I am running a 100 W co2 laser. I am trying to do a stainless steel tumbler. I cleaned it with alcohol. Then I used the metal spray. Then I did a 3 word imprint all at 215 speed. 1 at 30% power, 1 at 40% power and 1 at 50% power. None of them gave me a black print.
I use LBT100, a spray on, much like what you are using.
The resulting thickness of the spray is critical for a good job. LBT100 warns you about this. Too thick causes a loss of the deep blacks, requires more power and results in less resolution.
This is an LBT100 applied and lased at 250@75% I have a 40W tube or ~30W. I do get good blacks.
I notice if I don’t heat it up or the coating is too thick, I get dull grays, like you have.
Did you try the vendor settings? This is from the Brilliance site.
Good luck
Learning from the good folks here, I learned a bit about annealing… I don’t have the settings in front of me, but its a very slow speed, pwr around 40%, and freq around 200’sh? LPI was like 0.0100. Very very small. I can run a test tomorrow and report back my settings if that helps.
Just me spouting off.
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Good thought, nevertheless.
So it sounds like I am just applying it to thick. It looks like my setting at 30% is in the ball park. My speed may be a little slow. Now I will try again with a lite spray. Thanks and any other ideas I will be happy to hear.
I had issues with getting a correct coating thickness and less with speed/power.
It’s no so easy to just spray it on… I took me a can or two to be consistent…
Good luck
That would be great. I have learned a lot on about doing things on my CO2 and diode laser. This is something I have never fooled with. Just trying to expand.
I may need to stock up. LOL I can be a slow learned sometimes.
Don’t sweat it … just have fun 
You’ll get a handle on it, hang in there.
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Thanks I will just keep at it. This helps when I get stuck.
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Well I am stumped right now. I tried light spray and heavy spray. No change. I went back and cleaned the tumbler. No difference. I have changed speed and power several times. No difference.??? Should I get a new can of metal spray?
- properly working tube
- clean and aligned optics
- proper focus
If you have these three, they work…
Are you getting any visual signs that it’s lasing and focused?
I have not used Brilliance, but many do have success with it… using their numbers or close to them.
Everything on the mirrors are good. On the ramp test it is 17mm. It is set at that. I am scratching my head. It does great on tumblers.Have produced 100s. Just the stainless steel that is my problem. I have another can of Brilliance coming in tomorrow. The other can I have had sitting around for about a year. Everything I have used this machine on has worked great. That is once I figured it out. Until this.
Can you see any effect from the laser, visually? You previously had at least a brown results… what changed?
You got me scratching my head also.
No matter what I have done I get the same light print on them. I got the new spray in today. I am going to try it tomorrow and see if there was something wrong with my old can. Other then that I am lost. It is a clean print on the tumbler. Just really light.
Well I went in and checked everything on my co2 laser. Everything was right. So I tried everything from a speed of 40 on up. I tried every power setting from 20% to 70%. I did get some black print. But I could wipe right off. All I can think of. Maybe there is some coating on the tumbler. Has anyone ever heard of this?
At witts end, I’d ask the brilliance people about this issue… Most of these places are pretty responsive and don’t want or need negative experiences from customers.
This is their business and they may have some insight into what’s happening in your situation.
I’d advise them of the mugs manufacturer as this may be related.
You’ve got me wondering…
Thanks. I did not think about that. Can’t hurt. I have managed to overcome my problems with trial and error and asking folks like here. This one has really stumped me. Thought I had it. Then wiped my finger over it and it came right off. At that point I shut everything down and left the shop. I can get mad and do stupid things. LOL
What I advise most people, from experience is to not work on this stuff if tired or frustrated. Usually ends up with dumb blunders…
Let us know the outcome… I’m very curious also.
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I called Brilliance about the problem. They are really good people who are happy to help. He said from all the information I gave him. It sounds like it may be some of these cheaper china made tumblers. Not all, but they are seeing some that have a low grade stainless. They coat them with a Lacquer coating to make them look good and shinny. You can not get a good burn on them. So I have learned a lesson.Thanks for everyone working with me.