Grayscale performance

Ordinary mechanical engraving cannot engrave dots of different thicknesses in an economical way, so it does not have a grayscale representation. Laser engraving realizes engraving in the way of dots, which has a natural advantage in grayscale performance. For this reason, the grayscale expression is used as much as possible in the engraving design. The advantage of this is that on the one hand, the coloring process is reduced and the cost is saved; When the user is using it, first fill the graphics with different grayscales (the text must be converted into graphics first), select the black and white mode for the engraving output, and try the effects of different dots. The accuracy is generally not more than 500dpi.


wood


1. Logs (unprocessed wood)


Wood is by far the most commonly used material for laser processing and is easy to carve and cut. Light-colored woods such as birch, cherry, or maple are well-gassed by the laser, making them more suitable for engraving. Each type of wood has its own characteristics, and some are denser, such as hardwood, and require higher laser power when engraving or cutting. We recommend researching the engraving properties of unfamiliar woods before engraving.


2. Plywood


Sometimes customers may ask you to engrave on plywood. In fact, it is not much different from engraving on wood, but it is a little bit to pay attention that the engraving depth should not be too deep. The edge of the cut plywood will also be black like the wood, the key is to see what kind of wood the plywood is made of.


3. Wood cutting


The depth of the laser engraving machine cutting wood is generally not deep, within 5mm, this is because the power of the laser is small, if the cutting speed is slowed down, the wood will burn. For specific operations, you can try to use large-sized lenses and use the method of repeated cutting.


4. Coloring


After engraving wood, there will generally be a feeling of being burned, and it has a primitive artistic beauty that matches the wood background color. The depth of the color mainly depends on the laser power and the engraving speed. But some woods are usually softer and you can't change the color anyway (eg: birch). Occasionally a client may ask you to color the finished product, using acrylic paint.


Density veneer


1. Ordinary density veneer


This type of MDF is the kind of wood pallet we often use for sign linings. The material is high density board with thin wood grain on the surface. Lasers can engrave on such materials, but the engraved patterns are uneven and black, and generally need to be colored. Usually you can use a 0.5mm two-color plate for inlays to get better results by learning the proper design.


2. Laser-specific density veneer


This type of MDF is specially designed for laser engraving. The engraved pattern is uniform in color and has a good effect without coloring.


3. Clean


The MDF surface can be cleaned with a damp cloth after engraving.


4. Coloring


Acrylic or alkyd paint can be used. When engraving, the color of the graphics can be set to 60% grayscale, so that the bottom surface of the engraving is somewhat pitted to improve the adhesion of the color.


acrylic


1. Acrylic


Acrylic is the most commonly used carving material after wood, it is easy to cut and carve, comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, and is relatively inexpensive. There are two production processes for plexiglass: casting and calendering. The laser engraving machine mainly uses plexiglass produced by casting, because it produces a very white frosting effect after laser engraving, which is in sharp contrast with the original transparent texture, and is produced by calendering. The plexiglass is still transparent after laser engraving, and there is not enough contrast effect, so when you buy it, you should emphasize the high-purity kind to the dealer, otherwise the material you buy back may be melted when engraving or cutting. Phenomenon.


2. Carving


In general, plexiglass is engraved on the back, that is to say, it is engraved from the front and viewed from the back, which makes the finished product more three-dimensional. When engraving on the back, please mirror the graphics (ie invert) first, and the engraving speed should be fast and the power should be low. If the power is too high during engraving, uneven stripes will appear on the bottom surface. If you want to engrave deeper, you can try engraving several times. In the case of back carving, the local coloring should be carved deeper first, and then polished with a flame polishing machine before coloring can be added. Without polishing, the color seen from the front will not be uniform.


3. Cutting


Plexiglass is relatively easy to cut. If the customer's requirements are not high, it can be delivered after cutting without the need for flame polishing. A blower should be used when cutting to improve the quality of the cut. When cutting plexiglass over 8mm, the larger lens should be replaced. (Note: The operator should not leave when cutting plexiglass, there may be flames during cutting.)


4. Coloring


Acrylic paint can be used, other paints may spoil the finish of the plexiglass.


two-color plate


1. Two-color plate


Two-color plate is a kind of engineering plastic specially used for engraving composed of two or more layers of colors. The two-color plate can be divided into two categories: mechanical and laser. Some of the mechanical plates can also be used for engraving. Laser engraving. The characteristic of the laser engraving board is that the surface color layer is thin, and the whole board is thinner than the mechanical board. When users buy a two-color board, if they are not sure whether it can be used for a laser machine, they can first consult the seller or take a small piece to try it out. Our experience is that if the surface color of the board is very thin, it can generally be laser engraved. , If the surface color is thicker, try engraving twice.


2. Carving


If you are using a laser plate, the engraving will be very good, with clear contrast and sharp edges. When using a mechanical board with a thin surface, the engraving effect is not much different from that of a laser board. If you look closely, the edges may not be as clear as a laser board. Users generally do not use the kind of mechanical plate with a thick surface, otherwise the laser power should be adjusted to a lower value, and the bottom surface can be removed by repeated engraving, and the final effect may not be very good. On two-color plates with high contrast (such as black and white plates), engraved grayscale images can be designed. After a lot of engraving, the two-color plate itself may be slightly deformed, and it can be leveled by hand after heating with hot water.


3. Cutting


Under normal circumstances, the user will ask you to cut the two-color plate. If you are using a laser plate, you can cut it off after engraving. Note that the speed should not be too slow, do not cut through at one time, but do it in three or four times, so that the edge of the cut material is flat and there is no melting mark. When engraving, the power should be just right, and it should not be too large to avoid melting marks. If you use a mechanical board, you can only cut it to 50% depth, then break it off by hand and smooth the edges with sandpaper. If the user has a mechanical machine, he can cut it on the mechanical machine first, and then move it to the laser machine for engraving.


4. Cleaning


Use a damp cloth or alcohol to clean the surface after engraving. However, it should be noted that if the laser power is set too high during engraving, it may cause a layer of smoke and dust that is difficult to wipe off on the surface of the two-color plate.


5. Coloring


If the user's requirements are not high, the dots can be used to express those different colors in the logo. If you have to paint, you need to carve the painted area deeper, you can use acrylic paint or alkyd enamel paint, other paint may damage the surface finish of the two-color board.


lacquered copper plate


1. Painted copper plate


Normally, copper cannot be laser engraved. But now there is a material with a special paint film attached to the surface. The laser can completely vaporize the paint film on the surface, and then expose the underlying copper plate. Usually the manufacturer will polish or do special treatment on the copper plate before painting, so that the area exposed after engraving can have a sufficient finish and can be stored for a long time. If the copper surface is not treated, a protective film needs to be applied after engraving to avoid oxidation and contamination of the surface over time.


2. Carving


Generally, low power and high speed can be used, and the precision can be set above 500dpi.


3. Clean


Use a damp cloth or alcohol to clean the surface after engraving.


4. Coloring


If the user's requirements are not high, the dots can be used to express those different colors in the logo. Use acrylic paint if you have to paint, other paints may damage the finish of the copper plate surface.