Full Version: Elevating Lasered Piecework
From: MBSI (MBSI-GRAPHICS) [#1]
9 Mar 2007
To: ALL
Wanted to pass on a very inexpensive way to elevate your
piecework for laser engraving.
I do this mostly with sheet goods - plastics & acrylics that we're
engraving and cutting.
Locate your nearest counter-top supplier who deals in Corian(tm), solid surface, type counter tops. They're usually very happy to give away scraps since they pay for disposla by weight.
Get some scraps of solid surface and cut them into strips or cubes. I cut mine 0.75" or wider to make sure they're NOT the same thickness on all sides. If you don't have a good radial saw, then you can cut them with the laser.
The solid surface strips or cubes will all be the same height (thickness).
You can then strategically place the solid surface strips or cubes on your vector table to elevate your work pieces.
To accurately place the elevating strips/cubes in relation to your work - especially with repetition work, I usually place a large piece of velum on the vector bed and then run a vector cut for the job to see exactly where the elevating strips/cubes should be placed.
But - even if you misplace the elevating strips/cubes you won't bother the solid-surface elevators. They take the heat quite well and don't reflect much.
It's cheap. It's easy. And it's very inexpensive.
A more costly approach is to purchase a number of slip or standard couplings for copper plumbing. They're all the same hieght and provide a narrow edge profile.
Good luck - and good lasering!
Regards,
Graig
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#2]
9 Mar 2007
To: MBSI (MBSI-GRAPHICS) [#1] 9 Mar 2007
Graig,
Unfortunately, I have yet to find a solid surface counter supplier who will give away their scraps. The pen turners are offering more than I am willing to. Most of these suppliers seem to have a turner among their staff and are given the scraps as a perk. :'-(
David Takes
Expressions Engraved
http://www.expressionsengraved.com
EDITED: 7 Aug 2010 by DATAKES
From: Toni (TONI56) [#3]
13 Mar 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#2] 13 Mar 2007
We know a guy who is a Corian counter top fabricator. He also turns pens
& does not view the pieces as scrap. He's paid for it & tries to use all of it.