Engraving with 445NM laser

[iakovl]

planing to buy a cheap laser engraver from Aliexpress
445nm, 10w, 10W pulsed Average 5.5-6.5W.

my main goal is to mark anodized aluminium, the big question is while i know most of them can't mark aluminum i also saw laser modules from Jtech the do just that with a lot less power.

and i can't find any other laser online that is a diode 10W

need advice to clear things up

 

[Rachel]

You probably want to look into Co2 Lasers @ 10W if not higher.

Or make your own LD perhaps.

Message people on Ali-ex, theyll be able to help you too

 

[diachi]

Or make your own LD perhaps.

How do you suggest the OP goes about doing that?

Seconded on the CO2 though ... that may be a better option, I don't have enough experience with engraving to say with any certainty.

Wouldn't trust all of the Ali-Ex sellers either...

 

[iakovl]

You probably want to look into Co2 Lasers

Seconded on the CO2 though

would love to get CO2 but for now it's not a valid option for me

 

[Rachel]

Yeah if you know how to build your own LD circuit iakovl you could hook up a few powerful LD in series and get them to point on the same spot. That would easily mark aluminium.

and yes Co2 lasers are cool and would definitely work, but not really sure how they work! Unless I did some deep research into this.

 

[Dutch67]

How do you suggest the OP goes about doing that?

Seconded on the CO2 though ... that may be a better option, I don't have enough experience with engraving to say with any certainty.

Wouldn't trust all of the Ali-Ex sellers either...

Socks. Definitely socks.

 

[trussmonkey25]

Try using thermark on your metal. It is a special ink that when heated, bonds to your metal and appears as if you etched it. The five or six watt diode is enough to mark a rock. Or etch the paint on the metal, But not actually burn through sheet metal.

 

[Dutch67]

Try using thermark on your metal. It is a special ink that when heated, bonds to your metal and appears as if you etched it. The five or six watt diode is enough to mark a rock. Or etch the paint on the metal, But not actually burn through sheet metal.

It can cut through some thinner stuff though. Basically aluminum but that still counts as sheet metal right?

 

[trussmonkey25]

It can cut through some thinner stuff though. Basically aluminum but that still counts as sheet metal right?

No the light just bounces or reflects off aluminum unless it is coated with something. Very dangerous to you and the laser itself. The laser can reflect back up into the diode and destroy itself. I have killed a couple this way. Make sure the beam strikes at an angle and the reflection goes into some kind of barrier. What also make it difficult to cut metal with low power lasers is that the material by its very nature sinks the heat away from the cut.

 

[Dutch67]

No the light just bounces or reflects off aluminum unless it is coated with something. Very dangerous to you and the laser itself. The laser can reflect back up into the diode and destroy itself. I have killed a couple this way. Make sure the beam strikes at an angle and the reflection goes into some kind of barrier. What also make it difficult to cut metal with low power lasers is that the material by its very nature sinks the heat away from the cut.

Oh. I put some black marker on a small piece when I had a 44 and it went through. Although I guess that counts as coating it.