If I am going to engrave on glass with my
44w J Tech diode laser. How do I get thin lines?
A visible light laser cannot damage clear glass as it passes through the material. You have to coat it with something to absorb the emissions of your laser.
When you do indirect engraving, you can’t get as thin a line as the laser produces as the coating doesn’t heat up the same as just using the laser. When using a coating, the thinner and more even give you the best results, but you loose detail because of the indirect method.
I’m assuming you focused properly?
what do you meen by
“assuming you focused properly?”
Many people de-focus to make a wider line. If you have a line that’s too wide, I’d suggest you ensure it’s properly focused.
When you have to use some type of indirect method of damaging material, you will loose resolution…just part of the game.
thx Jack, i’ll have to check how to focus
Suggest a ramp test… I never trust the manufacturer and it’s easy to check.
You may or may not have a fully-functioning Z-axis… but I show this photo to demonstrate how getting a proper focus is essential to get detail and thinnest lines.
Note the parallel lines pattern below my dog’s engraving. There are 10 engraved lines and each line is 2mm in Z height different than it’s neighbor on either side. So, over a 20mm range on either side of best focus, note the width of the lines starts to increase dramatically. After the focus gradient is drawn bottom to top, counting lines back down to the thinnest line and multiplying by 2mm, the laser is lowered from its finish position by that exact amount to attain best focus… and the thinnest lines.