Omtech SH-H1060 User Manual page 26

Ceramics
When engraving on ceramics, generally use moderate to high power. Using more loops rather than higher power
and lower speed can help avoid cracking the material during work. Be mindful of the health risk posed by dust
generated from ceramic engraving, especially for repetitive industrial applications. Depending on the material
and the amount of work, a fan or even full ventilation system may be required to address the problem. Similarly,
operators and others in the work area may need to use breathing PPE such as masks and respirators.
Glass
When engraving glass, generally use high power and low speed. As with ceramics, it can be helpful to run more
loops at lower settings to avoid cracks. Care must be taken when engraving fibreglass and carbon fibre to avoid
combinations of settings that produce a laser intensity great enough to damage the structural integrity of its
component fibres, producing blurry marking. PPE should be worn to avoid exposure of the eyes, nose, mouth, and
skin to the dust produced by working with either material, especially for repetitive industrial applications. Clothing
worn while working with fibreglass should be washed separately afterwards.
Description
100W
Leather
When engraving leather products, generally use low to moderate power at high speed. Be especially attentive to the
possibility of fire, as well as the dust produced in repetitive applications.
Metal
CO₂ laser engravers should not be used for marking, engraving, or cutting metal. They are best suited for working
coatings applied to a metal base, and care must be taken not to attempt work on the underlying metal itself. A
variety of coatings specialised for CO₂ engraving are available, and the user should follow the instructions provided
as the parameters vary from product to product and metal to metal. Generally, work on aluminium coatings should
be done more quickly at lower power and work on steel coatings can be done more slowly at higher power.
Paper and Cardboard
When engraving various paper products, generally use low to moderate power and fast speed. Test samples from
each batch, as only small parameter differences can separate effects that are too light from those that burn through
the substrate. As with leather, be especially attentive of the possibility of fire, as well as the dust produced in
repetitive applications.
Plastics
Plastics for engraving are available in many different colours and thicknesses and with many different coatings and
surfaces. The majority of available plastics can be well engraved and cut with the laser. Plastics with a microporous
surface seem to give the best result, because less surface material needs to be removed. When engraving plastics,
generally use low power and high speed settings. Marking and engraving with too much power or at too low a
speed can concentrate too much energy at the point of contact, causing the plastic to melt. Among other problems,
this may produce poor engraving quality, noxious fumes, and even fires. High resolution engraving can cause the
same problem, so medium to low resolution designs should be preferred for most plastics.
Average Cutting Settings for Artificial Leather
Parameter
1.5 mm
Settings
Speed 35 mm/s
Power 18%
22
3 mm 6 mm
23 mm/s 8 mm/s
25% 30%
12 mm
5 mm/s
38%