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Laser & driver for Anodized Aluminum Etching/Engraving

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RogerDee

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Dec 10, 2013
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Hello everyone! This is my first post here, I was quite happy to see a forum dedicated to laser pointer! I did a lot of research online and most of the thread opened on cnczone linked to your forum.

I am machining parts that I anodize myself. So far I always engrave them using a small cutting bits on my CNC mill but lately I have been intensively thinking about a laser. I found a lot of information online but most people use their laser to cut/engrave wood and plastic. I would like to use it to engrave part number and branding/logo on the parts that I do. It seems that laser have a lot of utilities and I had a hard time finding someone that did what I want to do without going to a 3~4000$+ engraving machine.

From what I understand, anodized aluminum will be easier to etch than raw aluminum because of it's lower reflectivity. I am looking to buy a laser diode and build the proper driver circuit and enclosure. I am currently in the process of doing a little 2 axis router that I want to put that laser on. The only part that is setting me back is the laser choice and the way I will drive it. I have some big cnc mill that I can use for my test until the router is up and running.

I know I have a lot to learn and I am willing to put the time into it. My budget is around 300~400 for the diode and driver circuit.

Thanks to everyone who will take their time for me, I really appreciate!
-Roger
 





Speedy78

Speedy78

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You may be able to manipulate a bar diode in the IR spectrum to produce enough power for this though it would need active water cooling and a beafy power supply. You best best would be a co2 laser though it will quickly exceed your budget for all the mirrors and culminating head. Not to mention both are extremley dangerous and would need to be housed in an enclosed environtment.
 
R

RogerDee

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Yeah I read that C02 tube are extremely sensitive to vibration and they are quite expensive to start with. I can make or buy the power supply depending on the cost/BOM involved. Since I'm a machinist I could even make a nice tube holder for the diode and run water cooling line all around or have them built-in. The router is in an enclosed box so no worry on this. I keep reading on Q-switching, is it something doable on a small scale project?

Thanks! :)
 
Speedy78

Speedy78

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The q switched lasers are pulsed on the time scale of nano seconds and will definitely exceed your budget by far. On a typical co2 set up the tube is located away from all the moving parts and there are steering miroors that bring the beam to the head. That catches the light and focuses it down to a small point for more power density. If you want what is producing the light to be on your 2 axis router then your only optiin is really a bar diode array. They will need water cooling and focusing/corrective optics along with the modulated constant current driver. Here at LPF we tend not to deal with IR or powers on this magnitude but there are a few people that can steer you in the right direction.
 
R

RogerDee

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Thanks for your explanation, it all makes senses.

I can understand that these type of laser are not the one you would use on a handheld device thus not the most popular on this forum. Hopefully the few people that could give me usefull information will see this thread and jump in.
 
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swamidog

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Aug 21, 2009
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you will have no trouble laser etching black anodized aluminum with a low power co2 laser. i recently had some aluminum panels engraved with one of my designs for a project i'm building.

i did the artwork in illustrator and the panels were etched with a 30W co2 laser.

bug-burned-final.jpg



RogerDee said:
Hello everyone! This is my first post here, I was quite happy to see a forum dedicated to laser pointer! I did a lot of research online and most of the thread opened on cnczone linked to your forum.

I am machining parts that I anodize myself. So far I always engrave them using a small cutting bits on my CNC mill but lately I have been intensively thinking about a laser. I found a lot of information online but most people use their laser to cut/engrave wood and plastic. I would like to use it to engrave part number and branding/logo on the parts that I do. It seems that laser have a lot of utilities and I had a hard time finding someone that did what I want to do without going to a 3~4000$+ engraving machine.

From what I understand, anodized aluminum will be easier to etch than raw aluminum because of it's lower reflectivity. I am looking to buy a laser diode and build the proper driver circuit and enclosure. I am currently in the process of doing a little 2 axis router that I want to put that laser on. The only part that is setting me back is the laser choice and the way I will drive it. I have some big cnc mill that I can use for my test until the router is up and running.

I know I have a lot to learn and I am willing to put the time into it. My budget is around 300~400 for the diode and driver circuit.

Thanks to everyone who will take their time for me, I really appreciate!
-Roger
Click to expand...
 
R

RogerDee

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Joined
Dec 10, 2013
Messages
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swamidog said:
you will have no trouble laser etching black anodized aluminum with a low power co2 laser. i recently had some aluminum panels engraved with one of my designs for a project i'm building.

i did the artwork in illustrator and the panels were etched with a 30W co2 laser.
Click to expand...

Wow, if I can ever get to that kind of finish quality i'd be more than happy.

Did you had it etched by someone or you did it yourself? I wonder on what kind of machine it was made and the cost involved. A co2 tube and power supply can fit in my budget but Speedy was telling me how the co2 tube need to be put away from any vibration source.
 
S

swamidog

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Messages
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it was etched on an epilog system, but it is not hard to imagine getting results that approximate this with a homemade system.

everything you need is right here: Laser & CNC

RogerDee said:
Wow, if I can ever get to that kind of finish quality i'd be more than happy.

Did you had it etched by someone or you did it yourself? I wonder on what kind of machine it was made and the cost involved. A co2 tube and power supply can fit in my budget but Speedy was telling me how the co2 tube need to be put away from any vibration source.
Click to expand...
 
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