I'm amazed at your power settings. I am new to lasers and run an Xtool S1 40W. For clear acrylic I am using black paper at 23% and 300 speed with 280 lines per cm. The first 2 I did looked great but ran them at less density, I think it was maybe 120 or 140. I just ran 3 more tonight at 23% 300 speed and 280 lines and they all had some pits in them. It just occurred to me watching your video that the first 2 I ran that have no pits I used a couple small strips of wood to space the acrylic an 1/8" or so above the paper and the ones with pits I laid directly on the paper. Do you think the spacing could be the trick to avoid pitting? P.S. I made sure the spacers were outside of the design area to avoid the laser beam.
Cobey! thanks for this! The reason I bought the diode in the first place 2 years ago, was to do acrylics and glass (if I did more research, I probably would have gone with a CO2, but I'm happy with my choice) In all the time I've had the diode (D1 non-pro with the 10 & 20watt head) I have never been able to make the black paper work well for me. My best luck has always been with an airbrush and tempera: it's relatively quick, and easy to clean. Again, thanks for this video. I know many will gain great insight from this. Take care, and be well
Will be having a go at a couple as have some gifts re people that have lost a pet and wanted something other than a Photo. TS2 10W or TS2 20W - Stuki and you base settings will be my go to as a start :-) As usual the option of Paint is a classic as to what is available in different countries and what can be shipped and at what cost. I have some kids water soluble paint that I use on bright metal items and will give that ago. But I guess I need a spray gun as well... Do you have any recommendations ? Cheep but functionable, as not sure if it will be required after this little project. Always needing more accessories.
@@compdad awesome!! I started with a cheap airbrush setup amzn.to/3Q6bkuM There are also the PreVal DIY spray paint kits, which I've used effectively too amzn.to/48pDVTh
@@compdad dilution depends on the needle in the airbrush. With a common 0.3-0.5mm, typically 50/50 paint to water. With the 0.8mm I use now, 70/30. Since the acyclic is covered when I buy it, I simply take off the covering and immediately paint. If you need to wash, dawn dish soap. Keep chemicals away from the acrylic, else it will probably cloud up
@@geeksatlarge Any thoughts as to painting both sides ? Soz about all the comments, about to have a go on the TS2 10W and see what happens. I picked up an LP2 for 1/2 price and I keep getting distracted between Lasers / Routers / 3D printers and fixing coffee machines... ADHD is messing me up as I get older...
@@Optikification yes, usually. For little handheld units, which usually have a 0.3mm needle, 50/50 (water/paint) usually. With larger needles and compressors, I can do 30/70, and 20/80 with an HVLP
Phenomenal video! It finally makes sense. I'm off to the garage to get creative!
Great to hear!
Love this
Fantastic video Cobey! Nice to see the side by side comparisons. Detail over speed anyday.
@@petercasper224 glad it's helpful for you!
I have always used the tempera same method as you.Great video Cobey!
@@geraldlamothe6091 thank you!
I'm amazed at your power settings. I am new to lasers and run an Xtool S1 40W. For clear acrylic I am using black paper at 23% and 300 speed with 280 lines per cm. The first 2 I did looked great but ran them at less density, I think it was maybe 120 or 140. I just ran 3 more tonight at 23% 300 speed and 280 lines and they all had some pits in them. It just occurred to me watching your video that the first 2 I ran that have no pits I used a couple small strips of wood to space the acrylic an 1/8" or so above the paper and the ones with pits I laid directly on the paper. Do you think the spacing could be the trick to avoid pitting? P.S. I made sure the spacers were outside of the design area to avoid the laser beam.
Cobey! thanks for this! The reason I bought the diode in the first place 2 years ago, was to do acrylics and glass (if I did more research, I probably would have gone with a CO2, but I'm happy with my choice) In all the time I've had the diode (D1 non-pro with the 10 & 20watt head) I have never been able to make the black paper work well for me. My best luck has always been with an airbrush and tempera: it's relatively quick, and easy to clean. Again, thanks for this video. I know many will gain great insight from this. Take care, and be well
@@RickPMandel glad to help! :D
I'm rocking the x tool 10w diode
Great video! I've tried those methods with limited success and I need to invest in an airbrush to get those results.
@@georgeheleine5209 you can do it!
Will be having a go at a couple as have some gifts re people that have lost a pet and wanted something other than a Photo.
TS2 10W or TS2 20W - Stuki and you base settings will be my go to as a start :-) As usual the option of Paint is a classic as to what is available in different countries and what can be shipped and at what cost. I have some kids water soluble paint that I use on bright metal items and will give that ago. But I guess I need a spray gun as well... Do you have any recommendations ? Cheep but functionable, as not sure if it will be required after this little project.
Always needing more accessories.
@@compdad awesome!! I started with a cheap airbrush setup
amzn.to/3Q6bkuM
There are also the PreVal DIY spray paint kits, which I've used effectively too
amzn.to/48pDVTh
What dilution ratio for that paint... And what have you found to be the best to clean any glues/dirt/oil from the acrylic b4 painting.
@@compdad dilution depends on the needle in the airbrush. With a common 0.3-0.5mm, typically 50/50 paint to water. With the 0.8mm I use now, 70/30.
Since the acyclic is covered when I buy it, I simply take off the covering and immediately paint. If you need to wash, dawn dish soap. Keep chemicals away from the acrylic, else it will probably cloud up
@@geeksatlarge Any thoughts as to painting both sides ? Soz about all the comments, about to have a go on the TS2 10W and see what happens.
I picked up an LP2 for 1/2 price and I keep getting distracted between Lasers / Routers / 3D printers and fixing coffee machines... ADHD is messing me up as I get older...
@@compdad if painting both sides, the engraving will be on both sides instead of only one. It creates something of a depth effect
Do you thin tempera for the airbrush as the tempera i have is quite thick.
@@Optikification yes, usually. For little handheld units, which usually have a 0.3mm needle, 50/50 (water/paint) usually. With larger needles and compressors, I can do 30/70, and 20/80 with an HVLP
IMHO and experience I gave up on clear acrylic due to its ease of scratching 😮
@@Piginhatwoodcrafts yes, you have to be careful with handling it, especially the cheap stuff. Hence the need for something easily water washable