After seeing a video on AliExpress about a 40w diode laser I was looking at I decided to try a different approach to anodized aluminum. I tried it before both plain and then with painters tape. Plain left no marks, painters tape left marks, but wiped right off with alcohol. The video I saw had them blacken stainless to engrave it. So I tried a similar process.
I thought I’d put this in my own thread instead of “Things you’ve made” since I no more “made” it than I downloaded and printed a picture, albeit printed with a laser, but never-the-less it’s not my design.
When lasering on glass - one trick is to put wet paper on the glass over the area you’ll be imaging and shoot the laser through the paper. That can make the damage the laser causes to the glass less “crunchy” and yield a better image.
Some people swear by newsprint, I used white paper that would otherwise be used in my office printer. We’d dip the paper in water, then put it on the glass and wipe away excess water with a paper towel. It takes a little trial and error regarding laser strength and how much wetness is too much or too little.
One other thing to know - your laser can probably cut thin EVA foam (Creatology craft 2mm foam sheets 9x12 and 12x18 - https://www.michaels.com/12x18-foam-sheet-by-creatology/M10597609.html ) from Michael’s craft store that is available in many colors. It can also cut thin fabric and paper. That can be glued to add color to other things you cut like wood letters.
If you do a dashed line on paper it can work like perforation making it easy to bend the paper at that point or create a tear off fold. You can cut flat patterns for boxes or envelopes this way.
People also cut balsa wood for custom balsa wood airplanes they design.
It should also etch on slate if the laser is strong enough. Some people make coasters from slate and then glue felt to the bottom.
