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Question #: 1091

Question: I know you cant cut it but can you etch stainless steel with the laser?

Current Solution

No you cannot sketch any kind of metal unless its coated from the molecular level or having it coated individually. However there are some types of coatings (Thermark and Cermark) that you can use to coat the steel so that you will be able to use our laser machine to sketch any metal.

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Other Possible Solutions to this Question

  • Can I attach a 400w CO2 laser tube to you units (for cutting Stainless Steel at 1/8") ?

    A 400w laser tube will not be a simple swap of our laser tube in our blackTooth or our spindle/laser hybrid. The overall size factor of a 80w - 400w is greatly larger than our 40w laser tube and will be the biggest issue. You will have to completely modify our units to retrofit a larger tube, which might be more costly than expected as well as more time consuming.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    Can I attach a 400w CO2 laser tube to you units (for cutting Stainless Steel at 1/8") ?

  • What metal sheets can I cut with the 80W laser? What thickness, alumium, steel? What about the 100 or 130W upgrades?

    Cutting metals with a CO2 laser is nearly impossible with just the laser by itself, no matter what the power. The wavelength that a CO2 laser outputs is not best for cutting metals.

    However, if you add oxygen as a cutting assist in the cutting process, metals can be cut, but we do not advise this as it is very dangerous.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    What metal sheets can I cut with the 80W laser? What thickness, alumium, steel? What about the 100 or 130W upgrades?

  • If I build a Laser with the components on this site, can I cut the 0.1mm and 0.2mm board? Is it cut in optimal conditions, or if not what you recommend ?!

    What material is the 0.1mm and 0.2mm board?

    Additional Information:
    Steel sheet


    Additional Information:
    Steel Sheet

    Additional Information:
    Thanks for the response. CO2 lasers unfortunately cannot cut metallic materials. Metals are best cut with other types of lasers, or by using oxygen assist. The oxygen assist method is not encourages as the combination or CO2 laser and oxygen is very volatile.

    Additional Information:
    and I can not do this laser to cut the steel plate, but instead of the CO2 tube I put the oxygen tube, or do not I know ?! Do I have a chance in the products on the site to create a laser for 0.1mm and 0.2mm steel sheets?

    Additional Information:
    I can help with an answer, Thanks!

    Additional Information:
    I can help with an answer, Thanks!

    Additional Information:
    Can you help me with an answer? Thank you! **

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    If I build a Laser with the components on this site, can I cut the 0.1mm and 0.2mm board? Is it cut in optimal conditions, or if not what you recommend ?!

  • How fast can I cut 1/4" wood with the 40 watt CO2 laser?

    CO2 laser will not cut wood material fast at all. This is just the nature of the laser energy. The wood is a very low absorbent of the laser energy and you will need to run probably around 10 ipm to cut through the wood. CNC is much more efficient for cutting and laser as more efficient at marking or slowly cutting if you need the small kerf. You will also need a relatively high output air source to cut efficiently. The air will blow away the char (carbon) on the wood. The black char will absorb most of the laser energy not allowing the wood to be cut well. We use a compressor for the air source, but you can use a commercial hydroponic air pump instead.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    How fast can I cut 1/4" wood with the 40 watt CO2 laser?

  • WHAT MATERIALS CAN THE GREENBULL MACHINE CUT? LASER ETCH?

    The Greenbull machine can cut a very wide variety of materials ranging from foam to aluminum. We recommend the use of our 2.2kW spindle to allow the greatest flexibility. Aside from that, the most important thing is to use an appropriate end mill for the material you are cutting and to use appropriate speeds and feed rates.



    BYCNC Response:
    Our 40W laser can cut up to about 1/4" materials ranging from wood and acrylic down through lighter materials such as leather, fabric, foam, etc. Speed and final cut are greatly enhanced by an air assist upgrade. We also offer an 80W laser which has approximately twice the capabilities of the 40W.

    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    WHAT MATERIALS CAN THE GREENBULL MACHINE CUT? LASER ETCH?

  • I am interested in buying Laser Cutter/Engraver with Integrated Computer, so can you please let me know if your offer still stands?

    The (blackTooth) laser cutter and engraver comes with the unit shown on the product page seen here: https://buildyourcnc.com/blackToothLaserCutterAndEngraver.aspx

    The unit is intended to be set on a table top.

    The stand that you may have noticed was only a demonstration on how to use SketchUP in a CNC process scenario. The stand has never been offered with the blackTooth laser.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I am interested in buying Laser Cutter/Engraver with Integrated Computer, so can you please let me know if your offer still stands?

  • can I purchase the 2' x 4' laser with an 80 watt tube?

    We offer a 4'x8' laser system that uses an 80 watt laser tube.
    Vertical Laser XL 4'x8'

    Our blackTooth 24"x20" laser uses a 40 watt laser tube due to the internal size constraints and that the laser tube is mounted on the gantry for ease of aligning and maintaining better power at the cutting end.
    blackTooth 24"x20" Laser

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    can I purchase the 2' x 4' laser with an 80 watt tube?

  • I have a greenbull 5x with the long Z. Is there a laser kit that I can get for that model?

    Yes, we can provide a laser attachment for the long Z version of the greenBull 4x, 5x and 6x. Please call us to get more information and pricing for the laser attachment.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I have a greenbull 5x with the long Z. Is there a laser kit that I can get for that model?

  • WHAT SOFTWARE CAN BE USED WITH THE BLACKTOOTH LASER CUTTER?

    If you take the standard parallel cable BoB (Break Out Board), then you will need control software (Mach 3 or EMC2) and CAM software to make your G-Code (such as CamBam). Personally I use CamBam and Mach 3, they work beautifully but don't expect to turn them on and know how they work out of the box. Give yourself a few weeks to get familiar with the basics. CamBam is VERY powerful software for it's price. I'm surprised how much I keep learning on what I can do with it...I highly recommend it if you want as much control as possible.

    Mach 3 + CamBam as a bundle costs $310. EMC2 will give you a free replacement for Mach 3 and is exclusively for Linux.

    If you use the USB BoB, it will cost an extra $75 + $75 for the software. This is an all-in-one package so no need for Mach 3 or CamBam.

    For etching rasters (jpeg, bmp, tiff, non-vectors, photos), I highly recommend PicEngrave. It has been a labor of love for the past 9 years and John has done a wonderful job with it. It easily compares in quality compared to software that is in the $200-$300 range. John's software runs $40 and can be found here: http://picengrave.com/ (don't let the modest website fool you, this stuff can do amazing things). DotG and the Mach3 engrave plugin are two other options and instructions can be found on Dustans page in the gallery on buildyourcnc.com website.

    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    WHAT SOFTWARE CAN BE USED WITH THE BLACKTOOTH LASER CUTTER?

  • I want to cut the ends of steel pipes circularly as preparation for welding by plasma cutter , can you supply small machine?

    Yes, we can supply the parts for a machine that will turn pipes so they can be cut as they are turning. Are you intending the machine to cut using a milling process, or a plasma process?

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I want to cut the ends of steel pipes circularly as preparation for welding by plasma cutter , can you supply small machine?

  • Do you have a larger kit for the Blacktooth Laser? I need a laser with at least 80watts of power.

    We have one in the works. It is a 4'x8' machine that will house the 80w laser tube on the gantry. The machine is bout 2 months out as of 1/7/2014.

    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:



    Additional Information:

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    Do you have a larger kit for the Blacktooth Laser? I need a laser with at least 80watts of power.

  • co you sell plans so I can cut my own laser setup??

    The plans or DXF files are not offered. We sell the machines as kits or fully assembled. The kits are very well priced and will most likely cost less if materials and labor than working from plans (this comes from feedback from many customers that built similar machines from plans).

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    co you sell plans so I can cut my own laser setup??

  • Can I cousult with you on the cnc package I'm interested in?

    Consulting our sales dept, or employee, For a specific package that you might want to inquire about, please email customerservice@buildyourcnc.com for further assistance.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    Can I cousult with you on the cnc package I'm interested in?

  • WHAT THICKNESS OF MATERIAL CAN THE BLACKTOOTH LASER CUT?

    A standard 40W CO2 laser will cut up to 1/4" thick of material, be it wood, acrylic, card stock, leather, fabric, foam, cork, etc. (Decent speed and final cut are heavily dependent on a strong air assist upgrade)

    Metals cannot be cut due to the power level and wavelength of the CO2 laser. But it can be marked with special solutions like Cermark or Thermark.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    WHAT THICKNESS OF MATERIAL CAN THE BLACKTOOTH LASER CUT?

  • I have a blacktooth laser engraver. The Y Axis stepper motor needs to be replaced. Can you please provide me with the information I would need to replace this motor.

    Yes, if you need a replacement part on your machine please call us at 281-815-7701.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I have a blacktooth laser engraver. The Y Axis stepper motor needs to be replaced. Can you please provide me with the information I would need to replace this motor.

  • HOW CAN YOU ENHANCE THE BLACKTOOTH LASER CUTTER?

    Temperature probe monitor. Very valuable. This keeps you up to date on your coolant temperature levels.

    Voltage meter. This will tell you the exact level of voltage/power you are running telling the laser to run at instead of an arbitrary mark on a drawn wheel around your POT.

    Ammeter sensitive to 1mA. This will be sure your not over driving your tube and reducing it's life significantly.

    Hour meter. This will tell you exactly how long your system has been 'on' giving you a more accurate bead on the length of your tubes life.

    Exhaust fan upgrade. The current fan included is 100CFM. You can buy 120mm fans that push 250CFM and I have included a guide on how to go about doing this here. http://buildyourtools.com/phpBB3/viewto ... 8cdd1802bf

    To push the exhaust fan even further, if you have the room/power, I would highly recommend investing in a 600+ CFM "Dust Collector" system. 250CFM is still not suffice to draw all the smoke that can come off of 3mm or 1/8 MDF cutting job.

    A cutting surface. I bought myself a aluminum 'egg crate' mesh from my local HVAC company. They are used a cover for fluorescent lights and work great for low impact cutting surface. They come in 4'x8' sheets and are easily cut to fit. The other side is if you can find a steel honeycomb cutting bed to fit. These can be quite costly or fairly affordable depending where you are looking. The benefit of a steel honeycomb is you can use high power magnets to hold material down.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    HOW CAN YOU ENHANCE THE BLACKTOOTH LASER CUTTER?

  • Im in the market for a laser cutter with the ability to cut 8'x4' boards (different materials) and up to 5" height. I bought a greenbull 10'x5' a while back from you guys

    Here's a link to the blackTooth laser that we sell, https://www.buildyourcnc.com/blackToothLaserCutterAndEngraver.aspx. It will vary depending which materials you are using, but keep in mind on how deep you are cutting since the blackTooth only cuts 1/4" inch(dept) at a time.

    Additional Information:
    We will be carrying a 8' x 4' laser cutter in the near future. We will also design an attachment for the GreenBull to contain a laser tube at the head of the machine to convert a greenBull into a laser cutter.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    Im in the market for a laser cutter with the ability to cut 8'x4' boards (different materials) and up to 5" height. I bought a greenbull 10'x5' a while back from you guys

  • I am interested in your laser cutter package. Can you create a machine with custom length requirements? ie. 36" length

    For the blackTooth laser cutter and engraver, it is not possible to lengthen within its existing enclosure dimensions. The cable management is a bit tight. Call us to discuss.

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    I am interested in your laser cutter package. Can you create a machine with custom length requirements? ie. 36" length

  • You can set the Index input with Mach3 Turn and check that the Index is lit on the screen, but it is not reflected in the rotation speed. Is there any way?

    Yes, you will need a sensor to determine the speed of the rotation. For instance, you can use a hall effect sensor and put a magnet on the shaft of rotation. By installing the hall effect sensor near the shaft that contains the magnet, you can use this to determine the RPM of the axis and reflect this value in Mach3 using an input in your controller and setting that input in the index line item of the Mach3 input signals dialog box.

    Here is a great video that shows the circuit and process:

    &t=300s

    Click the link to add information to this solution:
    You can set the Index input with Mach3 Turn and check that the Index is lit on the screen, but it is not reflected in the rotation speed. Is there any way?

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