Selecting the Proper Laser Parameters for Layered Marking

The key is to match the laser parameters accurately.The book covers three key areas: material characteristics, power adjustment, and speed control. It shows readers how to adjust laser parameters according to the material being used, such as metal or plastic, to achieve both efficiency and precision, while also solving common problems such as uneven depth and blurred details.

Why is it necessary to have "different menus for different tastes"?

When using laser to cut, don't think that one set of parameters can be used for everything.Just as there are different levels of heat for cooking, different materials and different designs require different combinations of laser power, frequency, and speed.To give an example: marking metal surfaces requires high-power pulses, whereas marking plastics requires low-power pulses to avoid burning.If you don't get these techniques right, the finished product will have a blurry surface or the bottom layer will show through.

Three steps to finding the best combination of parameters.

First, you have to get to know the material's "temperament.

But before you begin, you must first know the "ins and outs" of the object you are processing.Most metal materials require 20-80 watts of power, with a frequency of 2,000-5,000 Hz. For non-metal materials such as wood or acrylic, lower frequencies are more suitable, ranging from 500 to 2,000 Hz, with 10-30 watts of power.If you are working on reflective aluminum, for example, you should lower the frequency to avoid scattering, and when carving transparent glass, you should use a rotating table to reduce the energy at any given point.

The design of the floors has to be "in the numbers.

The number of layers is determined by the complexity of the carving. The bottom layer is roughly shaped, the middle layer defines the contours, and the top layer is where the details are carved.First, use drawing software to clearly define the depth of each layer. For example, you could use a 30W laser to engrave the base layer at a depth of 0.3mm, then switch to a 25W laser to refine the text in the middle layer, and finally use a 15W laser to engrave the QR code and other fine details in the top layer.Don't forget to leave a transition zone 0.05-0.1mm wide between each layer to prevent cracking.

These were the golden rules of practical debugging.

When actually testing on the machine, remember the rule that "power is primary, speed is secondary.First, the frequency is fixed (3,000 Hz for metal, 800 Hz for plastic), and then the power is adjusted to 1 / 10 of the material thickness.For example, with a 2-millimeter-thick sheet of aluminum, the initial power setting is 20 watts, and the speed is set to 500 millimeters per second. If the line is too faint, the speed is reduced to 400 millimeters per second. If it's too dark, the power is reduced by 2 to 3 watts.

Avoiding these pitfalls can double the rate of success.

Three common mistakes made by beginners are: 1) setting the speed above 800 mm / s, causing the laser beam to be interrupted; 2) failing to clean the lens in a timely manner, resulting in a loss of energy; and 3) forgetting that the power of the laser must be reduced by 5 % in a humid environment.The company recommends that a gradient test be performed every time the material is changed. This involves using a 5 × 5 grid, with the power ranging from 10 to 30 watts in one direction and the speed ranging from 300 to 700 mm / s in the other direction. The goal is to find the intersection with the most even lines.

Maintenance is also a parameter.

Don't underestimate the importance of routine maintenance! The lens should be cleaned with alcohol once a month, and the guide rails should be oiled once a week.It is especially important to let the equipment rest for 15 minutes after four hours of continuous operation.Once, a customer complained that the depth of the engravings was inconsistent. It turned out that the focusing lens was covered with resin residue. After a good cleaning, the problem was fixed.If these details are not paid attention to, then the most accurate settings will be for nothing.