[KwartzLab] Laser Party! Tues, Jan 10

[doug moen]

Our laser is not appropriate for cutting metal, it isn't powerful
enough.  It will etch the anodization off of anodized aluminum,
though.  Also, you should be able to spray paint metai, then
selectively etch off the spray paint.  My assumption is that "marking
compounds" work the same way.

You should never put magnesium in the laser; it can catch fire, burns
really hot, and the fire cannot be extinguished.

YAG lasers are used in eye surgery, so I wouldn't say they are
"completely ineffective" against organics.  However, they are far less
effective. You can cut thin plastic, or etch plastic, and the
effectiveness on plastic is frequency dependent (UV YAG works better).
YAG also has a much finer beam, so is good for high precision work.

On 9 January 2012 14:35, Cedric Puddy <cedric at ccjclearline.com> wrote:
> It's going to be interesting to see how well it does on aluminum; I was talking with James, and he thinks it will just ablate the aluminum oxide layer, and will not be successful in marking the underlying pure aluminum.  I'd be happy to try just in the name of "science" (wherein "science" is a word we use to refer to the act of "checking to see if James is right again").
>
> James went on to say that there are "marking compounds", which small etching shops and whatnot use, in which they paint the compound onto the area to be laser etched.  My assumption is that the compound comprises a ready supply of atoms that require a relatively modest amount of power to drive into a chemical bond with the underlying metal, so when you hit them with a relatively small laser, you get an effective permanent chemically bonded mark.
>
> Interestingly enough, apparently Yag lasers are far more effective on metal than CO2 (we have a CO2 at the lab), but are less popular on account of being completely ineffective against organics (such as paper, leather, wood, etc).   Word has it that there are dual tube units in the world that have both a CO2 and Yag source able to supply the beam line, and able to be electronically switched.
>
> -Cedric
>
>
> On 2012-01-09, at 2:13 PM, Jeff Schmidt wrote:
>
>> Cool, thanks.
>>
>> In the mean time, do any members want to laser my panels for me?  I'll buy you some pizza at Pepi's in exchange.  :)
>>
>> - Jeff
>>
>> From: Darcy Casselman <dscassel at gmail.com>
>> To: Jeff Schmidt <digitalfalcon at rogers.com>; KwartzLab Public Discussion List <discuss at kwartzlab.ca>
>> Sent: Monday, January 9, 2012 1:27:05 PM
>> Subject: Re: [KwartzLab] Laser Party! Tues, Jan 10
>>
>> We don't know yet.  Non-member laser use policy is up for discussion
>> at the next board meeting.  We'll let you know!
>>
>> Darcy.
>>
>> On Mon, Jan 9, 2012 at 11:57 AM, Jeff Schmidt <digitalfalcon at rogers.com> wrote:
>> > I'm sad I won't be able to attend.  I've got some aluminum panels that I'd
>> > love to have engraved.  Perhaps next week!  What's the cost to use it for
>> > non-members?
>> >
>> > - Jeff
>> >
>> > ________________________________
>> > From: Darcy Casselman <dscassel at gmail.com>
>> > To: KwartzLab Public Discussion List <discuss at kwartzlab.ca>
>> > Sent: Monday, January 9, 2012 10:49:03 AM
>> > Subject: [KwartzLab] Laser Party! Tues, Jan 10
>> >
>> > That's tomorrow,
>> >
>> > Sorry for the short notice. It's been discussed in person, but not so much
>> > on the list.
>> >
>> > Our official laser cutter ribbon cutting will happen tomorrow night during
>> > TON.  We'll have talks and demos and it'll be awesome.
>> >
>> > (It is my hope that we can get the laser cutter to cut its own ribbon, but
>> > as I'm not a trained laser cutter operator, I can't make that promise...)
>> >
>> > Darcy.
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
>> >
>> >
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>>
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>
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