A Case Study: The Complete Process of Optimizing Parameters for Stainless Steel Logo Engraving

The course explains how to optimize parameters for stainless steel logo engraving, including laser power, feed rate, and tool selection, to help participants improve the accuracy and efficiency of their engravings.This book is intended for use by designers and operators of CNC machinery who work with stainless steel.

Why is parameter optimization so important for stainless steel sculpture?

All of my fellow logo engravers know that if you don't adjust the parameters correctly, the worst case is that the material is completely ruined, and the best case is that the pattern is blurry.This is especially the case with complex designs, where there is often a problem with uneven depth of cutting and the presence of rough edges.Last year we took on a job to engrave a logo for a high-end brand, and the client requested a mirror finish. The first two attempts were total disasters. Either the reflection was uneven, or the corners of the logo were chipped.After spending two weeks fine-tuning the parameters, he finally got the best solution.

The three main methods of parameter optimization are the simplex method, the conjugate gradient method, and the Newton-Raphson method.

A balance of power and speed.

The more powerful the machine, the better--but not always. For example, when working with stainless steel, which is very hard, the machine's power has to be carefully calibrated. If the power is set too high, the blade will burn up.Our experience is that you first select the diameter of the tool based on the thickness of the material (for example, a 0.8-mm flat bottom tool is used for a 2-mm thick board), and then you calculate the power based on the load that the tool can withstand.For example, when using a 120W optical fiber laser, the most effective feed rate is 800-1000mm / min.

The hidden art of knife selection.

Don't underestimate the importance of the coating on a knife.The same tungsten carbide blade with a TiAlN coating can last three times longer, especially when cutting curved letters.He also knows some "cold" facts that are not generally known, such as that when the depth of the carving exceeds 0.3 millimeters, it is more convenient to use a 30-degree chisel rather than a flat chisel, and the edges will be cleaner.

The cooling system is operated by a crank.

Have you ever seen anyone use cooking oil as a coolant? One time, when we were in a rush, I thought of trying it, and it worked surprisingly well--it's the right viscosity and doesn't evaporate.Of course, we still recommend using special cutting fluid. The key is to ensure that the spray angle is directly on the cutting head, and adjust the flow rate to about 150 milliliters per minute.A lot of people miss out this detail: When you stop the machine, you should turn off the coolant first, then the spindle. Otherwise, the residual liquid will leave a stain on the surface.

The data will tell you the difference.

Before optimization: power 90W / speed 1200mm / min → surface scorched.

Optimized: 75W / 950 mm / min → mirror finish achieved.

When a company switched from using ordinary tungsten steel knives to coated knives, the number of carvings a single knife could produce rose from 80 to 260.The final trick was to adjust the depth of the cut (from 0.25 mm to 0.18 mm), and the burrs disappeared.

Three common mistakes.

Blindly believing the equipment's preset parameters (the composition of stainless steel differs widely among brands).

2. Ignoring the impact of temperature (when the temperature in the workshop exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, the speed must be reduced by 10 %).

3. Forgetting to calibrate the focus (at least once a week).

Next time you're carving a stainless steel logo, why not first use some of the scraps for a matrix test.Remember, good parameters are always tested out, and the data of others can only be used as a reference.After all, every company has different equipment and batches of raw material, and the best solution is the one that is right for each individual company.