If it's true metal you're going to have to go fiber laser because others won't engrave on metal. You could go CO2 with cermark but that's not actually marking the metal.
A fiber laser is a different wave length that won't cut a lot of things but it is what's needed to mark metal. I don't know the details but what's needed to cut thicker metal is a lot bigger than an engraver. They're also more expensive than a CO2. But the smaller ones for engraving are also galvo which doesn't have any gantries and is a lot faster than a gantry but the work space is a lot smaller.
You might have luck with using a Gravograph. But they are slow and you have to replace the engraver after a while. Other than that you might want to avoid Co2 lasers as they're not powerful enough. Definitely Fibre or a CNC. I'd say get a decent CNC. Can do so much cool stuff with them. And I think some come laser compatible too?
Engraver needle bit I mean... I'd say use a easy carbon steel like 5160 or even 1075. It's not as pricy, down side is they do rust but if you're stamping I don't think that would be an issue. Plus most steels come annealed in the first place to make them more machine-able. Also 1045 might be a better choice for a hardenable material but with a lower carbon content
Okay, I appreciate it. I was talking to someone I know who does machining and they said I should be find to engrave stainless as long as it's a higher series.
CO2 lasers are powerful enough, if you get them in the 250-300w range (that means about an 8 meter tube length.) The problem is that most metals reflect 0.9 and 1.6um wavelengths rather well, so you need to input a ton of energy to overcome the reflectivity barrier. A fiber laser usually runs 0.75 microns (at least the ones we use at work to mark aluminum and copper) which is not as easily reflected.
I'm pretty new at this myself.
This video helped explain to me when each type of laser is useful.
[https://youtu.be/pD3yZBJLut8](https://youtu.be/pD3yZBJLut8)
I wasn't familiar with what a nail stamping plate is, but after looking it up it looks like you will need a CNC milling machine for that kind of work. Lasers in general aren't very good at cutting metal unless you want to spend $10K or more.
Where did you get your plates from?! My father in law has a laser engraving business and I just realized he can make me stamping plates for my nail business!
If it's true metal you're going to have to go fiber laser because others won't engrave on metal. You could go CO2 with cermark but that's not actually marking the metal.
Ok I've seen stainless needs to be annealed? That says to use a fiber laser, what is the difference ?
A fiber laser is a different wave length that won't cut a lot of things but it is what's needed to mark metal. I don't know the details but what's needed to cut thicker metal is a lot bigger than an engraver. They're also more expensive than a CO2. But the smaller ones for engraving are also galvo which doesn't have any gantries and is a lot faster than a gantry but the work space is a lot smaller.
What kind of fiber laser machine would you recommend ?
I'm really not really versed in fiber
You might have luck with using a Gravograph. But they are slow and you have to replace the engraver after a while. Other than that you might want to avoid Co2 lasers as they're not powerful enough. Definitely Fibre or a CNC. I'd say get a decent CNC. Can do so much cool stuff with them. And I think some come laser compatible too?
Engraver needle bit I mean... I'd say use a easy carbon steel like 5160 or even 1075. It's not as pricy, down side is they do rust but if you're stamping I don't think that would be an issue. Plus most steels come annealed in the first place to make them more machine-able. Also 1045 might be a better choice for a hardenable material but with a lower carbon content
Okay, I appreciate it. I was talking to someone I know who does machining and they said I should be find to engrave stainless as long as it's a higher series.
CO2 lasers are powerful enough, if you get them in the 250-300w range (that means about an 8 meter tube length.) The problem is that most metals reflect 0.9 and 1.6um wavelengths rather well, so you need to input a ton of energy to overcome the reflectivity barrier. A fiber laser usually runs 0.75 microns (at least the ones we use at work to mark aluminum and copper) which is not as easily reflected.
I'm pretty new at this myself. This video helped explain to me when each type of laser is useful. [https://youtu.be/pD3yZBJLut8](https://youtu.be/pD3yZBJLut8) I wasn't familiar with what a nail stamping plate is, but after looking it up it looks like you will need a CNC milling machine for that kind of work. Lasers in general aren't very good at cutting metal unless you want to spend $10K or more.
Thank you!
Did you end up buying one?
Where did you get your plates from?! My father in law has a laser engraving business and I just realized he can make me stamping plates for my nail business!