RMweb Gold Trofimow Posted November 18, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 18, 2018 It seems I have accidently discovered an unexpected (to me at least) capability of the emblaser 1.... It can etch glass. I've been using a glass chopping board over the baseplate of the machine and it has etched quite nicely through the card workpiece. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 Yes you can. It works best with a white background behind it. I have done pub-type windows with it as test pieces (with clear writing). I don't think it works with clear persex etc....., but I have happily etched microscope slips. You can also etch stones....I regularly dtch slate coasters as personalised presents. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium nick_bastable Posted November 18, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 18, 2018 Yes you can. It works best with a white background behind it. I have done pub-type windows with it as test pieces (with clear writing). I don't think it works with clear persex etc....., but I have happily etched microscope slips. You can also etch stones....I regularly dtch slate coasters as personalised presents. perspex will etch but insure your ventilation good Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 Perspex cuts really well with the CO2 laser. Leaves a lovely polished edge. Ventilation is definitely recommended. Best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flubrush Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 It seems I have accidently discovered an unexpected (to me at least) capability of the emblaser 1.... It can etch glass. I've been using a glass chopping board over the baseplate of the machine and it has etched quite nicely through the card workpiece. etched glass.png I've also got a glass base on my E1 and that does show a lot of evidence of etching. I use Barkeepers' Friend to clean off all the muck that accumulates with MDF cutting and the roughness from etching is very obvious when cleaning the glass. I tend to draw everything starting at 1,1 so the bottom left hand corner of my glass is getting quite opaque. :-) Jim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greengiant Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 In the next couple months Darkly is releasing something called the E2-core. Its all the good things about the emblaser but in a DIY kit without the class1 rating to help lower the cost. It's not going to be plug and play like the current machine. Beta kits are out on test at the moment. More powerful E3 being worked on in the background. Martin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flubrush Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 In the next couple months Darkly is releasing something called the E2-core. Its all the good things about the emblaser but in a DIY kit without the class1 rating to help lower the cost. It's not going to be plug and play like the current machine. Beta kits are out on test at the moment. More powerful E3 being worked on in the background. Martin Will that allow upgrading parts of the E1? I remember some discussion before the E2 came out about its laser eventually becoming available to update an E1. Jim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greengiant Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 Will that allow upgrading parts of the E1? Jim. I have no idea, I was listening to a podcast interview with Domenic from Darkly speaking about how they started, what they have done, what they are doing and what they plan to do. Some interesting informat ion about diodes, comparisons with CO2s and diodes, their ratings, ups and downs etc. I found it informative, being new to this learnt a lot. Something that was interesting is the E2 polycarbonate lid was the most expensive part of the E2. All I need to do now is get back to working out why my lid contacts are still failing. Martin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flubrush Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 I have no idea, I was listening to a podcast interview with Domenic from Darkly speaking about how they started, what they have done, what they are doing and what they plan to do. Some interesting informat ion about diodes, comparisons with CO2s and diodes, their ratings, ups and downs etc. I found it informative, being new to this learnt a lot. Something that was interesting is the E2 polycarbonate lid was the most expensive part of the E2. All I need to do now is get back to working out why my lid contacts are still failing. In case I can't find it with Google, have you got a URL for the podcast? Jim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greengiant Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 In case I can't find it with Google, have you got a URL for the podcast? Jim. https://makersontap.com/podcast/mot-special-interview-with-darkly-labs/ Martin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flubrush Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 https://makersontap.com/podcast/mot-special-interview-with-darkly-labs/ Thanks. Jim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 mmm, if I could buy a kit of the bits of an E2, I could imagine building a hybrid CO2/LED laser, switchable of course... Vith zziss, Meeester Bond, I can rule ze VORLD! Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greengiant Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Have been liaising with Darkly and finally getting to grips with my E2. Getting best results with air assist turned off, with the added bonus the lid contacts do not fail now and the machine is sooooo much quieter. It may well be the fan itself is duff but I need to do some more tests and report results back to Darkly. Now able to cut 3mm ply in two passes, but I tend to use three just to make sure. Have also been trying out some 300gsm card samples and very pleased with the results possible. Here pictured are an orange card and a gold metallic card. Martin 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greengiant Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 I have updated the Firmware on my E2 to D123, this has made a big difference to cutting ability, with 2mm MDF I used to need four passes at 4mm/sec, it would just about get through in three passes but used the fourth to make sure, it now does it in just two passes at 4mm/sec. Speaking with Darkly, they said amongst other things the firmware improves focussing, this was confirmed when running the focus calibration tool, everytime before my best focus was at 4 on the image, now it is at 0. So if you have’nt done in yet, update your firmware. I am really enjoying the LightBurn software, this is light years ahead of LaserWeb and so easy to use and customise, although I do my main drawing in Adobe Illustrator, I use it in the day job so a natural for me. Have placed an order with Trotec for some of their laser card, my wife has a list of items she wants cut for her card making hobby. Not cheap by any means but cuts without burning. Martin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveyH Posted December 31, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 31, 2018 I have been an avid follower of this thread since its inception but could not justify the cost of the Emblaser. I have instead added an Endurance 3.5w laser module to my Wanhao Duplicator i3 whilst maintaining its ability to 3d print. I do not want to detract from this thread, so have started a separate thread here. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/140857-installing-an-endurance-laser-module-on-my-wanhao-3d-printer/ Happy to assist if anyone else fancies having a go! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkly Labs Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Hi Everyone, We (Darkly Labs) are so impressed how long this thread has been running. I think it holds the record for the longest and most informative Emblaser discussion thread....ever! I just wanted to send this post to let you all know that we have just released the Emblaser Core. This replaces the Emblaser 1. Here is a link to more information about it: https://darklylabs.com/emblaser_core/ Thank you for all your continued support over the years. Domenic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkly Labs Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Now, I have finally figured out how to 'follow' the posts on this discussion (i know, i know...) and hopefully can become more of a participant. Engraving onto transparent materials The laser diode we use operates in the visible light spectrum (448nm) resulting on it passing directly through transparent materials. On the other hand, CO2 lasers operate at near IR frequencies and are able to interact with transparent materials. This is why CO2 lasers can cut and engrave clear acrylic. Although cutting transparent materials is not possible with an Emblaser, engraving is. We achieve it by applying a thin coating of paint onto the material (works great on glass or acrylic) and then engraving onto that surface. The paint absorbs the light energy long enough to heat the material underneath and allow it to slightly melt. We actually like to use a paint called 'Peel Coat' which is a rubberised paint. After you have engraved onto it, the remaining paint can be rubbed off by hand without solvents etc. I have attached a photo of some acrylic we engraved with this technique. Hope that's not too far off topic and helps someone. best regards, Domenic 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Hi Domenic, Thanks for posting! Very interesting....... Itoo have managed to engrave glass, but simply by putting a sheet of white paper underneath. I should think your way is more effective though. Keep the information coming! Best Giles Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium nick_bastable Posted January 16, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 16, 2019 Hi Everyone, We (Darkly Labs) are so impressed how long this thread has been running. I think it holds the record for the longest and most informative Emblaser discussion thread....ever! I just wanted to send this post to let you all know that we have just released the Emblaser Core. This replaces the Emblaser 1. Here is a link to more information about it: https://darklylabs.com/emblaser_core/ Thank you for all your continued support over the years. Domenic so will there be a upgrade kit from the emblaser 1 to a core ? Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flubrush Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 (edited) so will there be a upgrade kit from the emblaser 1 to a core ? Nick I would be interested to see if there is. And whether parts like the 5W head are available separately to fit on an E1. I get the feeling that the board might have to be changed as well to match the characteristics of the new head. The price of the Core looks like being around £770 plus VAT and Import tax. Jim. Edited January 16, 2019 by flubrush Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JCL Posted January 16, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 16, 2019 I agree, I was getting a bit of kit envy last night looking at it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkly Labs Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 Unfortunately there is no upgrade from the E1 to the ECore or vice versa. Apart from the fact they look similar, the components are completely different. The ECore uses new electronics, optics and diode tech. The new laser unit requires more current and controlled in a different way to get its performance. The E1 was just not designed to handle that. The new laser unit is also factory calibrated, which needs to be done for all the optics system to work correctly. Even if customers experimented with the new laser unit on an E1, it requires some very specialised equipment to calibrate the optics for the different controller. We did spend quite a bit of time discussing how we could make the new technology backward compatible but unfortunately it wasn't feasible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium nick_bastable Posted January 17, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 17, 2019 it rhymes with rollocks Nick 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium nick_bastable Posted February 2, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 2, 2019 well i appear to have found some pennies down the back of the sofa and a ECore is beckoning just what to do with the E1 now ? Nick 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 I'm sure you'll find a home for it! It's a good laser.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now