I was wondering if anyone has had any success engraving plastic with a laser diode. I am looking for something that can make custom electrical panel labels from plastic like this: http://www.rowmark.com/laser/Lasermark/lasermark.asp I am currently using my CNC Shark Pro Plus at my house for this work and would like something that would be dedicated to this task that I can leave at my place of work. I am also wondering if anyone has any success in making edge lit acrylic signs with a laser diode (at least the engraving portion).
from what I have read the colored lasers go through the clear plastics, only infrared will melt it, sometimes. my idea is to 'color in' the surface of the plastic with a black sharpy so the laser has something to see.
I was afraid the clear wouldn't be doable but I thought maybe the engraving plastic would be a possibility, since it is colored. I just haven't been able to find a whole lot of information on laser diodes and their capabilities. I guess I might have to get my hands on a sample and send it to someone that has a laser diode cutter, the only problem is the nearest plastic supplier that I know of is more than 300 miles away. I think the paint option might work, I remember seeing someone that used a co2 laser and painted copper clad board to make PCBs. It is possible that the laser diode would only burn the paint and then once it got to the plastic just go straight through.
That would be the hope, in that it heated up the dark stain/paint (I think paint may be a little thick) while at the same time heating the plastic.
