Hi Asmbly, I think I’ve messed up by engraving some laminate on the Tarkin yesterday.
I thought they’re safe to cut, but seeing how much it discharged after the process, it can’t be good for the laser. I should have double checked the wiki before I cut them, I apologize, never again!
While i’m finding out the exact material it’s made out of to see what we’re dealing with, I need to help mend the damage. Please let me know how I can either help clean it or pay for damage or something.
By laser laminate, what do you mean? As in Rowmark or Gemeni? They’re made of ABS plastic. If that’s what it is, is best not to mask and to remove the protective plastic that comes with it. Once you find the right settings there is very little soot that can be cleaned with denatured alcohol or Awesome cleaner. The vector part is best achieved with several passes of low power high speed. I do not have the lightburn settings. On Pearl you could use 90 speed, 50 power, and 600 DPI to raster. To vector use 40 speed, 85 power, 1000 DPI. If it melts the edge too much, increase speed or lower power. It looks like a data plate so there is also anodized aluminum plate material as well as engraving plate which Is much easier to do. You could also sublimate that on silver, gold or white metal but it may not look as good.
ABS offgasses hydrogen cyanide and under no circumstances should it ever be lasered on a co2 machine.
Not sure what this laminate in particular was, can’t say what damage it may have done. Worst case it contains chlorine and etched the guide rails the laser runs along. Most likely just a dirty lens though.
Just chiming in to say that I ran a couple jobs on Tarkin last night after you used it and didn’t notice any issues.
Sorry about the confusion. Plastic laminates are made of ABS plastic and you are correct about the chlorine fumes/solids. However, the Romark and Gemini plastics are made of high impact acrylic and designed to be safe in CO2 laser machines. Both brands have been around in the engraving circle (trophies/plaques) for a while with Gemini being the newbie affordable version. You can look up their websites for the composition of their products. Gemini does have some power settings in their site. Since either products are alike, the settings should be very similar. Romark is more brittle or not as flexible as Gemini. Gemini has some nicer modern colors. I can provide you with some samples if you want to add them to the material library or play with them. Often now days they’re used for signage on doors in buildings and name plates.
Here is a sample of a name plate using Gemini plastic done on pearl. One was rastered throughout, one the TDCJ seal was engraved using a vector setting (left side) for a cleaner look.
I’ll read the comments in detail after work, but for now here’s what the laminate are made out of:
Paper, wood, and thermoset resins(Urea-formaldehyde (UF) / Melamine-formaldehyde (MF) impregnating resins).
So youre talking about melamine or formica? Melamine is what’s on the work benches and a lot of laminate-like IKEA furniture. Formica is an old counter top material but was also used in laminated furniture. Not even close to the materials I mentioned. Basically a resin impregnated paper. Neither easy to work with, adhesive, cutting it, or engrave.
UF is what’s in normal MDF, it’s not great but we currently allow it to be cut.
MF is super dangerous though, it degrades into hydrogen cyanide and isocyanic acid, similar to ABS
Noted, won’t be cutting that again.
Will it damage the laser? Can I help clean it?
I’m not an expert so… For the most part there is no damage to the equipment if you have a good exhaust system. The danger comes from the created fumes if you happen to inhale them. If they were noxious fumes produced, there may be some residue on the gantry and other parts but is rare when people touch any of those parts with the exception of the lens head and mirror assy. The exhaust system is hardly ever disturbed by anybody. You could volunteer to help Nick whenever he has the laser volunteer work day. Otherwise now that you know, if you touch any of the components inside the enclosure, wash your hands. If you happen to engrave drinkware, you should wash it. I know if I touch anything inside the lasers, I wash my hands before leaving Asmbly. I have suggested this to people before and they give me the “are you stupid look.” Anyway, if you do help clean up, wear gloves.
Jose’s 100% correct in his reply. Everything should be ok.
Washing hands always advised! I hate when I forget to and everything I touched later on smells like burnt plywood, lol.
Thanks @JOSEGAYTAN for the info! Yea I always wash my hand and my cloth after using the laser.
@NickE lmk when you’re doing the next volunteer day or just cleaning the space, i’ll be there.
