Could etching annodized aluminum at 45% power for many hours cause a problem due to reflection? Why/how and what can I do to resolve it?
If you are removing just the anodized part, probably little reflection to worry about.
If you run too much power and burn through it might be an issue.
The thickness of the anodized layer varies substantially. The less the lower the cost.
The aluminum molecule reflects over 92% of the radiation, so it’s tough to get it to heat up. So if you hit it with 100 watts, it will absorb about 8 watts.
I did some stainless, which you could see the etching, but cost me a $25 lens. It was literally burnt.
Many consider the damage from the reflections of the bed to the bottom of the material is ‘harmful’…
As @anon88048707 points out any reflection can be hazardous. I wear glasses so I have ‘safety glasses’ anytime I do much of anything if I want to see. Beams will get wider further from the tube. If you have a dirty mirror you know how bad the laser performs. So it reflecting off something with a focused beam is unlikely if you take basic precautions.
There is also a difference on what is damaged by a reflection. A co2 will damage the surface of the eye, while an leds frequency is visible, so it will penetrate to the retina and do damage there. You would need to take different precautions if you use an led laser. Such as use different safety glasses.
Nothing makes you safer than a good understanding of how the machine works and using common sense steps to maintain safety. It isn’t going to hurt you to ‘overdo’ the safety precautions…
Take care
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