From Design to Finished Product: A Detailed Look at the Laser Engraving Process

It details the entire process of laser engraving, including the preparation of drawings, material selection, and setting parameters. It also comes with a video tutorial.The course is suitable for craft lovers and creative professionals who want to quickly master the techniques of micro-carving and achieve precise results.

Pre-design preparation.

Choosing the right design software is the key.

Most of the old hands prefer CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator, which allow for finer control of the lines.For beginners, he suggests using their own carving software to start with, like LightBurn, which has a more intuitive user interface.The most important thing is to pay attention to the continuity of the lines and the proportions of the dimensions. One time I forgot to check the path connections and the carving came out broken.

Choice of materials is also important.

Acrylic is a good material for beginners to practice on, but it is easy to burn. For wood, it is best to use fine-grained basswood or beech.Last week, while carving bamboo slips for a client, I discovered that if the moisture content is more than 12 %, the bamboo will turn black.Metal sculptures should be treated for oxidation before being completed, or they will rust easily.I suggest that you try it out on a small piece of wood first, rather than risk ruining a whole piece.

Setting parameters for sculpture.

The perfect balance of power and speed.

For example, a 40-watt laser tube can be set at 65 % power and 15mm / s speed to engrave 3mm thick acrylic.There is a little trick: First, make a step test and cut five different parameter combinations on the edge of the material. The results are most intuitive.Don't blindly believe the specs that come from the manufacturer, because changes in humidity can affect results.

The focus of the lens determines success or failure.

Older drivers carry a calibration ruler with them, while beginners can observe the laser beam--the best focus will produce the smallest and brightest purple dot.When carving objects with curved surfaces, special attention must be paid. The last time I carved a curved bottle cap, I had to readjust the focus every 15 degrees. It was very troublesome, but the finished product was worth the effort.

Notes on actual operation.

Ventilation and protection cannot be ignored.

The smoke from the chiseling process contains harmful substances. If possible, install an exhaust system. If not, at least work near a window.I've seen people who were wearing ordinary masks get a cough that lasted for three days.You have to use professional-grade goggles. Ordinary sunglasses won't protect you from the diffuse reflection of the laser.

Emergency response plans.

If the machine stops in the middle of a carving, don't rush to open the lid.Once a customer was in a rush to restart a machine, and ended up moving some materials and ruining the entire board.The proper method is to record the interrupted coordinates and reposition the subsequent etching.The video tutorial also shows how to use a special positioning marker, which can save 80 % of the time spent on positioning.

(Click on the video icon to see the video.

The video includes the entire process, from importing files to removing the finished product. It also demonstrates advanced techniques such as switching between multiple layers, and securing the material. It is recommended that the video be viewed at 0.75x speed to see the details of the actions.