cursor in plexiglass

[al ladd]

I need a fine lined black cursor in a 2" round window of 1/8" plexi or similar plastic. I need dozens or 100's soI need a quick fuss-proof technique, --something better than the utility knife scribe filled with Sharpie technique. What's in the arsenal of a good laser fabricator to make these for me? Anyone want to quote on making a couple 100?

[Glen Monaghan]

seems like UV printing the cursor and laser cutting the circle would do the trick nicely...

[Brian Lamb]

I do this for my own products. I laser a line about .005" wide and set the power so it goes maybe .005-.010" deep, cut out the rest of the part using the laser as well. I use a red grease pencil to fill the hairline, I've also used acrylic paint, but found the grease pencil to work as well and is much easier to do.

[al ladd]

Thanks for these replies. Two routes to check out. I do have a small cnc router with both a utility blade dragknife and diamond scratcher, as well as tiny engraving bits. I get close to good results with the engraving bits and diamond scratcher, but just a little fuzziness at the edges in places that looks amateurish. Maybe a super small endmill rather than a v-bit and the grease pencil? I can get lasered ornament blanks super cheap, so I just need to figure out the cursor.

[Brian Lamb]

When I first started making the hairline pointers, I milled the acrylic out on my CNC mill and then would use a 90º Mill/Drill and leave the spindle off, orient the tool by hand, and then drag across the parts with the spindle off. It works, but found that the V style groove was harder to get a consistent width and the paint or grease pencil doesn't stick very well at all. The laser works best, and it's quick.

[Steve Utick]

Thanks for these replies. Two routes to check out. I do have a small cnc router with both a utility blade dragknife and diamond scratcher, as well as tiny engraving bits. I get close to good results with the engraving bits and diamond scratcher, but just a little fuzziness at the edges in places that looks amateurish. Maybe a super small endmill rather than a v-bit and the grease pencil? I can get lasered ornament blanks super cheap, so I just need to figure out the cursor.

As Glen stated, might be a good job for UV Printing. I've got a Mimaki 6042MKiie here, so could easily UV print them if you wanted.

[Keith Outten]

Al,

You might try Rub-In-Buff to fill the line with color. This product is used frequently by other laser engravers, I keep a large drawer full of every color available in my shop.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4510797...73b589f7bdb6ca

[John Lifer]

Drop of Acrylic paint into the lasered line. Will wipe of easily as compared to rubnbuff, which will work, but will be more work getting it off and should dry in just a few minutes. But lasered line would work well.