Etching steel with Ikier X70 laser engraver

[adbuch]

I was recently asked if it is possible to etch steel using the Ikier X70 Pro 70 Watt diode laser cutter. I know that Tom and perhaps some of the others have this model. I purchased mine a while back, but still don't have it completely set up yet. I would appreciate any feedback from fellow members who may have some personal experience with this.

Thanks,
David

[acourtjester]

I seems the diode lasers are not the right frequency to etch steel, you can mark Stainless. But that is more like Sudo etching as it does not remove metal. Fiber lasers are more likely to etch steel and are in a different class then diode lasers. I have acid etched aluminum by using a resist on the metal and using the laser to remove the resist in a pattern before acid etching. Similar process to this video only he used a CO-2 laser the diode will do the same.

[05Duramax]

Cool video, cool process

[acourtjester]

I you want to do steel you should get a IR laser

[acourtjester]

IR laser module for use on diode laser base
https://www.ikier.com/collections/laser ... 4728303936

[adbuch]

Tom - they say this one will work well with steel. It's too bad they don't have one that will do both wood and steel.
David

https://www.ikier.com/products/ikier-k1 ... 1813204288

[acourtjester]

I guess that is the problem buying things when the first come out. After looking at the ad what is the difference with pulsed or non-pulsed. What is the difference between IR and fiber laser
I tell my wife they come out with something different so you need to buy another one.

pulsed.JPG (22.18 KiB) Viewed 2397 times

pulsed.JPG (22.18 KiB) Viewed 2397 times

[adbuch]

https://www.ikier.com/collections/laser ... 4728303936

There is also a nice comparison chart showing the some samples on various materials for the one we have vs. the fiber laser (1064nm).
The results look better for everything except the wood engraving, where the K1 (455 nm) does a much better job. They don's show a comparison of just cutting wood, so I don't know what the difference would be there.

David

[adbuch]

I guess that is the problem buying things when the first come out. After looking at the ad what is the difference with pulsed or non-pulsed. What is the difference between IR and fiber laser
I tell my wife they come out with something different so you need to buy another one.
pulsed.JPG

Tom - as far as I know - IR laser and fiber laser refer to the same thing. Wavelength of 1164nm. Our Ikier K1 lasers are 455 nm.
I haven't even got mine setup and running yet, but it's on the list.

David

[adbuch]

I guess that is the problem buying things when the first come out. After looking at the ad what is the difference with pulsed or non-pulsed. What is the difference between IR and fiber laser
I tell my wife they come out with something different so you need to buy another one.
pulsed.JPG

Tom - I bought my Ikier K70 with the intention of cutting or engraving wood, cutting gaskets, and other "mundane" tasks. I really had no intention of etching or engraving steel - and only started this thread since Andrew (fellow member) had asked if mine would engrave steel. So I don't feel bad at all that it is not really intended for use on steel.

If I really had a need or interest in working with steel, then I suppose I would "pony up" for the IR fiber laser setup. It turns out that Andrew ordered an Xtool D1 with IR head - both from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BF5 ... CPY1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B8D ... CPY1&psc=1




These do look interesting and are less expensive than the Ikier alternative. The Xtool D1 has been discontinued as of the first of this year - so I someone wanted one - it would probably be good to order one while supplies last.

He paid less for his entire setup that Ikier gets just for that 20W IR head with power supply. I think that one - which you showed at your post above, is around $1400 just for the head/power supply. Ikier gets around $2500 or so for the whole setup - from what I remember.



David

[adbuch]

ikier 20w fiber laser 1.jpg (53.84 KiB) Viewed 2382 times

ikier 20w fiber laser 1.jpg (53.84 KiB) Viewed 2382 times

ikier 20w fiber laser 2.jpg (21.44 KiB) Viewed 2382 times

ikier 20w fiber laser 2.jpg (21.44 KiB) Viewed 2382 times

[acourtjester]

Like many thing "different strokes for different folks" I am happy with the Ikier and have the same reason as you for buying it. It is more powerful then the other laser I bought,(Otur master 2) and I have used it for many projects. It can do many things but not all, with tools we buy they work well and do what we want, or we buy something the will. I think Andrew was doing the research to find what would work for him, there are so many things on the market. Better to ask others then trusting what the ad or sale person is saying. PS has sure help many in that endeavour. I also bought the rotary option for the Iker (not used it yet) but have one for the Otur and did some glass etching. Test glass and flat glass, Fun stuff. And some wood plaques

[adbuch]

Tom - that rotary option seem like a pretty cool add-on! I'm not sure exactly what I would do with one, but I may get some ideas.
David

[acourtjester]

It is mostly used to mark/etch circular items, like mugs, wine glasses, tumblers, wood like a cane/bat. Similar to using a pipe cutter for just marking not cutting. In the past you talked about making candle holders for gifts, it could be used for similar type gifts.

[tnbndr]

So after much research and internal debate I have invested in a 60W Fiber Laser, the ComMarker B6 MOPA. I want it for etching and annealing metal. The MOPA will allow me to anneal in colors on stainless steel, maybe others but not without a lot of testing and setting tweaking.
The laser arrived two weeks ago with the Auto focus feature not functioning. ComMarker sent out parts they want me to replace. They arrived yesterday and I replaced them with several hours of choice language. All together and it still doesn't work!!!! I am second guessing my decision but ComMarker is sending me a new unit. Fingers crossed that one works out of the box.
From my research it seems that Diode and CO2 lasers are good for wood, leather, etc but not metal. Fiber and IR lasers are good for metal but not wood. They will do leather but again lots of testing for proper settings. So if you want to do everything you would need at least two lasers of different types.

[adbuch]

That is a brand I had not heard of before. Did it get lots of good reviews on Amazon or elsewhere?

David

[tnbndr]

That is a brand I had not heard of before. Did it get lots of good reviews on Amazon or elsewhere?
David

It did get a lot of good reviews on YouTube and Amazon. The reviews actually steered me away from another brand I had decided on.
ComMarker has been very responsive and quick with replies. So hopefully this one is just my usual luck and the replacement will be the golden goose.

[adbuch]

That is a brand I had not heard of before. Did it get lots of good reviews on Amazon or elsewhere?

David

Is this what you bought?

[weldguy]

Checked it out. Looks pretty cool, hopefully they get you sorted out. Let us know and good luck.

[tnbndr]

Is this what you bought?
is this it 1.jpg

David, yes that is what I purchased. Just packaged it up and shipped it back. Replacement should arrive soon. Hopefully it works.

[tnbndr]

Checked it out. Looks pretty cool, hopefully they get you sorted out. Let us know and good luck.

Sorry for the late reply. The replacement laser arrived last Friday late afternoon and I had to leave town for the weekend.
ComMarker kept me up to date with shipping etc.
I set the new laser up on Monday and ran some tests. This replacement runs and sounds completely different than the first one. The autofocus works!!!
I am going to start a new thread instead of hijacking this one.

viewtopic.php?t=37863

[adbuch]

Checked it out. Looks pretty cool, hopefully they get you sorted out. Let us know and good luck.

Sorry for the late reply. The replacement laser arrived last Friday late afternoon and I had to leave town for the weekend.
ComMarker kept me up to date with shipping etc.
I set the new laser up on Monday and ran some tests. This replacement runs and sounds completely different than the first one. The autofocus works!!!
I am going to start a new thread instead of hijacking this one.

Be sure to add the link to your new thread here so that others following this one will see it.
Thanks,
David

[tnbndr]

Be sure to add the link to your new thread here so that others following this one will see it.
Thanks,
David

I edited the post but here is the link also.

viewtopic.php?t=37863

[adbuch]

Be sure to add the link to your new thread here so that others following this one will see it.
Thanks,
David

I edited the post but here is the link also.

viewtopic.php?t=37863

Thanks! I will have a look.

David