cleaned with abraisive polishes which DO remove the mark.
    Rodney Gold, Toker Bros trophies, Cape Town , South Africa :
    Roland 2300 rotary . 3 x ISEL's ..1m x 500mm CnC .
    Tekcel 1200x2400 router , 900 x 600 60w Shenui laser , 1200 x 800 80w Reci tube Shenhui Laser
    6 x longtai lasers 400x600 60w , 1 x longtai 20w fiber
    2x Gravo manual engravers , Roland 540 large format printer/cutter. CLTT setup
    1600mm hot and cold laminator , 3x Dopag resin dispensers , sandblasting setup, acid etcher

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    Shefford, United Kingdom
    Posts
    685
    Our fiber laser is amazing on silver but with 40 watts it should be!383284_10150401787882245_732132244_8967804_120370090_n[1].jpg
    L Squared Lasers UK
    2 x Halo Lasers 20 watt fiber
    1 x Halo CO2 Galvo System
    1 x Shenhui 1512 80 watt
    3 x Electrox D40
    3 x electrox Scriba 2
    1 x Electrox Scorpion 40 watt Fibre
    1 x Epilog EXT36 75 watt.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
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    Sounds like I need an additional big boy Laser. Hopefully there is still time to get it on Santa's list.
    Mark Conde
    Fishers, IN
    Epilog 30 Watt (wished I went bigger)
    FULLY equipped woodworking shop

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Shefford, United Kingdom
    Posts
    685
    Hes going to have fun trying to get it down a chimney
    L Squared Lasers UK
    2 x Halo Lasers 20 watt fiber
    1 x Halo CO2 Galvo System
    1 x Shenhui 1512 80 watt
    3 x Electrox D40
    3 x electrox Scriba 2
    1 x Electrox Scorpion 40 watt Fibre
    1 x Epilog EXT36 75 watt.

  13. #13
    Matt,
    do yo mind giving me settings for silver with my electrox? I have done one silver job and I wasn't happy with the results (customer loved it) so I have since turned down all silver engraving jobs that are brought to me.
    Universal M-300 (35 Watt CO2)
    Universal X-660 (50 Watt CO2)

    Hans (35 watt YAG)
    Electrox Cobra (40 watt YAG)


    Glass With Class, Cameron, Wisconsin

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Shefford, United Kingdom
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    685
    Keep the power high 90-100% and on the yag i would start with about 8khz and speed of about 200mm/second. Focus is critical on silver, and it normally need to be run at least twice, onces it starts engraving its easy. After a couple of goes at high power i run a clean up pass 20khz/1000mm sec/90% power as it removes the soot, you normally get a burr that i polish off and its done, we do quite a few rings in silver and gold.
    L Squared Lasers UK
    2 x Halo Lasers 20 watt fiber
    1 x Halo CO2 Galvo System
    1 x Shenhui 1512 80 watt
    3 x Electrox D40
    3 x electrox Scriba 2
    1 x Electrox Scorpion 40 watt Fibre
    1 x Epilog EXT36 75 watt.

  15. #15
    Do those settings just mark it or does it actually engrave into it? Just so I know what to expect.
    Universal M-300 (35 Watt CO2)
    Universal X-660 (50 Watt CO2)

    Hans (35 watt YAG)
    Electrox Cobra (40 watt YAG)


    Glass With Class, Cameron, Wisconsin

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