Engraving METAL with the Ortur Laser Master!

The Ortur Laser Master 3 is a 10w diode laser that can cut and engrave all sorts of materials!

[matthewellisor]

My friend's business uses a small 20W CO2 for engraving. The warning sticker on the front reads "DO NOT LOOK INTO LASER WITH REMAINING EYE" and, for convenience, it's also in Braille.

[AzraelJCE]

Maker's Muse posted 2 videos about these kind of laser cutters/engravers not that long ago.
He talked about what you need to look out for when engraving different matterials and also some concerns about the safety of them.
I would highly recommend you watch them to be on the save side.

And Nate did a great job building an enclosure for it.

[DedSysOp]

Thank you for highlighting the safety aspects too many creators gloss over or ignore safety precautions especially with lasers and resin

[malonecustomdesigns]

You are correct, bamboo just always does that. Even with a CO2 laser, that's the results. Also, a CO2 wavelength keeps it from marking bare metal. The best thing to use for metal is a fiber laser. Another way to clean the soot off of wood is with denatured alcohol. If it's a large piece, sometimes, we clean it first then hit is with a little sanding. Look into photos. A diode laser is slow, but it gives extrememly good results with photo engraving!

[mineolasigns]

In our experience (with co2 laser engraver ) they emphasize using a ventilation system because the laser creates particles that are so fine they are inhalable . we deal with plastic so I am not sure if that makes a difference, but I suggest finishing your exhaust system sooner rather than later. Great video!

[dtaggartofRTD]

building an enclosure is always a smart first step with these open gantry machines. I agree with other commenters that it's probably a good idea to get a better set of goggles certified for the wavelength.

Interesting to see how well it did on the stainless without surface coatings.

[MyklCarlton]

Nate - spend some money on some goggles certified to block the wavelength that laser diode emits. Your vision is worth more than some cheap amber goggles.

[justinbanks]

Love watching you testing this out! Can't wait to see what you make with!

A possible upgrade to the enclosure would be an interior switch that kills the laser if the lid is open (more for safety of others who might see or be around and don't know all about it)

Not sure if the new laser has a way of adding that, but could probably add an input to computer running lightburn, or just make it kill power to the laser. Idk, if you decide to add one, I'm sure you'll come up with something even more clever than above.

[corrpendragon]

Congrats on the new toy! I just got the xTool D1 (almost the same machine, functionally), and I've been using it to make leather armor!
Super awesome!

[RichardHopkinsLobosSolos]

"I got a new tool. The first thing I'm going to do is build a box/enclosure for it." -Pretty much every maker

Great video.

[notold]

That looks freaking awesome Nate, great laser, need a chain on the lid of the box to hold for you 👍🏼👍🏼🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🦘Cheers from Melbourne Australia

[evanfort]

Electrical tape is made of PVC, when you ablate PVC with a laser, it will create chlorine gas, so electrical tape isn't the best option. I highly doubt that little amount is anything to worry about, but just a comment for the future :-)

[Volaths]

glad to see everyone here referencing makers muse's video

[forgingluck]

Laser some lunch meat lol. Just as a quick sanitized look into what would happen if a hand went in, kinda like waterjet channel did with hotdogs

[claytonjames]

finally a video with a 10w diode laser actually trying some metal. Wish I could find painted tin etching. I want to laser our logo onto the lids of some candle tins

[undeadlurchgaming]

Some metals work, some metals don't. I have made attempts at metal and it just comes right off by shop towel. Copper/brass/aluminum don't work well because heat goes away to quickly. Air assist, is more used for the cutting side over engraving, but can still be used.
For the bamboo color variations, its does the same for different types of wood, even same type of wood but different tree. The settings you have set for the engrave side can actually be turned up- faster speed/higher power to get faster results.
Lightburn is the preferred program by many laser users.
In lightburn there is a material test that you can figure out the best setting for each material. Darkest spot, fastest speed, lowest power- usually gives best results.
The box you made for it, I would have recommended putting the white side towards the laser. Dark colors are easier to engrave/damage.

[WerdjaH]

Angus at @makersmuse would be proud of your safety precautions!

[Striker]

Nate got me wanting something I never would have thought I wanted 😆

[GoddessxEbony]

I friggin love that you're building again

[SharkyMoto]

i think co2 lasers cant cut metal because its infrared light, and metal is pretty damn good at reflecting that. thinking about a rescue blanket here, that stuff gets vapor deposited metal on it wich is ridiculously thin, yet perfectly able to reflect most of the IR radiation from a person