I’m looking to etch the laser etchable actuators / covers for Carling’s V-Series rocker switches. They have a black painted coating specifically designed to be etched, leaving the white painted coating beneath intact in order for the light from LEDs in the switch body to shine through. The actuators are small (48mm x 26mm), and the etch needs to be as high resolution as possible, with clean sharp edges etc. The actuators have a slight curve. If you Google ‘Carling laser etch switch’ you will see plenty of examples. I am Mac based and use EazyDraw to generate the icons & text, and can export PDF, EPS, SVG, DXF etc. I am also using Lightburn.
I asked Carling Technologies what the material composition & coating of the actuators is, and what they use to etch them. I have enclosed their reply below. I have also enclosed a link to a photo of an etched actuator as an example.
Rocker material: (lens material) Lexan 243R-112 (polycarbonate).* Paint layers: First layer, White paint number 318LE .0008-.0010 (dry build), second layer black paint 318LE (barrier coat ) .0005-.0008 (dry build). We use use a YAG laser to etch the icon/images. The settings are as follows: Q.S. mode (power) = 20* Current = 13A* Speed = 12’/ second* Laser makes two complete passes to etch the image.
I have tried a 405nm diode laser without success after much experimentation. The 405nm diode laser will successfully remove the black layer, but also removes the white layer too, no matter how fine I adjust the power / speed setting. I suspect this is due to the 405nm wavelength. I note Carling use a YAG laser, which is likely to be 1064nm (I’ll enquire). Would a IR diode laser of this wavelength be more likely to remove the black layer leaving the white layer intact?
I would also suggest that you de-focus the laser a few mm at a time.
How far up the speed curve did you try to adjust?
How far down the power curve did you adjust?
I find it unfathomable that you are not able to adjust a low power diode laser to a fast and low output level that would work. Most people have the opposite problem with the diode lasers.
There are two types of YAG lasers… One of them is Nd:YAG, another is Er:YAG along with an Ho:YAG, don’t know much about this animal. The Er type is closer to co2 emissions, which works well with acrylic.
They also run some of them through frequency doubled or trebled.
My fiber 1064nM won’t damage acrylic… I have clear acrylic, doesn’t have any effect on it… I have no colored types of acrylic, so don’t know how well the indirect method works with fiber. If you’re investing, I’d ask before I purchased.
I have seen these done an low powered co2 machines…
If you have a link to the product, post the link so we can look at what you’re doing. We may see something there you don’t and if nothing else to educate us…
I will experiment further with speeds / power / interval etc. I can get the settings at just the point where it successfully removes the black paint layer, but it also removes the white paint layer too, as if they are one layer, with no differentiation between the colours. I adjusted in 0.5% power, 10mm speed & 0.01mm intervals to get to this stage.
I recall a conversation with Carling who suggested they specifically chose the YAG to correctly etch the black paint layer, leaving the white paint layer untouched. Little did I know at the time how important this was. I have enquired further to ask if they will reveal the YAG model they use.
Here’s another photo of an etched actuator. The symbol is 8mm across. You can clearly see the edges where the black layer has been precisely removed, leaving the white paint layer untouched. Removing the white paint layer exposes the polycarbonate body which is undesirable.
Just a quick update - Carling Technologies came back to me to say they couldn’t supply the model of the laser they use for reasons of ‘confidentiality’
I find that rather odd, seeing as they market blank actuators for etching.
Yes I tried single & double passes & crosshatching. I’ll try to get back later with some of my findings.
Would a Wainlux K10 off of Amazon work to etch these? they have a 3w and a 5w model. I signed up specifically to ask this . I know nothing about laser machines but want to custom etch these for a personal project.
. I know nothing about laser machines but want to custom etch these for a personal project.