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Laser Etching and Engraving on metals

arukah

I'm looking at building a small , 200mm x 200mm laser engraver/etcher for metal projects. I'm up for ideas and input. Just wondering if a laser from a large copying machine would be strong enough.

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    You need quite a serious laser to make any sort of mark on metal. You can just about do it with a 40W CO2 laser and a product like cermark.

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    I've never really looked but my thoughts are that in a copier the laser probably doesn't have much power, its only discharging the charged drum through a photoelectric effect rather than doing any burning. Like states, at least 40W for burning/engraving...which probably only cuts thin non-metal materials or foil. If you search the internet many are >150W for cutting. From one website I chose at random they state:

    The standard 50W water cooled CO2 glass laser tube is suitable for engraving and cutting a wide range of materials such as paper, card, fabrics, leather, plastics, rubber and wood.
    Using the additional power of the 60W laser tube options, slate, stone and glass can be engraved. Uncoated metals can also be engraved with the use of a ceramic marking compound.

    My home printer (similar to a photocopier I guess) is listed as "Class 1" on the back label, which this list states cannot burn....then again I wouldn't take it apart to look at !

     

    Also watch out for fumes and force extraction to the outside...somethings will give off toxic gas when ablated in this way.

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    Short answer is no.

     

    To engrave or cut metal, you have to understand the atomic structure of the metal and its susceptibility to the specific wavelength of the laser.

    Power does matter. The key to success is having enough energy at a localized spot that can heat the metal before the atoms have enough time to transfer the photons to surrounding atoms.

     

    If you look at professional grade lasers, they usually have very high power that can be pulsed to provide just enough localized energy on the spot they want to cut or ablate.

     

    Peak power is usually in the multi kilowatt range. You are not going to get that kind of power from a laser diode.

     

    DAB