Let me start out and say I know nothing about using a laser engraver, but have a lot of questions.
1. Will it work on hardened blades?
2. Will it ruin the hardness of the blade? I assume the engraving would be done after heat treating.
3. Is there a lower priced model that will be good for small projects? I have looked around and the price range is from $300 -$10,000. This is just a hobby for me so I don't need a lot of bells and whistles. I know you only get what you pay for. I just don't want to waste my money on junk or over pay.
4. One that has got my attention is the Two Trees TTS-55 20watt
Thanks in advance for any input.
To mark on steel you need a Fiber laser, not a diode or Co2. The lest expensive fibers I have seen are around $1800-2500 with around 4"-6" cutting area. I picked up one of the small desk top lasers a couple years ago it works great on leather wood and acrylic and was around $400 I believe it is a diode around 30w the Co2 lasers to a better job Cutting wood leathers acrylic.
I just saw a small fiber being offered by atom stack 10w with a 70mm working area $1300 that should work for makers marks and such, but not for the deeper carving the larger units can do.
MP
Thank you
I'm seeking more information on shop sized lasers myself, and am lucky enough to have a friend at Church who has been using the fiber lasers since they became available to the public...and who has also upgraded a couple of times. Currently he does all of my makers marks on blades that I cannot/do no stamp. His advice to me has been: "A 30w fiber (laser) CAN create a maker's mark in blade steels, but it requires multiple passes, which mean more time per mark." "You would be better off with a minimum 50w fiber laser, which will make your marks in a single pass, and open doors to use the laser for many more applications in your knife shop." Cost wise, the lasers that he's directed me towards are in the $5K+ range. Hopefully lasers will come down in price in the future....because I'd love to have one! 🙂
Ed Caffrey, ABS MS
"The Montana Bladesmith"
www.CaffreyKnives.net
Thanks guys, that is what I needed to know. They are out of my budget, there are other items that would be more helpful at this time.
Video from Walter Sorrells about a laser he's been using for blade marking and other things. About $1,000 if you use the link in the video description.
Looks like it's about $840 of you go to Atezr website and click on "Apply Coupon for $350 off"
