Engraving Tools

[Scheer]

Where I work, we typically mark all of our tools by color coding the handles with tape. There are a few down sides to this, the tape eventually falls off, and now the company has expanded to the point we need several wraps of different colors to keep everything separated.

I've got a CNC router and was going to start engraving initials into the tools and thought that laser engraving might be much simpler, faster, and better looking. I was wondering if this is the case, and if so, where should I start looking for a suitable laser?

Most of the tools are all hardened steel, but all I need is a faint etching on there, so hopefully something small will work alright. I'd also like to know if I would be able to burn into rubber handles on screwdrivers? I can get about 100 ipm out of my router, so for the time being I will just attach the laser to that, and eventually build a frame for higher IPM if it is needed.

As of right now I would like to spend the bare minimum as I am just doing it for my father to test it out, but if that works then there is a good chance my uncle will let the company invest some money into getting a nice machine built. There are some real nice perks to working for the family business

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: I think I am beginning to get this figured out... From what I have found, Co2 lasers aren't the best option for engraving steel and that a 1064nm infared is a better bet. I've found a few on ebay for $800 with the driver at .8 amps that are adjustable by a pot switch right on the driver. This would be idea for me as I can wire the on/off into Mach and adjust the power manually to meet my needs.

Now a few other questions: .8A seems weak, or is this large for a laser? Would it possibly engrave into steel or not even close?
And most importantly, am I understanding all this about the 1064nm being better correctly? lol

[RossMosh]

No way are you marking steel for $800. It's also a lot more complicated then just strapping on a laser head to your current CNC.

I would suggest either buying a cheap laser and using Cermark to mark your tools or just pay your local engraving shop to do it.

[Tweakie]

Scheer,

Maybe a good idea to post a link to the laser you have seen on ebay. That way it can be determined if popular opinion thinks it will do the job that you are expecting.

Just a thought.

Tweakie.

[Scheer]

Here it is: Focusable 800mW 0.8W 1064nm YAG IR Infrared Laser Diode Module Engraving Cutting | eBay

[Tweakie]

Scheer,

My opinion is that you will not be able to mark steel components successfully with only 800mW of power.

It would be interesting to hear what others think.

Tweakie.

[Scheer]

That is what I was thinking as well. I did find an article somewhere, unfortunately I cannot remember where, that talked about how yttrium (1064nm) lasers are much more suited to etching steel than a Co2 laser is.

I'll continue looking for it, but it seems I have tens of thousands of web pages in my history from the past few days

[Tweakie]

You are quite right, my CO2 laser will not mark steel without the use of Cermark or similar molybdenum product.
Fiber lasers and YAG lasers are good at marking metals but they are expensive.

Tweakie.

[keebler303]

CO2 lasers will mark steel without any problem, you just need the right laser. We mark lots of metal, mainly titanium but also stainless and mild steel with a 100W Coherent laser. Here is an example from Synrad: Newsletter Archives: Marking chrome moly alloy with CO2 lasers

In any case, it doesn't sound like you have a regular supply of parts to mark so it would probably be much cheaper to have someone who already knows what they are doing help you rather than buying a substandard machine or laser from ebay. My $0.02

Matt

[keebler303]

More:

Newsletter Archives: Marking Hardened Steel using Synrad CO2 Lasers
Newsletter Archives: Marking Data Matrix Codes on Titanium using Synrad CO2 Lasers
Newsletter Archives: Marking Data Matrix Codes on Steel with Synrad CO2 Lasers

No cermark required!

[Tweakie]

Thanks Keebler303,

I stand corrected.
A Firm, close to me, uses a CO2 laser cutting metal parts from 12mm steel to extremely tight tolerances - downside is that the machine cost more than my house.


Scheer,

You may want to check on the pricing for a CNC machine that uses the Synrad 100 Watt CO2 laser head before getting too excited.

Tweakie.

[keebler303]

Originally Posted by Tweakie ....You may want to check on the pricing for a CNC machine that uses the Synrad 100 Watt CO2 laser head before getting too excited. Tweakie.

For small parts like tools you can use one of their galvo marking heads. Whole 100W setup should be less than $50k.

Matt

[RossMosh]

Originally Posted by keebler303 For small parts like tools you can use one of their galvo marking heads. Whole 100W setup should be less than $50k. Matt

You can also spend $4000 and get a 40W laser and Cermark and mark all the same materials.

I'm honestly not sure why you're in here suggesting $50,000 solutions when the guy is looking to spend $800.