TRAINING SUPPLEMENT MATERIALS TIPS

TRAINING SUPPLEMENT MATERIALS TIPS Section 6 - 1 Section 6 - 2 Materials Used in Laser Engraving and Cutting Material ABS Plastic Acrylic Avonit...
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TRAINING SUPPLEMENT

MATERIALS TIPS

Section 6 - 1

Section 6 - 2

Materials Used in Laser Engraving and Cutting Material ABS Plastic Acrylic Avonite® Brick Cardboard Ceramic Chipboard Corian® Cork Delrin® Fabric Fiberglass Foam Fountainhead Glass Granite Kevlar Laminated Plastics Leather Marble Masonite® Mat Board Melamine Mother of Pearl MDF Mylar® Nylon Painted Brass Paper Particle Board Polycarbonate Polypropylene Polyester Pressboard Resin Rubber Silicone

Engrave ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

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Materials Used in Laser Engraving and Cutting Material Silk Stone Styrene Tile (may require marking compound) Travertine Twill Wood

Metal Marking AlumaMark® Aluminum Anodized Aluminum Brass Carbide Cobalt Copper Iron Nickel Pewter Stainless Steel Steel Titanium Tungsten

Engrave ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

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MMC 2



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Direct marking with 25 watt laser beam (no metal marking compound) requires High Power Density Focusing Optics (HPDFO).

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MMC (Metal Marking Compounds) such as TherMark® and CerMark® can only be used on bare metals. There must be no paint, polish, oxide, anodizing or other coating.

©2008 Universal Laser Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Universal Laser Systems logo and name are registered trademarks of Universal Laser Systems, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Section 6 - 4

ULS Materials Print Driver Settings Intensity Range

Least Powerful Paper Vellum Mylar/Polyester Sheet Alumamark - Photo Leather Alumamark® Cotton Felt Granite Microsurface - Metallic Surface Microsurface - Nonmetallic Surface Acrylic Aluminum - Anodized (3D Photo effect) Metal - Painted Aluminum - Anodized Mat Board Marble Microsurface - Deep Engraving Acetal Copolymer (Delrin TM) Glass - Marking Soft Wood - Balsa, Pine LaserTile - Light Medium Wood - Alder LaserTile - Medium Acrylic - Deep Engraving Hard Wood - Cherry, Maple, Walnut Bare Metal - Marking Compound LaserTile - Dark Natural Latex - Rubber Stamp Bare Metal - Marking Compound (Dark)

Most Powerful

©2008 Universal Laser Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Universal Laser Systems logo and name are registered trademarks of Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

Section 6 - 5

Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

Section 6 - 6

MATERIALS TIPS This section provides helpful hints to get started engraving and/or cutting various materials. First, a few safety items: NEVER LEAVE THE SYSTEM RUNNING UNATTENDED FOR ANY REASON. Exposure to the laser beam can cause ignition of combustible materials. All cutting and engraving should be constantly supervised.

NEVER OPERATE THE LASER SYSTEM WITHOUT A PROPERLY INSTALLED AND OPERATING EXHAUST SYSTEM. Some materials when cut or engraved can produce fumes that are hazardous in concentrated amounts. Also make sure that your room is adequately ventilated as some materials will continue to produce fumes for several minutes to possibly hours after the cutting or engraving process has been completed. Since many materials can produce toxic and possibly caustic fumes or residue, it is advisable to obtain the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from the materials manufacturer. The MSDS discloses all of the hazards when handling or processing that material. The law requires all manufacturers to provide this information to anyone who requests it. DO NOT ENGRAVE OR CUT PVC (Polyvinylchloride) BASED MATERIALS. The fumes are extremely toxic if you inhale them. The fumes are so caustic that it can chemically destroy the metal parts of the laser system. Damage to the laser system from this type of abuse WILL NOT be covered under warranty. There are many variables that can affect the cutting and engraving process such as differences in the thickness of the material, density of the material, composition of the material, and the manufacturing processes used to make the material.

Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

Section 6 - 7

ACRYLIC – CAST, EXTRUDED and MIRRORED Acrylic is extremely flammable. Do not leave the laser system unattended when cutting or engraving.

There are two types of acrylic available, cast and extruded. Cast turns white or frosted and extruded remains clear when engraved. Use extruded acrylic for paint filled engraving and cast for regular engraving. Cast engraves better without masking. Lightly engrave the surface to frost it with a low power setting such as the first setting listed above. If deep engraving is desired, it is necessary to mask the acrylic with transfer tape to prevent the smoke from damaging the clear surface of the acrylic. However, another problem with deep acrylic engraving is that the intense heat creates a white, crusty, deposit that accumulates along the edges of the area that was just engraved and is impossible to remove this completely without causing damage. Engraving lightly and without masking seems to be the better all around alternative. If only cutting acrylic, extruded works better and is less expensive than cast. The cut edges of extruded acrylic will appear to be more highly polished and clearer than cast acrylic when laser cut. When cutting acrylic, it might be necessary to remove both sides of the original masking and re-mask with transfer tape if cutting through the original masking produces flaming. The original masking is coated with wax and will not absorb water. If cutting through very thick acrylic, re-mask both sides with transfer tape and dampen the masking on both sides of the acrylic with water from a spray bottle. Re-masking and dampening with water will act as a heat sink to pull the laser heat away from the cutting area resulting in less distortion or heat effected zones (HAZ). When dampening, be sure not to leave puddles of water. Puddles of water will reduce cutting depth significantly. For the best results when combining engraving and cutting on the same piece, first engrave lightly and unmasked. Then mask with transfer tape, dampen, elevate, re-focus, and cut as a second step. You may want to focus a few thousandths of an inch below the surface of the material. Use a cutting table or elevate the acrylic off the table at least 1/8 inch, re-focus, and then proceed to cut. Elevating the acrylic will allow the beam to completely pass through the material which allows the smoke and heat to escape from underneath. For the best edge quality, set the PPI setting to 1000.

Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

Section 6 - 8

Paint filling the engraved area is possible by first masking the acrylic or leave on the original masking then engraving through the masking. Before removing the masking, brush or spray on some acrylic based or water based paint right on to the masking. When the paint is dry, remove the masking and the paint will remain in the recessed area of the engraving. Make sure to use an acrylic-based paint or paint that does not contain acetone or alcohol, as these chemicals will crack the acrylic. Water based paints also work very well. Remember to use extruded acrylic when paint-filling and cast acrylic for basic engraving. ACRYLIC - MIRRORED Engraving mirrored acrylic is similar to engraving regular acrylic. The idea is to engrave through the mirrored backing enough to begin to penetrate into the acrylic. Engraving deeply will cause a crusty residue to form just like with non-mirrored acrylic. A double image will appear if engraving on the front side of the mirror. It is not necessary to mask the backside when engraving because the mirrored backing shields the acrylic from smoke damage. To cut mirrored acrylic, use the same process as regular acrylic. The laser beam will not reflect off of the mirrored surface because it is absorbed by the acrylic first. Sometimes cutting the acrylic from the backside will cause the mirrored backing to distort and crack from the intense heat required to cut. If the combination of engraving and cutting is desired, our suggestion is to engrave the backing, unmasked, remove the acrylic, mask both sides with transfer tape, flip the acrylic over, dampen, elevate, re-focus, and cut from the front side.

ANODIZED ALUMINUM There is a process called Laser Color Marking which enables the color filling of anodized aluminum. First, coat or spray the aluminum with a clear acrylic finish. After the finish has thoroughly dried, laser engrave the graphic onto the aluminum. Then take a water based marker, such as those found in an art supply store, and swab on the ink into the engraved area. You can actually see the ink get absorbed into the engraved area but not the unengraved area. The ink will appear lighter in color because the white engraved area tends to lighten the shade. Use a darker tint marker to compensate for the lighter effect. Wipe off the excess with a soft, lint free cloth. Finish the piece by applying another coat of clear acrylic finish and let dry. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENGRAVE DEEPLY OR ATTEMPT TO CUT THIS MATERIAL WITH THE LASER SYSTEM. High Power and Low Speed settings can cause the laser beam to reflect off of this material, which can damage the laser system and can be a safety hazard. Thin materials will tend to warp and could become very hot to the touch.

Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

Section 6 - 9

ENGRAVING THIS MATERIAL PRODUCES ABRASIVE PARTICLES. Make sure that you have good exhaust. Clean the laser system more frequently to reduce wear and tear on the motion system components and optics.

BRASS – COATED / PAINTED The manufacturing process for coated brass varies from one vendor to another. Some of the manufacturers do not polish the brass before coating it. Since CO2 lasers at this power level do not engrave into metals when the coating is removed, the tarnished brass underneath will have a dull appearance that will need to be polished with a brass polishing compound. Unpolished brass is designed for mechanical engravers that actually remove the metal when engraving which gives the brass a shine without polishing. Brass that is produced for the laser engraving industry is polished, then clear coated, and finally coated with paint. When laser engraving this type of material, adjust the power so that the laser beam removes the painted coating but not the clear coating. This will expose the polished, clear-coated brass without penetrating all the way down to the metal. Since the brass is already clear coated and polished, it will not require any cleanup after engraving nor will it oxidize. If too much laser power is used, the clear coat may be removed and the brass underneath will be exposed to the heat of the laser beam causing instant tarnish. The same goes for enamel coated pens, some are polished and clear coated underneath, and others are tarnished which will require polishing after engraving. If polishing the brass, use a soft, non-abrasive cloth or tissue and good quality brass polish. Be careful not to rub too hard as this will scratch the painted coating. Do not use paper towels either because they will scratch also. Clear-coated brass can also be engraved and the engraved area turned black with an oxidizer giving exceptional results. Test clear-coated brass from different vendors, as not all of them will work properly. If the brass, after being engraved, does not oxidize with the acid solution, apply automotive fine grit rubbing compound to the engraved area with a soft cloth. This will remove any clear coat that is remaining and will allow the brass to oxidize with the acid. Apply the same parameters and engraving techniques when using coated aluminum. This material usually has a pre-applied protective masking to protect it from scratching. Make sure you remove this masking before engraving. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENGRAVE DEEPLY OR ATTEMPT TO CUT THIS MATERIAL WITH THE LASER SYSTEM. High Power and Low Speed settings can cause the laser beam to reflect off of this material, which can damage the laser system and can be a safety hazard. Thin materials will tend to warp and could become very hot to the touch. Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

Section 6 - 10

CORIAN / AVONITE / FOUNTAINHEAD Laser engraving this type of material produces great results especially when the engraved area is paint filled. If paint filling, it is a good idea to mask first and then engrave through the masking. In this way, when ready to paint fill, the material is already masked. Spray painting seems to be the easiest. Using a paintbrush is acceptable but time consuming. Use the paint sparingly. Excess paint can accumulate on the edges of the engraving, which will make mask removal difficult and leave unsightly ridges. It is best to apply several lighter coats than one heavy coat of paint. Remove the masking after the paint has dried. Engraving this material without paint filling can work but most of the time there is very little contrast which makes the engraved area difficult to see. ENGRAVING THIS MATERIAL PRODUCES ABRASIVE PARTICLES. Make sure that you have good exhaust. Clean the laser system more frequently to reduce wear and tear on the motion system components and optics. You may also need to use air-assist and the back-sweep option when working with this material.

CORK Cork is not very popular for engraving but it does engrave and cut nicely. Cork is mainly used for making gaskets by vector cutting the gasket patterns. A low PPI setting is used to prevent flaming. You will have a dark edge when cutting due to the nature of laser processing.

Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

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DELRIN (SEAL PRESS) Delrin is a high strength, durable plastic that can be used to make a die or seal such as those used by a Notary Public. A male and female die must be made as the diagram below indicates.

Seal Sample Create the male with a white graphic and a black background. Mirror the image and invert it by making the background white and the graphic black. Add a .010 inch black outline to the graphic portion of the female side. This will give the greater clearance to the female side to prevent the paper from piercing through when the male side of the seal presses into the female side. Once the seal is made and fastened to the press, make several impressions onto 400 grit sandpaper to smoothen out the edges of the plastic. Make sure you turn the sandpaper over to get both sides of the seal. A low PPI setting is used to prevent flaming.

FOILS & ENGRAVEABLE LAMINATES Always make sure the foil product is laser friendly. The foils should be plastic based and should not contain any PVC materials. Foils can be applied like a piece of tape. Some foils come with a release liner that is a removable white paper; either style works fine and can produce excellent results. Apply the foil to the work piece after wiping any dust or dirt that may be on it. Next, lightly apply a piece of the foil to the area where the artwork will be vector cut. Make sure the vector lines have a thickness of 0.003 inches or less so your laser system print driver will recognize them as such. Set the power and speed at low and slow to produce smother cutting lines. After the foil is cut, carefully pull off the unwanted material.

Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

Section 6 - 12

Engravable laminates look similar to foils but have the unique feature that they can be both engraved and cut with the laser. One type of laminate is Spectrum Lights which is made from two thin layers of plastic with a self adhesive back. Engraving will cut through the top layer to reveal a base of a contrasting color for a dramatic and professional look. Use High speed and low power setting to reveal the contrasting base color and to keep it from warping or distorting.

GLASS / CRYSTAL Glass engraving is different from other types of engraving. A CO2 laser cannot engrave into the glass nor can it cut glass. Instead, laser interaction with glass causes the surface of the glass to appear frosted by creating micro-fractures. Old tips and tricks would place a piece of newspaper on the glass and dampening it with water would improve the appearance of the engraving. Another method was to apply transfer tape to the glass, wet it with water from a spray bottle, and then laser engrave it. The transfer tape and water acted as a heat sink to pull the heat away from the glass as the laser system engraved it. This helped reduce chipping and flaking of the glass. For best results, use a halftone! Create your graphic and instead of using black as you fill, change all items to a 60-70% black via the color palette. The print driver will halftone the image resulting in a smoother texture with less chipping. Run at Image Density 5 (500 DPI) and it is best to use the 1.5 or HPDFO lens although the 2.0 lens will work OK. For best results on small detail, use the HPDFO Lens with 50 watts and above. This time use solid Black text and run at 60% laser power 50% speed, Image Density 6. You will need to turn on Image Enhancements and set Contrast to 100%, Definition to 50% and Density to 50% You can engrave leaded crystal. You want to be especially careful because the lead in crystal conducts heat, which can cause cracking of the crystal. It is always good to have at least one extra piece to use as a test piece to get the right settings especially if you have never tried to engrave that material before. Also remember that there are different levels of lead in leaded crystal which can affect the engraving.

LEATHER Leather is a very simple material to engrave and most types of leather engrave nicely with the laser system. Different types of tanning methods will affect the engraving with some creating a nice contrast and others that show very little contrast when laser engraved. Vegetable tanned leathers work best.

Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

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Simulated leather engraves well also but the results are not as nice as with the real thing. Engraving lightly will turn the surface of the leather dark brown and small power changes can affect the tone of the engraving easily. Make sure that the leather is as flat as possible so that you get a consistent mark over the entire area. When cutting leather you will want to mask the top surface and use a low PPI setting. The masking is to keep the surface clean as cutting leather will create a lot of smoke. Be prepared for a strong smell when cutting leather as it is a natural product.

MARBLE Marble and polished stones will turn white when engraved. Masking is not necessary and light engraving works out better than heavy and deep engraving. Engraving deeply will cause a highly detailed image to appear washed out. The objective is to engrave deep enough to turn the marble white and provide a good contrast. Too much power can also cause the material to discolor and turn brown as if it were burned. Photographs look great when engraved on marble, especially darker marbles where the whiteness of the engraving really stands out. Avoid using marble that has too much texture or that has a lot of veining. The texture washes out the details of the engraving and the veining can cause details to appear distorted, especially on faces. Try to use uniformly colored marble and related stones. Marble can also be paint filled. Rub the paint on with a fingertip and then buff with a soft cloth. By rubbing in a small amount of white oil paint after engraving, the photograph will look fantastic. The paint will only adhere to the engraved surface and not the surrounding areas.

MAT BOARD Mat board (thick cardboard) is an excellent material to use for architectural modeling and for picture framing. It cuts and engraves very neatly and cleanly. It comes in a variety of shades and colors. Patterns can be engraved on the surface with light engraving which just breaks through the very thin top layer and exposes the lighter colored underlying substrate. Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

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Masking is not necessary on the top surface when engraving. When cutting, both sides might need to be masked and the cutting table should be used or the material should be elevated above the engraving table. This will produce an extremely clean edge on both sides of the material.

MICROSURFACED / ENGRAVERS PLASTICS (Rowmark, IPI, Scott, etc.) Laser Engravable plastic comes in many different colors, thicknesses, coatings, and surface textures. Most engravers plastic will engrave and cut well with the laser system as long as it is microsurfaced and formulated for laser engraving. Removal of large amounts of material will warp the plastic. You might need to tape it down or hold it down flat somehow to prevent if from warping as you engrave. Since these plastics have low melting points, a low PPI setting is used when cutting to reduce the melting and keep the plastic clear of smoke residue. You can also engrave the plastic, mask it and then cut it to reduce discoloration of the engraved area during the cutting phase. It is also best to engrave from the bottom up, a feature that can be activated through the driver. Always remove the original clear masking from the plastic before you laser since it does not react well with the laser. The masking may melt and trap smoke or adhesive residue under the masking. The masking protects the plastic during storage, but can cause overheating problems during the engraving process. Since there are so many types of engravers plastics, the only true way to find out if a particular brand and type will work well with the laser is to experiment. There are also differences in colors that may require more power or intensity to engrave through. This is especially true for light top colors over dark color bases. Thicker top coated plastics, like those used on rotary engravers, are not recommended because it requires too much power to remove the material and the large amount of smoke created usually stains the substrate.

RUBBER STAMPS To create a rubber stamp, use the Rubber Stamp Mode in the printer driver. To laser engrave a rubber stamp, only one pass is necessary to achieve a deeply engraved rubber stamp. When cutting out the rubber stamp, we recommend using a low PPI setting. This setting spreads the laser pulses far enough apart that they just touch at the edges. The Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

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result is a perforated cut that allows the rubber stamp to remain attached to the entire sheet but easily removed by simply tearing it off. The advantage to this is that the possibility of distortion or melting while cutting is virtually eliminated and the entire sheet of rubber stamps can be removed from the machine at one time instead of having to pick them up one by one. Some blends of rubber produce a powdery residue when engraved. Using compressed air and blowing off the residue usually will clean the rubber effectively, but please clean the rubber outside of the laser system. It is strongly recommended that you use the air assist option with the cone or backsweep. This will reduce or eliminate the flaring that can occur on rubber stamps. Notes: Different blends and densities of rubber will engrave to different depths. Test the rubber first to determine the correct power / intensity settings. LASER ENGRAVING OR CUTTING RUBBER CAN PRODUCE FOUL ODORS. You might need to filter your exhaust for particulates and odors depending on your environment, installation location, and / or your local air quality control laws.

SIGN VINYL This procedure is for engraving vinyl on wood. Apply the vinyl to the wood and squeegee out air bubbles. Mask with transfer tape. Engrave deep enough to go through the tape, vinyl, and into the wood. Make a second pass to go deeper. Engraving at a slower speed may cause the vinyl to melt. Sign vinyl comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, thickness, finishes, and reflectivity. There are a few methods for using sign vinyl with the laser system. One method is to vector cut (unmasked) through the vinyl but not through the backing. This technique provides results equivalent to a vinyl cutter machine. Once the vinyl has been cut, remove the excess vinyl, apply transfer tape and use a squeegee to remove trapped air bubbles. The transfer tape can then be lifted off and the vinyl lettering or objects that were vector cut will stick to the transfer tape and maintain their correct spacing with respect to each other. Now apply the tape to the desired surface and squeegee, peel off the transfer tape, and the lettering will remain adhered to the surface. The other method is to apply a piece of vinyl to the desired surface (unmasked) and adjust the laser power so as to cut through the vinyl without engraving into the material below.

Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

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Another popular example of the use of vinyl is to cover the entire surface of a wooden plaque with vinyl, use a squeegee to remove all air bubbles, and then mask the entire surface with transfer tape to protect the vinyl from smoke damage due to the wood engraving involved. In the graphics software, color the background one of the eight driver colors and place white filled text on top of the colored background. Since the laser system does not engrave white filled objects, the background will be engraved and the lettering will be untouched. Then peel off the excess vinyl and transfer tape to reveal the final product. The lettering will be raised and vinyl coated. MOST SIGN VINYL IS MADE FROM PVC (Polyvinylchloride). DO NOT USE PVC BASED VINYL. The fumes are extremely toxic if you inhale them. The fumes and dust are also caustic and can chemically destroy the metal parts of the laser system. Damage to the laser system from this type of abuse IS NOT covered under warranty.

WOOD When engraving wood with a laser, a brown, maple syrup like residue will deposit on the surface of the wood. This is normal and impossible to eliminate by POWER, SPEED, or PPI changes. More residues will be present when engraving deeper and/or slower. These residues washes off with water and a sponge if the wood has been treated with a clear lacquer or varnish before it is laser processed. To clean the wood after engraving, we recommend using a kitchen sponge with a nylon string mesh wrapped around it. Dampen the sponge and wipe off the residue. A damp chamois cloth also works well. Do not use paper towels or a regular sponge because these materials will get lodged in the engraved area when wiping and are extremely difficult to remove. One method to avoid cleanup is to mask the wood with transfer tape and peel off the tape after engraving. If desired, after engraving and before peeling off the tape, spray paint can be applied to color fill the engraved areas. After the paint dries peel of the tape. If an intricate drawing has been engraved and there are many small pieces of tape to remove, it may be easier to ‘flood’ the masking, after engraving, with water. This will loosen the tape and it can be easily removed by rubbing it off by hand. In the vectorcutting example, the wood was elevated from the table to let smoke and heat escape from underneath. If elevating the wood, mask and/or dampen the bottom side of the wood very lightly - the water acts as a heat sink to prevent the underside from flaming and charring. When cutting wood, set the cutting PPI in the 250-300 range to reduce the blackening on the cut edge. Elevating the wood also helps to determine whether the laser has passed completely through since the cut pieces will fall through to the table when Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

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cutting is finished. If raising the wood, you may have to set up the drawing so that the inner pieces of the drawing are cut first, otherwise pieces may fall through at the wrong time. This problem is usually solved by turning on the ‘Vector Sorting’ option in the driver. Not all wood finishes are created equal. When ordering wood from a supplier, be sure to specify that it is being used for laser engraving. Some finishes cannot handle the heat from the laser and will bubble, blister, and possibly turn white. For engraving softer woods such as pine or balsa, you may need to reduce the power / intensity settings to acquire the best depth. Engraving too deep on soft woods will reduce quality. Every type of wood will engrave differently. Experiment with different types of wood and note the results. It is better to engrave woods that are finished. If engraving unfinished wood and it is not masked with transfer tape, the smoke residue tends to embed in the wood and is impossible to remove without sanding. To prevent this, mask all unfinished wood with transfer tape.

WOOD INLAYS - VENEERS Create a drawing with no outlines, only filled areas. Engrave the filled areas almost as deep as the thickness of the veneer (usually about .003 inches (.1 mm) or less). With some water and a nylon brush, remove all residue from the engraved area. When cutting veneers make sure they are lying absolutely flat. In the drawing, give the objects an outline of .001 inches (.1 mm) and remove the fill. Adjust the power so that there is just enough power to cut completely through the veneer. Overpowering the cut will cause too much material removal and the fit will not be snug. Some software programs allow outline offsetting to compensate for the thickness of the beam. This is called contouring and is optimal if planning to do this type of work. Usually, a contour to the outside of the vector line of .006 inches provides a tight fit. Remember, if using more power to cut through the veneer, compensate for the thicker width of the laser cut by contouring a little further to the outside. Cutting the veneer graphic upside down can also compensate for the offset. Just remember to flip the graphic AND the material! Another method, which we believe is a better way, is to first create your graphic and fill it with the color black. Then give it a white outline of .012 inches (.3 mm). If you look at the graphic when you add the outline, you will see that it appears to shrink. Now raster engrave the graphic to a depth slightly shallower than the thickness of the veneer. When the engraving is finished, place the veneer into the laser system. Take the graphic on screen, remove the black fill and change the outline to the color red. Also make sure that the red outline thickness is set to .001 inches (.1 mm) so that it will vector cut. Cut out the veneer with the laser system, add glue to the veneer, and apply the veneer into the engraved area of the other piece of wood and let dry. After the glue has thoroughly dried, sand the veneer until it is flush with the base wood. A good Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

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veneer to use is one with an adhesive backing. Once cut, place the veneer into its proper place on the engraved wood block and with a clothes iron, and iron the veneer into the engraved wood. This melts the glue and causes the veneer to stick to the engraved area. Finish the wood as you desire and the finished product will look fantastic. The veneer can now be sanded flush with the surface and a finish coat applied.

©2008 Universal Laser Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Universal Laser Systems logo and name, and VersaLASER, are registered trademarks of Universal Laser Systems, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Universal Laser Systems, Inc.

Section 6 - 19

Section 6 - 20

Materials Supplier List Suppliers of Multiple Materials: LaserBits, Inc. 1734 West Williams Drive, Suite 10 Phoenix, AZ 85027 Phone: 800.733.7705 Fax: 623.879.5149 www.laserbits.com Invisible Light mfg 1001 Nicholas Blvd. Unit P Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 Phone: 847.961.4500 Fax: 847.758.9253 Email: [email protected] www.ilmfg.com Acrylic Awards: American Acrylic 20653 Lycoming Street Suite #A3 Diamond Bar, CA 91789 Phone: (909) 598-2375 Fax: (909) 598-9066 U.S. Acrylic 310 Huehl Road Northbrook, IL 60062 Phone: (847) 564-2600 Fax: (847) 564-0003 Victory Division of Planter, Inc. 1820 North Major Chicago, IL 60639 Phone: 800-327-5578 Fax: (312) 637-7799 Zeit Company 2258 South 2700 West Salt Lake City, UT 84119 Phone: (801) 972-8212 Fax: (801) 972-8293 Acrylic Sheets:

Curbell Plastics 7 Cobham Dr. Orchard Park, NY 14127 716-667-3377 Email: [email protected] Anodized Aluminum: Damon Company of Salem 2158 Industrial Drive Salem, VA 24153 Phone: (540) 389-8609 Fax: (540) 789-8556 Johnson Plastics 9240 Grand Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55420-3604 Phone: 800-869-7800 Fax: (612) 888-4997 LaserGifts PO Box 10035 Prescott, AZ 86304 Ph: 928-776-4430, 888-674-6612 Fax: 928-776-4277, 888-670-0950 Coated Brass / Aluminum / ID Plates: AlumaMark® laser-markable aluminum Horizons Imaging Systems 18531 South Miles Rd Cleveland, OH 44128 www.horizonsisg.com 800-482-7758 Identification Plates, Inc. 1555 High Point Dr. Mesquite, TX 75149 972-216-1616 Fax: 972-216-1555 Victory Division of Planter, Inc. 1820 North Major Chicago, IL 60639 Phone: 800-327-5578 Fax: (312) 637-7799

Acrilex Inc. (Fabrication and Custom colors) 230 Culver Ave Jersey City, NJ 07305 www.acrilex.com

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Materials Supplier List Raw Metal (Steel, Aluminum Etc.):

Marble and Onyx:

Metal Supermarkets 1-866-867-9344 Arizona (480) 377-0233 Attn: Doug www.metalsupermarkets.com

Ask for: Ambassador Black or Absolute Black

Glass: Prestige Glass International 5 Roddis Road, Elliot Lake ON., P5A 2T1 CANADA Toll Free: 1 800 798 3115 Phone: 705 848 1723. Fax: 705 848 1649 Graphics Fax: 705 848 4133 Custom Sales Person (Robert Jackson)

LaserSketch Ltd. 2301 S. New Ave Suite E Lemont, IL 60439 Phone: 630-243-6360 Fax: 708-301-0002 www.lasersketch.com N & R International, Inc. 6700 Dawson Boulevard, Building #1C Norcross, GA 30093 Phone: (678) 560-4088 Fax: (678) 560-1157

Topmost, International 17038 Evergreen Place. City of Industry, CA 91745 Phone: (626) 913-5586 Fax: (626) 913-2934 Email: [email protected]

Onyx Art 1031C Bay Blvd. Chula Vista, CA 91911 Phone: (619) 422-8298 Fax: (619) 422-0173 www.onyxartinc.com

Sandblasting Mask Materials:

TM Stone Santa Fe Springs California 562-777-2228

Rayzist Photomask, Inc. 955 Park Center Drive Vista, CA 92081-8312 Toll Free: 800-729-9478 Direct Phone: 760-727-8185 Fax: 760-727-2986 Customer Service [email protected] Technical Support [email protected] Custom Mask [email protected] PhotoBrasive 4832 Grand Avenue Duluth, MN 558907 Phone: 218-628-2002 Fax: 218-628-2684

Pens and Pen Sets: American National Supply (IMARK) 3008 Pleasant Valley Lane Arlington, TX 76015 Phone: (817) 465-6681 Fax: (817) 465-7411 Maxplus International, Inc. 357 East Arrow Highway, Suite 205 San Dimas, CA 91773 Phone: 800-688-5499 Fax: (909) 599-9880

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Materials Supplier List Plastic Signage:

Synthetic Marble (Corian):

BF Plastics 1377 Manchester SW N. Lawrence, OH 44666 Toll-Free: 800.866.7121 Phone: 330.832.6351 Fax: 330.832.6980 Email: [email protected] www.bfplasticsinc.com

P.D.M. Products 703-b Samms Avenue Port Orange, FL 32119 Phone: (904) 760-0862 Fax: (904) 760-0885

Innovative Plastics (call for local distributor) P.O. Box 7065 Algonquin, IL 60102 Phone: (815) 477-0778 Fax: (815) 477-1210 Johnson Plastics 9240 Grand Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55420-3604 Phone: 800-869-7800 Fax: (612) 888-4997 Panterials, Inc. 21301 Itasca Street Chatsworth, CA 91311 (818) 700-1333 (818) 700-0284 Rowmark (call for local distributor) 1436 Wilbur Cross Hwy Kensington, CT 06037 Phone: (800) 243-3339 Fax: (203) 721-0051 Scott Machine Development Corp. / E-Badge P.O. Box 88 / 200 Prospect Avenue Walton, NY 13856 Phone: 607.865.6511 Fax: 607.865.7269 Spectrum Marking Materials, LLC 128B Addison Road Glastonbury, CT 06033 Phone: (860) 633-0369 Fax: (860) 633-1935 (Also supply laser engravable films)

TACAP, Inc. 2705 C.R. 118 Rushsylvania, OH 43347 Phone: (937) 468-7001 Fax: (937) 468-7038 Vinyl Signage: Innotec of Wisconsin, Inc. (foils and vinyls) 1760 State Street P.O. Box 085546 Racine, WI 54308 Phone: (414) 637-7103 Fax: (414) 637-8205 Johnson Plastics 9240 Grand Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55420-3604 Phone: 800.869.7800 Fax: 612.888.4997 Email: [email protected] www.johnsonplastics.com Light Fantastic Inc. 38 Loveton Circle Sparks, MD 21152 Phone: (410) 666-1144 Fax: (410) 472-4911 Universal Products, Inc. 521 Industrial Street Goddard, KS 67052 Phone: 800-835-2054 Fax: (316) 794-8398

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Materials Supplier List Metal Marking Compounds: Cerdec AG Hans-Jurgen Frishkorn Keramische Farben Gutleustrasse 215 D-60039 Frankfurt am main Germany Phone: 49-69-2711-6448 Fax: 49-69-2711-6368 Ferro Corporation Drakenfeld Products West Wylie Avenue Washington, PA 15301 Phone: 800.245.4951 or 724.223.5900 Fax: 724.228.6659 Email: [email protected] www.cerdecmark.com TherMark Holdings (Metal & Glass/Ceramic Marking Compounds) 5015 Eagle Rock Blvd., Suite 310 Los Angeles, CA 90041 Phone: 866.699.8810 or 323.344.9500 Fax: 323.255.3489 Email: [email protected] www.thermark.com Wood and Wood Products: Central Virginia Hardwood Products Route 1, Box 387 Gretna, VA 24557 Phone: 800.538.4307 Fax: 804.335.5040 Colorado Heirloom, Inc. (wood strips and specialty items) 333 East 4th Street, Suite A Loveland, CO 80537 Phone: 800.643.8880 or 970.667.4222 Fax: 970.667.8880 Email: [email protected] www.coloradoheirloom.com

Country Woods 10420 W. Sawmill Road Hayward, WI 54843 Phone: 715.634.5825 Fax: 715.634.2055 Global Recognition Inc. (wood and presentation boxes) 980 Velp Ave. Green Bay, WI 54303 Phone: 800.888.1090 or 920.499.1633 www.globalrecognition.com Kentucky Woodcrafts P.O. Box 220 McKee Industrial Park Mckee, KY 40447 Phone: 800.354.0196 or 606.287.8345 Fax: 606.287.8047 Lee's Wood Products 131 Smithers Street P .O. Box 159 Rocky Mount, VA 24151 Phone: 800.552.5337 Fax: 540.483.4645 Email: [email protected] Pommer Manufacturing 825 Tower Drive Medina, MN 55340 Phone: 612.478.9052 Fax: 612.478.2050 Email: [email protected] Smith Wood Specialties 6150 Northwest Highway Chicago, IL 60631 Phone: 800.621.6450 Fax: 773.774.1753 Email: [email protected] www.smith-wood.com Warther Woodworking 1028 Winkler Drive Dover, OH 44622-1214 Phone: 800.938.0275 or 330.343.4706 Email: [email protected] www.wartherwoodworking.com

Section 6 - 24

Materials Supplier List Wood-of-a-Kind 4525 West Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016 Phone: 213.733.5309 Fax: 213.733.0423

Leather: Tandy Leather Multiple locations. www.tandyleather.com 1-888-890-1611

Laser Engravable Rubber: Jackson Marking Products Co., Inc. 9105 N. Rainbow Lane Mt. Vernon, IL 62864 Phone: 800.782.6722 or 618.242.1334 Fax: 800.782.6732 or 618.242.7732 Email: [email protected] www.rubber-stamp.com Louis Melind Company P.O. Box 1112 Skokie, IL 60076 Phone: 708.581.2500 Fax: 800.782.2542

THE Leather Factory 425 N. 19th Ave Phoenix AZ 85009 800-332-2203 Surface Laminates: Advanced Technology, Inc. (ATI) 311 Regional Rd. S. Greensboro, NC 27409 336-668-0488 Fax: 336-668-0713 Mother of Pearl (Thin Lam)

Millennium Marking Company 2600 Greenleaf Avenue Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 Phone: 800.453.5362 or 847.806.1750 Fax: 800.453.5366 or 847.806.1751 Email: [email protected] www.millmarking.com

Aqua Blue Maui, LLC. 5805 Lower Kula Rd Kula, HI 96790 Phone: 808-876-0217 Email: [email protected]

Low Odor Laserable Rubber

Denver Sign Supply (Material: TransferRite Ultra-High Tack) 26929 Hagen Drive Slaughter, Louisiana 70777 1-800-735-7446 Fax: (225) 654-6378 http://www.denversignsupply.com/

Printy Poland Ul. Panska 77/79 00-834 Warszawa Tel. +48 22 432 80 93 Fax +48 22 432 84 95 Contact: Robert Baran Email – [email protected] Laser Photopolymer: (Rubber Alternative to rubber stamps) Stewart Superior 2050 Farallon Drive San Leandro, CA 94577 tel. 800-558-2875 or 510-346-9811 fax 800-427-1717 or 510-346-9822 [email protected] www.Stewartsuperior.com

Transfer Application Tape

Paper (Acid Free Card Stock) Cardstock Warehouse 110 Ann Arbor Ln, Butler, PA 16001 724-282-1215

Section 6 - 25

Materials Supplier List Trophy & Awards Components: JDS Industries 2704 W. 3rd. St. PO BOX 88409 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 800-843-8853 or 605-339-4010 Fax: 605-339-1467 Crystal Awards: Toujours, Inc. 5217 Industry Avenue Pico Rivera, CA 90660 Phone: 562.942.1075 Fax: 562.942.1077 Email: [email protected] www.toujours.com Veneer: Texas Architectural Panel 5713 Cottonwood Pearland, TX 281-489-8492 www.texaspanel.com Cork: The Walton Company 17900 Sampson Lane Huntington Beach, CA 92647 1-800-900-MATS 714-847-3142 FAX Laser Dark: (Brush on Darkening and Plaques) Smoke-Wood P.O. Box 826 1680 Division Elgin Or 97827 1-800-248-2352 www.smoke-wood.com e-mail: [email protected]

Twill & Appliqué Materials, Heat-seal type (no stitching required): TwillUSA Toll Free: 866-806-9120 Fax: 812-926-0634 10510 Randell Avenue Aurora, IN 47001 Imprintables Warehouse PO Box 711 Masontown, PA 15461 800-347-0068 Fax: 724-583-0426 www.imprintableswarehouse.com Twill & Appliqué Materials, Fabrics that must be stitched: Dalco Athletic Lettering 3719 Cavalier Road Garland, TX 75042 800-288-3252 Fax: 800-356-7233 www.dalcoathletics.com Sequoia Industries Larry Simon 12842 Farmington Road Livonia, MI 48150 877-629-1358 Fax: 734-793-0214 Stahls Inc. 26066 Stephens St. Clair Shores, MI 48080 800-521-9702 Fax: 800-346-2216 Webster Fabric/Liebe Sue Martin 582 Goddard Ave. Chesterfield, MO 63005 800-845-4323 Fax: 800-874-5027 www.westerfabric.com

Section 6 - 26

Materials Supplier List Heat Presses & Accessories: Geo Knight & Co. Inc. 54 Lincoln Street Brockton, MA 02301 800-525-6766 Fax: 508-587-5108 www.heatpress.com Smart Designs (Digital Art Solutions) 2090 E. University Drive # 103 Tempe, AZ 85281 Phone: 800-959-7627 Fax: 480.968.8816 www.smartdesigns.com TwillUSA Toll Free: 866-806-9120 Fax: 812-926-0634 10510 Randell Avenue Aurora, IN 47001 Embroidery Web Sites: Stitches Magazine www.stitches.com EMB Magazine www.embmag.com National Network of Embroidery Professionals www.nnep.com FUN Club www.floriani.com CorelDraw® Add-ons, Clip Art, Tutorials, Training Guides: LaserBits, Inc. 1734 West Williams Drive, Suite 10 Phoenix, AZ 85027 Phone: 800.733.7705 Fax: 623.879.5149 www.laserbits.com

Smart Designs (Digital Arts Solutions) 2090 E. University Drive # 103 Tempe, AZ 85281 800-959-7627 www.smartdesigns.com SYBEX Inc. Mastering CorelDRAW 1151 Marina Village Parkway Alameda, CA 94501 510-523-8233 US Screen Printing Institute 605 S. Rockford Drive Tempe, AZ 85281 www.usscreen.com Corel Magazine 9801 Anderson Mill Road, Suite 207 Austin, TX 78750 800-856-0062 www.corel.com www.corelmag.com Unleashed Productions, Inc. 38049 N. La Canoa Drive Cave Creek, AZ 85331 Toll-Free Order Line: (800) 736-8973 Customer Service for Unleashed Productions: (480) 595-0065 Fax: (480) 595-0084 www.unleash.com Publish Magazine 501 Second Street San Francisco, CA 94107 800-685-2321

©2008 Universal Laser Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Universal Laser Systems logo and name, and VersaLASER, are registered trademarks of Universal Laser Systems, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Section 6 - 27

Section 6 - 28

LASER NOTES…

Are the some materials I should NOT use?

Section 6 - 29

LASER NOTES…

Who can I call if I have a question?

Section 6 - 30