Source
r/lasercutting•
fishdump

Engraving stamping tool steel

I have a little experience with engraving wood, and I've been looking at coin die engraving, but I haven't seen enough to feel comfortable with my current assessment. So in your experience/opinion, can a 40W laser engrave tool steel over the span of 20-30 passes or is a higher powered machine needed? A lot of passes will be required for a 3D design so pass depth isn't so much an issue, but I want to make sure that steel won't reflect like brass does.

Posted Feb 7, 2019, 3:39 PM UTC

16
inu-no-policemen•

You can mark it with Cermark etc, but you can't engrave or cut it. You can't ablate any material.

1
myheadhurtsalot60W Epilog Legend EXT•

CO2 lasers won't engrave into metals, you'll need a fiber laser to do so.

1
fishdumpOP•

Does steel really reflect like non-ferrous or is a temperature issue?

1
myheadhurtsalot60W Epilog Legend EXT•

Both, fibers have smaller focal point and can deliver more energy (power density), and produce a shorter wavelength that is more readily absorbed by metals than CO2.

1
mcscope•

sounds like you want a CNC mill

1
workaccount•

A 30W fiber or 50W, preferably, would give you the engraving you want, since passes aren’t an issue

0