|
Post by parfive on Mar 24, 2024 21:34:12 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by HankRocks on Mar 25, 2024 5:15:08 GMT -5
I wonder how long before they are able to "polish" a rock. or even shape one. My old way of thinking says it's not possible, so that means in a few years newer models of these machines will be able to create Cabs out of a slab.
Henry
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Mar 25, 2024 9:47:12 GMT -5
I'd like to be able to afford doing that!
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Mar 25, 2024 10:43:29 GMT -5
Too cool. When I really started going down the lapidary rabbit hole about 15 or so years ago I had a job/membership at a tech shop, which was basically a share shop with a monthly membership, had a variety of tools for woodworking, welding, machining, sheetmetal, sewing, electronics, and more. I acted as a shop steward to keep people from hurting themselves or equipment for a weekly shift in exchange for a membership and free classes. Unfortunately it was 2007-2008, the lease that the owner got was way too expensive, and the economy basically killed it in about a year.
They had a flat bed laser, 60w Epilog, as one of the tools available. I etched a few cabochons while I was there, but with the fairly close proximity of the mirror to the work I was careful to only use materials that wouldn't gas off anything that could cloud the mirror, as some varieties of wood could do.
These newer lasers with the longer focal length and no enclosure would really do the job, and some are relatively affordable. As far as creating a surface finish that would look polished, hard to believe but I have been repeatedly surprised with the innovations they come up with.
|
|
chaosdsm
starting to shine!
Member since April 2024
Posts: 37
Member is Online
|
Post by chaosdsm on Apr 20, 2024 12:05:17 GMT -5
Stone is difficult to laser engrave. Wrong kind of stone, and you're just blasting pieces off, too much laser power and you're just blasting pieces off, not enough power & you'll get nowhere ever. There are even compounds in rocks that could catch fire under a laser.... You have to find the "Goldilocks zone" for a particular rock. Marble is relatively easy since the vast majority of modern Marble is manmade, but even then, darker colors will absorb more laser light than lighter colors which affects the outcome... Granite with large grains and/or lots of colors is very difficult, but fine grained Granite with consistent color is great. Here's a test piece I did a few days ago: Sadly, I would probably need about a dozen pieces for trial & error to find a good setting to get an okay result. Lot of pop-out in there from too much power, then there are spots that the laser didn't burn at all.... This was done with a medium power $500 desktop diode laser. A fiber laser or high powered CO2 laser is better for stone, but significantly more expensive.
|
|
|
Post by Pat on Apr 20, 2024 12:11:55 GMT -5
That laser tool would be fun to use. However, I would rather do it myself manually. Maybe later.
|
|
ThomasT
spending too much on rocks
Trying to keep the dust down.
Member since June 2022
Posts: 259
|
Post by ThomasT on Apr 27, 2024 8:58:43 GMT -5
Those lasers are pretty cool.
|
|