I searched all over the forum and I can't find the exact answer I am looking for.
- I work at a cemetery and engrave 304 stainless steel plates (called lot blocks) that are 5"x3". For the past 5 yrs I had been engraving them on the Epilog Legend 36EXT 75 watt CO2 using Cermark.
- We just got a new engraver, Epilog Fusion M2 40 dual power 75W CO2 / 50W Fiber.
Although the Cermark on the Legend gave good dark marks, it was costly as we have to do thousands a month and over the yrs, the cermark began to fade away beating in the Cali Sun. Weather the Cermark wasn't mixed correctly or its just wear from the sun, either way, we are now using the new Fusion.
So the good thing is that I etch using the fiber and actually remove some of the SS on the lot block giving it some depth. However It is very light. Is there anyway to make it almost black like cermark?
- Right now I am using the manufacturer's settings of: 40S/100P/3F
- For the Focus settings it says to use -0.8 - +0.10. I have NO idea what that means. I thought I just need to use the 3" focus tool and that was it.
- I also run another pass using vector cut with the setting of: 50S/100P/20F
I like the vector cut because it gives it a good deep outline for the numbers and lines I am engraving into the SS that I can feel.
Does anyone know a good setting to use?
I am not use to using Frequency settings for Raster. I am used to the CO2 engraver that does have Frequency for Raster and only Speed and Power.
In the Fusion I can load 72 lot blocks and do them all at once while I'm out of the office doing other tasks. I am trying to keep it under 2hrs if possible to complete that many because as I mentioned I have to do thousands in a month.
I attached some photos. Some do look dark but it brush right off so I think i got my settings off. I want to get as deep an etch as well as dark as possible as time permits.
Any knowledge is much appreciated.
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