I’m using the 2w infrared laser module on a D1 Pro 2.0 to mark a aluminum business card with some patterns/art. But the engraving area seems to be uneven. The laser engraves the whole design, some some areas are darker than others.
Is this due to the material? Any ideas on what might be causing this?
Running the project at 6600 mm/s, 90% power and 508 lines/in.
It even does it when I crosshatch or do a 2nd pass.
I did make sure my focus setting was correct. I think there are some units with the incorrect focus arm length but i saw no difference after measuring and doing another pass.
If you were using your 10w UV diode for this, I might have suggestions. However, I think the IR module will mark uncoated aluminum. You may be seeing that in your images, and it be due to uneven paint coating on your cards.
I bought glossy and matte finish painted cards, and anodized black ones for precision detail markings.
You think correctly.
I do know for a fact that xTool 2W IR module will mark aluminium surface that has only the naturally forming thin oxide layer.
It’s rather due to a wide combination of reasons, the base material being only one of them.
Aluminium is one of those metals that are PITA to analyze at home, so there’s no telling what the metallurgy of a random piece is.
And that metallurgy determines the oxide layer and its behaviour when lasered with a little bit of power hitting a very tiny spot.
So, trial and error again.
2W IR is also not much actual power to play with, and aluminium is a rather difficult material to laser mark even if the conditions are ideal, so a lot of test grids are required.
At least about ~2 years ago they were incorrect, but there’s been reports that on the newer units it’s closer.
Since the usable depth of field (DOF) of that particular IR unit is only about 0.5mm, it’s always best to do the ramp test to get the most of that 2W.
I haven’t used my IR unit much, but on “larger” areas (more than ~4*4cm) the burn seem to fluctuate a bit at random.
Since matter is removed, the lack of air assist may be the culprit, or a part of it.
The issue may also lie in the led driver as well since the the amount of fluctuations seemed to decrease as the power was decreased.
Or in something entirely different.
Bring your power way down if you’re using the 2W IR. You’re blasting right through the coating and into the aluminum. Also, you said you’re running 6600mm/s, I assume you mean mm/min, as the stated max speed of the D1 is 400mm/s.
I’ve used 9000mm/min with 25% power and it’s enough to blast away the coating and leave the aluminum untouched. You might have to clean it under some running water, but better than torching the underlying aluminum. Do some tests, start low power, slowly move up.
