CNC Fiber Laser Color Changing and CO2 Cutting Black Acrylic
Why did CNCROi.com invest in the first DUAL-SOURCED industrial wide format CNC laser? Here’s a glimpse.
For this project, I wanted to showcase what we can do with a material as simple as black acrylic. In this case, the material is 3 mm or 1/8th inch in thickness, otherwise, nothing special about it. This material is not sold to be color changed nor is it advertised as such so there aren’t any tricks to this.
I’ve been working on an updated design to help showcase our capabilities to clients, in line with the revised sampled products I keep in my case. It has been a bit more than a year since I started the company and although customers love our presentation, there is always room for improvement based on customer and meeting feedback.
I never really had a good example of color changed material, it’s done by using our fiber laser tube which changes the surface properties of the acrylic, making an off-white PERMANENT marking.
What are the advantages to using a fiber laser to color change plastic over regular engraving? First, it’s the contrast, with engraving, the CO2 laser source is removing material at a particular depth while with color changing, nothing is removed from the surface. It’s similar to inkjet printing except it doesn’t come off, EVER.
Other advantages over inkjet printing (including UV, sublimation, vinyl etc.) is that nothing was added or removed from the surface, just the surface of the material has changed color under intense heat from our fiber laser tube. Why is this important? It means you can’t peel it off nor does it chip or fade (it will degrade just like the non-color changed acrylic).
For us though, the major advantage of color changing acrylic is the impact it has with our customers, think custom promotional items that want high-contrast but without the issues associated with other types of printing. We’ve done custom designed key chains and promotional coasters – all identical or different, makes no difference to us as we color change and cut on-demand.
You are NOT stuck with having to make a thousand SAME but with this technology at your disposal, we can run this through a database and instantly, each item is 100% personalized in information, shape and size. This, of course, extends to pens or any other thing you wish to hand out… why get a thousand pens with the same info on them, put your customer’s name on it with a personalized message with a custom pen holder, equally personalized.
Having a fiber laser tube is the first “advantage” CNCROi.com has, which allows us to anneal stainless steel, color change plastic and a host of other awesome “unique” features that this offers us. The second? Having a CO2 laser tube in the same machine. Why is a CO2 laser tube another major advantage? It allows us to CUT everything short of steel and vinyl using the laser.
Essentially, we can engrave, etch or mark any material and then cut it out so no loss in precision occurs moving a project from one platform to the other. Things such as this color changed and cut acrylic are only possible at this level of precision if NOTHING IS MOVED during the production process. As soon as something is moved, it will NEVER go in the exact same place anywhere near the addressable accuracy of 5μm that our machine has.
For promotional items, that are honestly a dime a dozen mass-produced junk where accuracy and craftmanship are second to volume, you may say to yourself “who cares if something is off?” Well, you may be right but if what you hand out to impress and acquire business is second-rate, which is what you are doing handing these trinkets out, you aren’t doing yourself a favor much less standing out in any way from the competition.
I’ve had many talks with clients and it’s no secret, most of what you hand out as gifts and promotional items as a company are exactly the same stuff other businesses are doing. The effect? You are NOT standing out or leaving a good impression. I go to a lot of trade shows as both an exhibitor and attendee, I hand-out a brochure like everybody else but also a sample depending on the potential client.
If they are in woodworking, I hand them a wooden and cardboard version, if they are in plastics, polycarbonate and acrylic… and each one is different with a promotional message specific to their needs. I’m probably an extreme example of custom personalization, there are advantages to running your own business with the talent and equipment we have here at CNCROi.com, but I never stop thinking of how we can do the same for our customers.
I’m willing to bet that you’ve never seen something like this before produced with an industrial CNC laser. The impression this leaves with customers? Priceless… not only because it stands out but because it showcases precisely what CNCROi.com is capable off regardless of material, size, shape or process.
You’ll see later in a future blog post this exact same design done on various other materials, this demonstrates the ultimate flexibility that we can offer you. Everything to your spec or custom designed for you. One or a thousand (or more), we are set-up for personalizing runs that will impress everybody in your company and those receiving the items at the other end.
Take a look at this close-up, it’s incredible how consistent the line is when you consider how narrow and infinitely small the laser beam is at the focal point. If our laser was out of alignment or anything wasn’t as it should be, this would simply not be possible. No gradation in the consistency of the off-white, no missing or jagged lines in the palm leaves and better yet, we can make an infinite amount of these and they will all showcase the repeatability of our Austrian CNC laser. This is what we paid a premium for, and this example showcases what we can do for you!
Looking for an awesome company to handle your CUSTOM promotional or industrial needs? How about a company that invests into quality equipment that meets deadlines and budgets? How about a company that has a quick turnaround? You’ve found CNCROi.com. Contact us right now!
