Hello, new here. In the Ring business thinking about a CNC laser engraver -- thoughts

[Danscap]

Hello as title says. I buy and sell rings. I should say I am a college student as well, so excuse my possible stupidity.

As a way to increase revenue on the rings I sell, I had an idea of setting up a CNC laser engraver to write special inscriptions inside the rings for my customers for a fee (the CNC itself will be cheap thanks to a seemingly great find).

The company that will sell the CNC is one that seems to have a very large backing and community, so I am not worried about their product. BUT with this CNC machine they are offering a 500 mw laser (don't know wavelength -- bad sign) and I really doubt they know much about lasers.



I've read a couple of threads here, and it seems Ebay or chinese distributors are a no go. And I think that's how they got to add a 500 mw laser for only $69.

So I'm willing to take the risk on their CNC machine, but not the laser. I want to upgrade to a real laser and I'm leaning towards blue/violet as I heard it's the most W/$$.




I'm just kind of lost for a few reasons:

*the 500+ mw lasers are much larger than pen size -- not sure how well that would fare with the CNC machine. Can I get one that is thin?

*Is a 500 mw blue laser what am I looking for? I can learn to time how long to program the burn to get letters on the rings, but is it too light to begin with to write on metals like gold (14/18 karat) /platinum? Or maybe too powerful and it will burn through the metal? I have some cheap copper rings I could play with beforehand, I will always be testing.

*How much is the laser I'm looking for going to cost? + protective gear? I at least need a point diameter less than 1-2 millimeters

For reference of the machine I will be working with^


Thank you to whoever reads this and can help make my dreams come true.

 

[Lifetime17]

hi Welcome.
You posted two identical threads Ask a mod to delete one anyway welcome and enjoy your stay . Lots of info and a search bar at the bottom also many fine people here to help , but try to help your self first. its lie a LPF Google

Rich

 

[Danscap]

I just didn't know which subforu I should post to. How do I get the mod to delete the one I posted in the blue lasers subforum?

 

[paul1598419]

I don't think you can get a laser engraver for metal ablation cheap. If you do, you will probably be disappointed with the results. I'm not sure that is even the best way to engrave jewelry. That has been going on much longer than laser ablation has been around.

 

[diachi]

I don't think you can get a laser engraver for metal ablation cheap.

Need a Q-switched Nd:YAG really, or something else Q-switched in that sort of wavelength region. Definitely not cheap, unless maybe you can find an old arc-lamp pumped YAG laser somewhere for fairly cheap, that'd be far from ideal power and maintenance wise.

 

[NightExplorer96]

Hello

-Alex

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Dans --
I don't recommend a laser of any wavelength. The reflectivity of the
polished metal will likely cause dangerous and power robbing reflections.
A pulsed laser will likely deliver a string of dots unless you scan slowly.
HM

 

[diachi]

A pulsed laser will likely deliver a string of dots unless you scan slowly.
HM

Yep, need to go with something with a high rep rate, few khz to 15-20khz is fairly typical. Be hard to move fast enough to crate dots at those rep rates.

Good point on the reflections.

 

[Danscap]

I see. Thank you all for the counsel!
The fact that I don't even understand a lot of what has been said probably means I'm risking too much for little returns given my current level of knowledge.

Back to the drawing board!

 

[Crazlaser]

Try an etcher?

 

[CurtisOliver]

You need a fibre laser marking/engraving machine. I was looking at getting one, but expect a $4000 price tag for even the most basic portable style machine.

 

[10fenny]

Ha alex... hello! I'm here now.. all is good!

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Huh?
Hm