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Thread: Fiber marking contoured gun slides

  1. #1

    Fiber marking contoured gun slides

    Hiw do you mark co toured gun slides? Or even flat slides that have serrations (which creates some change in focus).

    I'm interested in an all-encompassing answer but for the current specific firearm I'm working with, it is a CZ P09.

    As an aside, can we stipple polymer frames with our fiber lasers by hitting many times?

    Thanks for your help guys.

    30w fiber (chinese)

  2. #2
    If/once you have a good understanding of how the fiber operates, especially with respect to hatch type and density, power WRT to substrate etc. youtube videos can be a great teacher. Beware changing focal plane while running a deep engraving.

    Your short answer is yes, if you have it setup correctly.
    Epilog Legend 36EXT ~35W
    30W Fiber Laser
    Ender 3 PRO
    Corel X6
    AutoCAD 2019
    FFL 01

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by Chris DeGerolamo View Post
    If/once you have a good understanding of how the fiber operates, especially with respect to hatch type and density, power WRT to substrate etc. youtube videos can be a great teacher. Beware changing focal plane while running a deep engraving.

    Your short answer is yes, if you have it setup correctly.
    Thanks, appreciate it. I already knew for sure I could mark on it but I'd like to head toward stippling. There are many youtube vids showing the process but literally no one is willing to give away their "trade secrets" in the form of power settings, hatch type, and how many passes. I have not experimented with the drill settings or deep engravings yet because gun frames are expensive and hard to come by without paying full price (for testing)

    What I'm curious about with a contoured slide is, for example, the P09 I'm working with has 4 distinct flat sections so I'm assuming if I can line it up correctly I could break the image into 4 sections and realign the slide for each one.

    Issue is, if I'm even 1mm off I could end up with overlapping on the edges. Really don't want to put out subpar work.

  4. #4
    Yeah, if it aligns. My guess is the eye would detect 0.25mm and maybe even less. Fixturing would be key and critical for success....and, you can assume the red dot and laser are in 100% alignment.

    No surprise no one want to share their efforts...I cannot recall if anyone ever posted their settings for Glocks on here, seems like I saw something once.
    Epilog Legend 36EXT ~35W
    30W Fiber Laser
    Ender 3 PRO
    Corel X6
    AutoCAD 2019
    FFL 01

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    I have not seen one person, anywhere, post their settings for stippling. I would imagine b/c the time and effort that was put into the design and settings.
    Universal 60w VLS6.60 w/ rotary
    RayFine 30w MOPA
    Corel X8, Photoshop

    Fab shop with South Bend Heavy 10, Bridgeport 9x42, 185a welder and a multitude of supporting tools/equipment

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Glock? To stipple with a 20 Watt fiber Start with 150mm/s Speed, 75% power, 300 frequency, 90 and 270 degree .02 mm line spacing.
    Single pass and if deeper needed go over again. I have my hatching auto rotating 10 degrees. Last one I did I think I ran it twice.

    It ain't magic on a Glock, but I'm failing miserably on other nylons.
    Woodworking, Old Tools and Shooting
    Ray Fine RF-1390 Laser Ray Fine 20watt Fiber Laser
    SFX 50 Watt Fiber Laser
    PM2000, Delta BS, Delta sander, Powermatic 50 jointer,
    Powermatic 100-12 planer, Rockwell 15-126 radial drill press
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  7. #7
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    Well....there you go. I have noticed that as well. I haven't found any settings that will work on Ruger frames.....it just wants to burn. I have also noticed the same thing with PMAGS vs other brands.
    Universal 60w VLS6.60 w/ rotary
    RayFine 30w MOPA
    Corel X8, Photoshop

    Fab shop with South Bend Heavy 10, Bridgeport 9x42, 185a welder and a multitude of supporting tools/equipment

  8. #8
    PMAGs are high speed low power...like 10 or 12% depending on what we mark. Crosshatch for additional brightness. Varying hatch densities can affect color.
    Epilog Legend 36EXT ~35W
    30W Fiber Laser
    Ender 3 PRO
    Corel X6
    AutoCAD 2019
    FFL 01

  9. #9
    You guys are greatly appreciated. All of you. I have been wanting to spend more time on this forum contributing and have been assaulted by constant time constraints and setbacks but I am in a better place to further my testing and my work and am excited to share stuff on here with you guys.

    Thanks again for the glock settings. That's a great starting point. I've got Pmags down. Except for the shading. I saw a youtube vid run over a pmag 4 times and it created a true shading effect. Was super sexy. It's a statue of liberty if any of you have seen it


    I'm gonna work toward finding an artist (usually the only thing that holds me back because I suck at graphic design) to get some slide artwork done up for me and I'll report back with how it works out.

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Chris DeGerolamo View Post
    PMAGs are high speed low power...like 10 or 12% depending on what we mark. Crosshatch for additional brightness. Varying hatch densities can affect color.
    When you say cross hatch just run 2 hatch routines and make the angles perpendicular?

  11. #11
    Brandon, yes-- but note that older versions of EzCad require 2 routines to cross hatch, example, hatch 1 @ 45°, hatch 2 @ 135° -- but newer versions allow for a cross hatch in a single routine, whatever angle entered, an automatic right-angle cross hatch is generated.

    As to engraving partially out of focus, it can be done- I did this grip in a single 'focus pass' (many CUT passes, but I never changed the focus) and was surprised at how well it turned out. The engraving got a bit 'vague' at the lower extremes, but there was almost 1/4" difference between the high and low points...
    grip.jpg

    Do some focus experimenting, I've found that the focal range is more forgiving when too close rather than too far from the work-- meaning, if you split the distance between the high and low points, 60% too close may give better results than 50% too close...
    ========================================
    ELEVEN - rotary cutter tool machines
    FOUR - CO2 lasers
    THREE- make that FOUR now - fiber lasers
    ONE - vinyl cutter
    CASmate, Corel, Gravostyle


  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by Brandon Whitton View Post
    When you say cross hatch just run 2 hatch routines and make the angles perpendicular?
    Yep. I grabbed one of my pmags and tested with (something like) a 5mm circle and moved the mag around trying different settings til they passed the scratch test - scratch the mark once you think it looks good, if it comes off increase the power a tick or two til you get what you want.
    Epilog Legend 36EXT ~35W
    30W Fiber Laser
    Ender 3 PRO
    Corel X6
    AutoCAD 2019
    FFL 01

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by Kev Williams View Post
    Brandon, yes-- but note that older versions of EzCad require 2 routines to cross hatch, example, hatch 1 @ 45°, hatch 2 @ 135° -- but newer versions allow for a cross hatch in a single routine, whatever angle entered, an automatic right-angle cross hatch is generated.

    As to engraving partially out of focus, it can be done- I did this grip in a single 'focus pass' (many CUT passes, but I never changed the focus) and was surprised at how well it turned out. The engraving got a bit 'vague' at the lower extremes, but there was almost 1/4" difference between the high and low points...
    grip.jpg

    Do some focus experimenting, I've found that the focal range is more forgiving when too close rather than too far from the work-- meaning, if you split the distance between the high and low points, 60% too close may give better results than 50% too close...
    I'm going to become a contributor so I can view that photo.

    Thanks again for the tips, as for different version of EZCAD, if I can get a hold of a newer version can I use the settings provided by the company that sold me my laser to set it up or are the different versions different enough that it may not work with my laser?

  14. #14
    What version EzCad you have? Getting a newer version from anywhere but who sold you the laser will likely require a new controller card too...

    And please do become a contributor in the meantime:

    ========================================
    ELEVEN - rotary cutter tool machines
    FOUR - CO2 lasers
    THREE- make that FOUR now - fiber lasers
    ONE - vinyl cutter
    CASmate, Corel, Gravostyle


  15. #15
    Join Date
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    Is that your 30 watt Kev? I've a little Kimber that has great stippling on the back, but nothing on the front. I've resorted to using some stair tape on it (which works well, but not real pretty) I've been wanting to hatch it, but I just don't think my 20watt will cut deep enough on the outsides
    Woodworking, Old Tools and Shooting
    Ray Fine RF-1390 Laser Ray Fine 20watt Fiber Laser
    SFX 50 Watt Fiber Laser
    PM2000, Delta BS, Delta sander, Powermatic 50 jointer,
    Powermatic 100-12 planer, Rockwell 15-126 radial drill press
    Rockwell 46-450 lathe, and 2 Walker Turner RA1100 radial saws
    Jet JWS18, bandsaw Carbide Create CNC, RIA 22TCM 1911s and others

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