Carving materials and technology
1, wood
A, logs (unprocessed wood)
Wood is by far the most commonly used laser processing materials, easy to carve and cut. Light-colored wood such as birch, cherry or maple can be well vaporized by the laser, and therefore more suitable for engraving. Each type of wood has its own characteristics. Some are denser, such as hardwoods, and require more laser power for engraving or cutting. We recommend that you study the engraving characteristics of a less familiar wood before engraving it.
B, plywood
Sometimes customers may require you to engrave on plywood, in fact, this is not much difference with the wood engraving, just a little attention, the depth of the engraving can not be too deep. After cutting the plywood anti-edge will also be black like wood, the key is to look at the plywood is to use the kind of wood manufacturing.
C, wood cutting
The depth of laser engraving machine cutting wood is generally not deep, within 5mm, this is because the laser's power is small, such as slowing down the speed of cutting will cause the wood to burn. Specific operation can try to use a large size lens, and the use of repetitive cutting method.
E, coloring
After the wood engraving will generally have a feeling of being burned, with the wood base color with a primitive artistic beauty, the depth of its color depends mainly on the laser power and engraving speed. But some wood is usually softer texture, no matter how you can not change its color (eg: birch). Sometimes the customer may ask you to color the finished product, you can use acrylic paint.
2, density laminated panels
A, ordinary density laminated panels
This type of density board is commonly used to do the kind of sign liner wood pallet. The material is high density board, the surface has a thin wood grain. Laser can be engraved on this tip material plant, but the engraved pattern is uneven and blackened color, usually to color. Usually you can use 0.5mm two-color board for inlay to get better effect by learning proper design.
B, laser-specific density veneer panels
Some density panels are specially designed for laser engraving, the engraved patterns are even in color and have good results without coloring.
C, cleaning
After engraving, you can use a damp cloth to clean the surface of the density board.
D. Color filling
Acrylic paint or alkyd paint can be used. When carving the graphic color can be set to 60% grayscale, so that the bottom surface of the carving has some pockmarks to improve the adhesion of the color.
3, acrylic (a kind of plexiglass)
A, acrylic
Acrylic is second only to wood as the most commonly used carving material, it is easy to be cut and carved, there are a variety of shapes and sizes, relatively speaking, the cost is low. Plexiglass has two production processes: casting and calendering, laser engraving is mainly used in the casting method of production of plexiglass, because it produces a frosting effect after laser engraving is very white, and the original transparent texture to produce a stark contrast, calendering method of production of plexiglass in the laser engraving is still transparent, there is not a sufficient contrasting effect. In the purchase of a faceted off-duty when you want to emphasize to the dealer to be high purity of the kind, otherwise buy back the possibility of the material engraving or cutting will melt when the phenomenon.
B, carving
In general, plexiglass using back carving, that is, from the front of the carving, back to watch, which makes the finished product more three-dimensional. In the back of the carving, please mirror the graphics first, and the carving speed should be fast, the power should be low. If the carving power is too high, it will make the bottom surface appear uneven stripes, if you want to carve deeper can try to carve a few times. In the case of back carving on the local coloring should be carved deeper first, and then use the flame polishing machine to polish, and then can be filled with color. If not polished, the color from the front will not be uniform.
C, cutting
Plexiglass is relatively easy to cut, such as customer requirements are not high, after cutting can be delivered without flame polishing. Otherwise, blowing device should be used when cutting to improve the quality of the cut. When cutting plexiglass over 8mm, the lens should be replaced with a larger size. (Note: Operator must not leave when cutting plexiglass, there may be flame when cutting.)
D. Cleaning
Acrylic paint can be used, other paints may destroy the finish of plexiglass.
4, two-color plate
A, two-color plate
The two-color plate is a two or more layers of color composite composition of a dedicated to the carving of engineering plastics, its specifications are generally 600X1200mm, there are a small number of brand specifications for the 600X900mm. the United States ROWMARK with stable quality, variety is recognized as the best production of polymer. Engraved two-color plate is usually used for a variety of signs and badges ...... The two-color plate has the characteristics of even color, clear pattern and durability. In the two-color plate can be divided into two categories: mechanical and laser, some of which can also be used for laser engraving. Laser engraving board is characterized by a thin surface color layer (<0.1mm), the whole board is also thinner than the mechanical board (laser board is generally 1.3mm & 0.8mm, mechanical board is generally 1.5mm). Users in the purchase of two-color plate, such as not sure whether it can be used for laser machine, you can first consult with the dealer or take a small piece of the first try / our experience is that, such as the surface color of the plate is very thin, generally can be laser engraving, such as the surface of the color of the thicker you can try two engraving.
B. Engraving
If you use a laser plate engraving results will be very good, there is a very clear contrast and clear edges. When using a thinner surface of the mechanical plate, the engraving effect with the laser plate is not very different, look closely at the edge may not be as clear as the laser plate. Users generally do not use the surface of the thicker kind of mechanical board, otherwise the laser power should be adjusted to a smaller, repeatable engraving to clear the bottom of the day, the final result may not be too good. In the contrast of the two-color plate (such as black and white board), can be designed to engrave grayscale images. In a large number of engraving after the two-color plate itself may be somewhat deformed, can be heated with hot water and then flattened by hand.
C, cutting
In general, the user will require you to cut the two-color plate, at this time, such as your good use of the laser plate, you can cut it off after engraving. Note that the speed is not too slow, do not cut through once, it is divided into three or four times, so that the edge of the cut material is flat, no melting marks. The power of the engraving process should be just right, not too large, in order to avoid the appearance of melting traces. If you use a mechanical board, you can only cut it to 50% depth, and then break it by hand and then use sandpaper to smooth the edge. If you have a mechanical machine, you can cut it on the machine first, and then move it to the laser machine for engraving.
D. Cleaning
After carving, you can use a damp cloth or alcohol to clean the surface. However, it should be noted that, such as engraving the laser power setting is too high, may make the two-color plate surface attached to a layer of soot that is difficult to erase.
E, fill in the color
If the user requirements are not high, you can use the dot to show those different colors in the logo. Non-color to be painted color area to be carved deeper, you can use acrylic paints or alkyd enamel, other paints may destroy the finish of the surface of the two-color plate.
5, glass
A, glass
The laser can engrave on the surface of the glass, but the engraving depth is not deep and can not be cut. In general, the laser can form a frosted or broken effect on the surface of the glass. Often the user wants a frosting rather than a shattering effect, depending on the texture of the glass and whether it is uniformly hard.
B, engraving
Glass engraving is usually more difficult to control, in accordance with the following steps can be made to make a relatively smooth frosted surface: in the area to be engraved coated with a little bit of wash clean, cut down a piece of newspaper or napkin slightly larger than the area to be engraved, use water to completely soak the paper wet, and squeeze out the excess water, put the wet paper in the area to be engraved to lay flat and do not have folds. Place the glass in the engraver and engrave while the paper is still wet, then remove the glass, remove any paper residue, and clean the surface of the glass. If desired, lightly lighten the glass surface with 3M scotchBrite. In general, the laser power setting should be smaller, the precision set at 300dpi, the engraving speed should be faster, try to use a large size lens for engraving.
Note: In the laser engraving of lead crystal should be doubly careful, lead crystal and ordinary crystal has a different coefficient of expansion, which can cause crystal cracks or broken in the engraving. Smaller power settings can avoid this problem, but you should always take precautions in case of breakage.
C, laser engraving and sandblasting methods used in combination
Laser engraving machine can replace the engraving machine, directly on the glass to complete the sandblasting film cutting. This process eliminates the transfer process of the protective film, saving time and improving the quality of the finished product.
D, cleaning
After engraving, you can use a damp cloth to clean the surface.
E. Color filling
It can be colored with acrylic paint.
6, lacquered copper
A, lacquered copper
Usually, copper can not be laser engraved. But now there is a material whose surface is attached to a layer of special varnish, the laser can completely vaporize the surface of the varnish, and then reveal the underlying copper. Often the manufacturer will polish the copper or give it a special treatment before the lacquer is applied, so that the area now exposed after engraving will have a sufficiently bright finish to last for a long period of time. If the copper surface is not treated, it is necessary to make another protective film after engraving to avoid oxidization and surface tarnishing over time.
B, carving
Generally can use small power and high speed, precision settings in the 500dpi or more.
C. Cleaning
After carving, you can use a damp cloth or alcohol to clean the surface.
D. Fill color
If the user does not require a high degree of performance in the logo can be used to show those different colors. Non-color can use acrylic paint, other paint may destroy the surface finish of the copper plate.
The application of laser engraving in carton packaging
Carton packaging industry in coastal areas, especially in the Pearl River Delta region is a mature industry, and the most advanced international production technology is the closest, carton packaging industry above-scale production in the Pearl River Delta region started in the early 1980s, 10-20 years later than the mainland. The carton packaging industry in the Pearl River Delta region matured in the mid-1990s, after 15 years of high-speed development mainly Hong Kong businessmen, Taiwanese businessmen, local entrepreneurs boldly introduced foreign corrugated cardboard production lines and carton production lines, through the introduction of absorption and digestion until the complete mastery of foreign advanced production technology. The corrugated carton production in the Pearl River Delta has made a great contribution to the entire carton production and processing technology in China. The Yangtze River Delta region started earlier, and really developed later than the Pearl River Delta, due to the successful development of the Pearl River Delta experience, less detours. At present, the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta corrugated carton packaging industry production volume accounted for more than 60% of the national carton packaging, production technology is also relatively leading.
In the mid to late nineties, with the successful development of laser engraving technology, corrugated carton packaging printing plates, and the gradual application of laser engraving technology. In fact, corrugated box packaging is divided into two categories, one is sales packaging, the other is transportation packaging. Sales packaging generally belongs to the inner packaging, in the sales process to meet with consumers, such as toothpaste, soap, cigarettes (a load and a package). Transportation packaging generally belongs to the outer packaging, such as: the whole box of toothpaste, soap, cigarettes, basically not in the sales process and consumer meeting, its main role is to facilitate storage, transportation. In addition, air conditioning, color TV, refrigerators, rice cookers between the two are both transport packaging and sales packaging, printing requirements in about 60 lines, transport packaging are generally in about 40 lines, sales packaging in more than 80 lines belong to the color offset printing. According to relevant departmental statistics, more than 90% of China's cartons belong to the transportation packaging, the vast majority of the carton printing equipment production.
Laser engraving machine is the world's high-tech products, products of optical, mechanical and electrical integration of high technology content. Laser engraving with high efficiency, fast, accurate, clear automated engraving function. A laser engraving machine output power of only 900W, practice has proved that the laser plus power is energy-saving processing, environmental protection processing. Laser automatic engraving plate making, can reach 40-60 lines of printing effect, manual plate making in 40 lines below. Laser engraving plate making completely replace the manual engraving plate making. Due to the low cost of laser engraving plate making, only a quarter of the cost of resin plate, at present, the carton industry generally adopts laser engraving plate making and resin plate, as the corrugated carton packaging printing plate. Yue Ming laser processing equipment is used more in the market, and the resin plate generally adopts BASF and TDR plates.
The advantages of laser engraving plate
First, laser engraving plate and manual engraving plate comparison
Laser engraving plate is completely imitated to optimize the design of manual plate, laser engraving plate to the market, in the ten years, through the software upgrades to achieve the engraving with a 0.3MM slope, the engraving of the corners of the light failure automatic compensation. Improve the automatic engraving speed. Basically, the manual engraving plate out of the game. In addition, laser engraving plate, completely eliminating the carving of errors, manual engraving inevitably carving errors, the original draft is good, hand-engraved a knife error, the whole layout scrapped, if found not in time often result in the scrapping of the whole batch of cartons. Laser engraving is the use of software, the original draft will be entered into the automatic engraving, there is no engraving error. The original Pearl River Delta more than 20,000 hand-engraved plate practitioners have basically disappeared, all to the line.
Second, the laser engraving plate and resin version of the comparison
Laser engraving plate one-time investment is low. 2 meters of light-sensitive flexible tanning machine a set of equipment is not less than 400,000 yuan, and a laser engraving machine in about 40,000 yuan.
Resin plate production costs are high, the average price of resin plate in the Pearl River Delta region 1.25 yuan / in2, laser engraving plate 0.32 yuan / in2, although large quantities of resin plate can reduce the production cost of 0.90 yuan / in2, however, not any enterprise can do. Even if you can do the cost is still much higher than the laser plate.
Laser engraving plate low energy consumption, no pollution, resin plate processing is high pollution, although the use of plate liquid recycling device, better than none, but the plate liquid recycling rate can not be 100%, pollution is inevitable.
Laser engraving size can be unlimited, the production site only needs more than ten square meters, while the resin plate tanning machine workplace can not be less than 40 square meters, the production of pungent odor, the production site must be independent of the separation, in addition, the processing of size by the model limitations. 2 meters photographic flexible tanning machine, only to the production of 2 meters within the resin plate. 5, the laser engraving plate with a slope of 0.3MM. Durable performance is basically close to the resin version, only seven words below the resin version of the printing clarity is better than the laser engraved version.
Third, the laser engraving version and photopolymer resin version in the corrugated packaging industry in the actual application
At present, in the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta economically developed areas, the photopolymer resin version, the laser engraving version of the popularity of the resin version of the flexibility of high, clear printing mark in the carton industry, transportation packaging printing mark in 30% of the market, and the laser engraving version of the full acceptance of the original hand-engraved version of the market 70%. 70% of the market is occupied by laser engraved plates. Corrugated cardboard boxes 90% belong to the transport packaging, printing mark requirements are generally in 40 lines or so, and carton printing machinery can only reach up to 80 lines or less, more than 80 lines of color offset printing is generally used. Between the transportation packaging and sales packaging between the electrical class packaging, you can use the laser engraving version, because some manufacturers are accustomed to operator reasons, now most of the use of resin version.
Fourth, low energy consumption, environmental protection and economic laser engraving version of the competition and prediction of photopolymerized resin version
Between the transportation packaging and sales packaging of electrical appliances between the application of food packaging, the use of laser engraving plate in addition to the economic reasons, it is more important to environmental protection. In the carton packaging printing mark practice, printing with air cushion or better elasticity of the sponge liner printing, you can get high resolution, can improve the printing effect of 10-20 lines. At present, many carton packaging enterprises to try this method to achieve better results. A more robust approach is that, on the basis of these, some of the smaller text patterns using resin plate, more than seven words text patterns using laser engraving plate. Example: Zhuhai Doumen Thousand Leaf Paper Products Co., Ltd. in the production of Gree air conditioner export packaging cartons on the use of this method, in addition to the No. 7 word below the text pattern using the resin version, the rest of all the use of laser engraving version. Thus, in the case of quality assurance, reduce the cost of plate making. If all the use of photopolymer resin version, a set of plate is not less than two or three thousand dollars, and the use of laser engraving plate-based, photopolymer resin version as a supplement, a set of plate is only more than five hundred dollars, companies try to reduce production costs should be, focus on the environment is more valuable.
Fifth, the diversity of plate technology competition
Competition not only to the carton packaging industry to provide more choices, but also greatly reduce the cost of carton packaging industry to improve economic efficiency. Before the introduction of laser engraving plate, the average price of photopolymer resin is 5 yuan / in2. At that time, almost every industrial area in the Pearl River Delta has a photopolymer resin plate production and processing points, and there is a trend of diffusion. Laser engraving plate to the market, photopolymerized resin version of the price plummeted to today's 1.25 yuan / in2 production scale has also shrunk. Competition in plate making has brought obvious benefits to the carton packaging industry. To summarize, in the future, corrugated carton packaging enterprises, in the printing plate technology competition will continue, laser engraving plate and photopolymerized resin version of the fight will continue, and will be more exciting. According to corrugated packaging carton industry experts predict. In the future, in the transportation packaging carton printing plate, photopolymer resin will be fully withdrawn, between the transportation and sales of packaging products printing, photopolymer resin version is still slightly dominant, roughly 60% of the use of photopolymer resin version 40% of the use of laser engraving plate, the original by the photopolymer resin version of the domination of the world situation, there is no doubt that it has become history.
At present, the corrugated carton packaging industry printing plate, on the whole, is the laser engraving plate to occupy 75% of the market share, and there is a continuation of the trend of extension, although the photopolymerized resin has a high degree of stability, high-definition printing effect, but the cost of the problem is to limit the development of bottlenecks, even if the cost can be reduced, the environmental issue is to limit the development of the most critical issues. Therefore, the economy, environmental protection, laser engraving plate is the future direction of carton packaging industry printing plate development.
The development status of laser engraving equipment
There are many kinds of laser equipment on the market, roughly summarized in the following products: laser marking, laser welding, laser cutting, laser engraving, laser drilling, laser demonstration, laser plate making machine, laser beauty, laser medical, laser coding, laser heat treatment, etc. They are all laser technology and software control, laser engraving, laser engraving, laser engraving, laser engraving, laser engraving, laser engraving and so on. They are laser technology and software control technology of the crystallization of the product, for the modern industrial civilization has brought vitality.
At present, with the laser engraving equipment in the application of technology, process development and promotion, laser plane marking, engraving equipment manufacturing and sales has shown a good upward trend. Domestic companies engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of laser equipment, as well as agents of foreign laser equipment is rapidly increasing. Competition is also increasingly fierce.
However, all the laser equipment in the domestic market are stuck in the laser plane engraving stage, there is not yet a company or scientific research unit can come up with a laser three-dimensional engraving system. Some of the fine three-dimensional mold engraving still rely on computer machine engraving, or hand engraving. But the machine carving and hand carving have great weaknesses and limitations, restricting the development of some fine craft. There have been several domestic laser research institutions in the laser three-dimensional fine engraving machine research.
In the field of engraving, the domestic traditional mechanical engraving equipment to do the best is Beijing Jingdiao, which won a huge market and success in solving the fine engraving mold. However, due to the inherent limitations of mechanical knife carving, there are still many high precision end of the carving can not be realized. A part of the field, had to resort to highly skilled manual craftsmanship, hand carving or mold repair work. In the laser engraving mold, there is a new source of laser, which is mainly the use of strong power laser marking machine sold to the mold manufacturing industry, the current sales trend is good. But because of its engraving technology can only carve plane text and patterns, there is still a distance from the laser three-dimensional engraving, so it is currently in the field can not show their hands.
Laser three-dimensional engraving system (English name: 3D laser engraving system) is a new member of the family of laser equipment, is another important symbol of the progress of laser technology, is the mold manufacturing industry tool. Laser three-dimensional precision engraving mold refers to the high energy laser beam in the mold material or copper electrodes engraved on the two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape you need. At the same time, it is essentially different from the current crystal engraving machine, crystal engraving machine three-dimensional concept is a certain density of point cloud caused by the feeling of three-dimensional image, and can only be applied to crystal crafts. The laser three-dimensional engraving machine is through the precise CAD software technology to achieve the three-dimensional entity space carving, so it can not only be applied in the general product finishing areas, but also can be applied to the field of mold manufacturing.
Overseas, there have been equipment vendors to develop the corresponding laser three-dimensional engraving systems and applications, and has been the sales tentacles into the country. There are several business agents of this type of equipment, but there is no prototype, its price is more than one million dollars. Such as the Canadian VIRTEK company developed FOBA.G-SERIES, is also mainly used in the mold engraving industry.
[edit]Laser engraving machine selection of the five elements
First, the size of the amplitude of the choice
Customers should be based on the needs of the business and the state of funds, choose the model of the engraving machine suitable for their own and the size of its power. General small format engraving machine has 600mm x 600mm and 600mm x 900mm, the feed width is 700mm. engraving two-color plate is the most basic application of small format engraving machine, acceptance is very good. The price of smaller engraving machine is similar to it, but the engraving of two-color plate has to cut the plate, which is more troublesome and causes unnecessary waste. Large format engraving machine 1200mm x 1200mm, 200mm x 1500mm, 1500mm x 2400mm, 2400mm x 3000mm, the above models of engraving machine into the section width are more than 1350mm, now on the market of plexiglass and PVC board size are 1300mm x 2400mm, so these models for the needs of the Large format engraving machine customers are more suitable.
Second, the spindle motor
The spindle motor is an important component of the computerized engraving machine, its performance on the computerized engraving machine performance has a critical impact. Processing spindle is usually divided into two categories: precision processing spindle and high-power cut-off spindle.
1, fine processing spindle is characterized by low noise, high speed, high, suitable for processing particularly fine workpieces, such as seals, nameplates, badges gifts. Such motors are usually high-speed inverter motors, less power, generally below 250W. The disadvantage is that the ability to cut off thick materials is poor, not suitable for cutting off thicker materials.
2, high-power cut-off spindle, mainly used to cut off, high-power engraving, characterized by high power, cutting ability, especially suitable for cutting Yu, three-dimensional characters, of course, can also make badges, nameplates, seals and so on. Such high-power spindle according to the characteristics of the motor can generally be divided into brushless frequency high-speed AC motors and brushed AC motors, the main difference is:
A, brushless frequency conversion motor speed is high, variable speed range of 70060000 rpm, while the general brushed AC motors the highest speed is not more than 24000 rpm:
B, brushless frequency conversion motor rotary accuracy, wear and tear, low noise, the noise is much lower than the brushed AC motor. Low noise, for the noise is much lower than the brush AC motor;
C, brushless frequency conversion motor blocking characteristics, due to the inverter on the special current-limiting circuit, a short blocking time will not burn the motor, while the brush AC machine in the overloaded operation or blocking the turn will soon smoke and burn, and can not be repaired;
D, brushless frequency conversion motor using frequency control technology speed control, is a professional-grade products, long life, the manufacturer provides 1 year free of charge, and the motor can be used for a long time. Long life, manufacturers provide 1 year free replacement, and later can also be replaced by high-speed bearings on the motor maintenance, while the brush AC motor due to the use of electric zapper life of about 300 hours to replace the motor or motor brushes, so the carbon brush AC motor is usually a day without warranty.
III. Control mode and speed selection: control mode can now be divided into three kinds:
A, all the arithmetic work has computer control to complete, the engraving machine in the work of the computer is in a working state, can not carry out other typesetting work, which may be solid computer misuse and caused by the waste products.
B, the use of microcontroller control, this controller can work in the engraving machine at the same time layout, but can not shut down the computer, which is actually equivalent to saving 7 a computer, and reduce the computer's misuse caused by the scrap.
C, using the USB port to transfer data, the system has more than 32M memory capacity. As long as the file is saved, it can be completely disengaged from the computer immediately, shut down the computer or other typesetting. This way to greatly improve the efficiency of the engraving machine.
Fourth, the guide
Large format engraving machine must be used to widen the imported square guide, its load capacity and accuracy retention capacity is more than 30 times that of the circular guide, to ensure that the engraving machine of high quality and high speed.
V. Precision
Small format machine carving 1mm Chinese characters, or large format engraving machine engraving 1.5mm small characters, under a magnifying glass should be seen very clearly.
Dongguan New Light Source Laser Technology Co.