Looking for a little insight into what’s going on here. I can’t find anything in the forums.
These hardened steel dies, the first one, the pirate ship. It only took me about 6 hours. 110mm lens, 300 speed, 100 power, 30 frequency.
i achieved about .54mm depth and it worked well.
This second one, the Space Pirate, has been going for 15 plus hours and I’ve barely scratched the surface. I’ve tried lowering frequency and I’m still not getting improved results. (Similar to the pirate ship)
I have an JPT M7 60W MOPA… the manual for the source states it’s maximum power output at a frequency of 40kHz.
The dept of field or focus for a 110mm lens at 1064nM is computed as only 0.76mm, so focus is extremely critical.
Similar material is not the same, you have to expect variations depending on the type of metal.
I’d suggest
engrave before the part is hardened
ensure focus is very, very accurate
change to a frequency of 40kHz
From my manual:
Above the cut-off Frequency value is the fiber laser full power output range, oppositely,below the cut-off frequency value is the cut-off power output range. That means the fiber laser will reduce the output power to protect the fiber laser when below the cut-off frequency value. Below is the chart that shows the change between frequency and output:
I understand you might not be able to use the number one suggestion, but we all have to do number 2
I assume both of these have completely the same settings?
I’ve never done work on something like a hardened steel die, so I really don’t know what to expect… However for the type of machine you have I’d expect a better more consistent result with these materials.
Thanks Jack, it just so happens I stopped the project and refocused the laser. Restated the project and It appears to definitely doing better, not for sure if it’s achieving results as quickly as the other did, but it does seem to be better. I have not adjusted the laser settings as you suggested. I may do that. Thank you
