Laser engraving/etching questions

[Ryanxia]

Hi all, I have a friend whom I've convinced to start branching out to laser engrave/etch guns. He has some questions and I told him I might be able to get some info on THR (since everyone's so knowledgeable )
Here are the questions he asked, if anyone has any answers I'd appreciate it. Thanks a lot.


I have a Co2 Laser machine. 80 watts.
For guns, what gun(s) are etchable?
What type of coating are on the guns?
What problems have people run into while etching guns?
What guns are easier to laser etch than others?
What about Cermark? how long does that last on barrels/slides?
How long does cermark branding last?

For those who don't know I believe the cermark is what is used to do reflective materials such as stainless steel (the laser can't cut into it because apparently it would bounce back into the machine, or so I'm told).

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

There's lots of information here: http://www.laserbits.com/ Very helpful people.

Unless things have changed, a CO2 laser won't engrave metal at all. What he'll need for that application is a YAG laser. There are special coated metals, like black coated brass or aluminum, where the laser removes the black paint, exposing the metal below.

I've tried engraving brass with my 25 watt laser and it won't even remove the lacquer coating. CO2 lasers are made primarily to engrave wood. You can also make rubber stamps with them, but they say the best exhaust system in the world won't get the smell of burnt rubber out of your shop (He does have an exhaust system, doesn't he?)

CerMark is absolutely permanent. It can even be used to mark hand tools.

 

[Ryanxia]

That would be disappointing if he couldn't do metal. I know he's done stone and wood but not sure about what else. I'll have to ask him tonight and see if he wrote down the correct type of machine. Thanks for the link Larry.

 

[WNTFW]

I have been engraving for a long time now. I can do AR's and others. If I never engrave another firearm again I will be fine. Easier & better ways to make a living.

Down side is it is stressful to some degree. Layout can take a while. With a laser variance in anodizing can present problems. A lot of what engravers do is on the material we provide. I ruin my own material the customer never knows. I mess up a gun & that will be a phone call that will be no fun to make.

I feel that I am good at jigging and fixturing and guns can be hard to jig and fixture. Not being flat does not help. Irregular shape object are harder to locate.

I can engrave the front of a magwell - you would be surprised at how much the variance on the magwell is.

I do them by appointment and sometimes it becomes a hassle. Plus I specify no buffer tube and guy shows up lat with a buffer tube. Most guy are good though. But curve balls do get to you.

I just did the sideplates for an exposed hammer shotgun and it was one of the rougher jobs I did. Nothing went like I thought it would.

I don't take pics of customers stuff & post it. Some of my customers do but that is their choice.

I do it partially as a way to support the gun community. If it is for the money find a better way to make money. I have done my share of guns free for active military, LEO and guys that I know have contributed to the gun community. I try to give back to the community weekly so this is one way I can.

If it is about the money try to sell more of an exiting product.

 

[cnc602]

Thought this would be interesting, in regard to firearms engraving. Although it's not a laser engraver,
the Dragon engraving design is kinda cool looking and very detailed. The video is of a Hand gun slide engraved with a custom dragon design

Here is a you tube video link below.
http://youtu.be/HGBGkU6Ktgk

 

[cnc602]

Here are some photos of the Custom Engraved Dragon Handgun Slide.
We used a VE 810 Engraving Machine to do diamond scratch engraving.
I rarely see such a detailed design on a firearm done with a CNC rotary engraver. Most times it's with a laser or hand engraved.