What size laser diode is needed to burn paint off metal?

[Chris D]

Hey guys,

I am thinking about making a DIY type laser that will burn a thin film of pain off of a metal backing. I am wondering what color would be more suitable and what wattage is needed for something like this?

Thanks

Chris

[zax15uk]

Hi Chris,

It will depend on the paint, thickness and color but a correctly focused IR diode >200mW would work at a slow rate.

I used a DVD burner diode, pushed to ~240mW with active cooling. It would burn wood and etch paint pretty well but the life expectancy wasn't great.

The higher power IR diodes (1W) would be excellent but are difficult to focus and the optics can be expensive. Don't forget the glasses either!

A small CO2 laser would produce much better results.

Zax.

[Chris D]

I am looking at perhaps this unit

http://cgi.ebay.com/300mW-650nm-Red-...d=p3286.c0.m14

which is item 180391948754

While Red, it is 300mW and the fellow says it will focus to a very fine dot which is what I am needing. I just might give this one a try.

Thanks

Chris

[zax15uk]

That should work ok.

650nm is easier to focus and glasses are readily available.

Zax.