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Thread: Anyone tried Engraving Polypropylene?

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Anyone tried Engraving Polypropylene?

    Has anyone tried to burn Polypropylene? I been trying to engrave Pelican Cases and I only get one to try it on. Any Ideas Gents?
    Eddie Castaneda
    Wire-Tech, Inc.

    Trotec Speedy 300 flexx 60W CO2 Laser/30W Fiber Laser
    EngraveLab 9.0
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  2. #2
    Eddie

    If I recall accurately, the last time I tried it the poly tended to melt rather than engrave. I did get an image but it was a bit ragged. I would suggest lower power and more than one pass.

    Here is the Synrad applications page with some info. http://www.synrad.com/Search/search....=0&zoom_sort=0
    Mike Null

    St. Louis Laser, Inc.

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  3. #3
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    Mike You have been a really big help!!! Thank You!
    Eddie Castaneda
    Wire-Tech, Inc.

    Trotec Speedy 300 flexx 60W CO2 Laser/30W Fiber Laser
    EngraveLab 9.0
    CorelDraw X6






  4. #4
    Eddie - have you tried it yet? If not try to experiment on other items that you know to be polypropylene. For recycling they will often be marked 5 in a triangle with PP below. In my experience polypropylene engraves like a block of wax - meaning not very well. Not unexpected, as the polyethylene and polypropylene molecules are not very far from wax. It even smells like wax when lasered.

  5. #5
    I don't know if I have ever tried polypropylene but most plastics that only melt with a co2 mark very well with a yag.
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  6. #6
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    Richard I did try on a small section of the case, but just like you said it melted pretty quick. I'm going back to the drawing board see what else I have in house I can test it on!
    Eddie Castaneda
    Wire-Tech, Inc.

    Trotec Speedy 300 flexx 60W CO2 Laser/30W Fiber Laser
    EngraveLab 9.0
    CorelDraw X6






  7. #7
    Eddie, your signature says you have a Flex. Are your results with CO2 or Fiber?
    Scott Challoner
    30W LaserPro Spirit (Need more power)
    30W Wisely Fiber Galvo

  8. #8
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    Scott the setting I used were for the CO2
    Eddie Castaneda
    Wire-Tech, Inc.

    Trotec Speedy 300 flexx 60W CO2 Laser/30W Fiber Laser
    EngraveLab 9.0
    CorelDraw X6






  9. #9
    I can't say I know much about fiber lasers, but I thought that apart from being able to mark metals without a product like Cermark, they are also supposed to be better for plastics that don't mark well with CO2. I certainly could be wrong, but I think I would play with the fiber. At least give your Trotec rep a call and see if they can point you in the right direction. Just my $.02
    Scott Challoner
    30W LaserPro Spirit (Need more power)
    30W Wisely Fiber Galvo

  10. #10
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    I had tried the Fiber and I kinda melted the Plastic but then again I was 25% power.
    Eddie Castaneda
    Wire-Tech, Inc.

    Trotec Speedy 300 flexx 60W CO2 Laser/30W Fiber Laser
    EngraveLab 9.0
    CorelDraw X6






  11. #11
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    I did some engraving with Polyethylene, not the same but similar issues....masking tape on the top made the result acceptable, otherwise was not too pretty. I think the tape helps dial down the power a little (this is on an 80w chinese tube) and stops the melt/splatter that the plastic produces from re-sticking and making a mess.
    80 watt RECI 1290 Shenhui laser.
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  12. #12
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    With fiber, frequency has a huge effect on mark visibility... I think you need to revisit that.
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  13. Quote Originally Posted by Mike Null View Post
    Eddie

    If I recall accurately, the last time I tried it the poly tended to melt rather than engrave. I did get an image but it was a bit ragged. I would suggest lower power and more than one pass.

    Here is the Synrad applications page with some info. http://www.synrad.com/Search/search....=0&zoom_sort=0

    I have a 40w Universal. I used 45/92/400 and it marked it quite nicely. I do Pelican cases all the time for the Police.

  14. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Lisa Hiemstra View Post
    I have a 40w Universal. I used 45/92/400 and it marked it quite nicely. I do Pelican cases all the time for the Police.

    you know this is 4 year old post
    If the Help and advice you received here was of any VALUE to you PLEASE! Become a Contributor
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  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Bert Kemp View Post
    you know this is 4 year old post
    6 year old post!
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