Perfect Laser Engraved Photos

In this video, I will be using EZCad to show you how to burn photos onto anodized aluminum business card stock. I’ll share with you some of the concepts that has made my results successful and with some fine-tuning, you can get the same results, too.
One of the biggest benefits was the use of the iGaging DRO - as highlighted in a previous video you can obtain it here:
AMAZON: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
Features:
* Aluminum rule can be cut to fit length and application
* Super Large easy to read display which can be set to Inch, Decimal, Fractional and Metric
* Magnetic Remote Display with 76” cord for easy installation and routing
* Use vertical or horizontal
* Measure range (travel) is 0-24” with an accuracy of .002” per 6”.
* Reading Rated at .001”/0.01mm/12th/Inch
CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE STORE FOR ALL YOUR LASER ENGRAVING JIG NEEDS
patriotlaserengraving.square....

[@steve-martin-42]

Thank you so much for this video i was about to loose faith, EZ DRO is a great piece of kit

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

I have one on every machine even the ones with autofocus

[@KnightsArmory]

Extremely helpful! Thanks brother 👊

[@jessicaliu7424]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6m7eXxjrM2hbrc

[@DreamwoodRings]

WOW just learning about that google tools section was worth watching this video! Thank you :)

[@mattborup5293]

Thank you so much for this video! It has immensely helped me in figuring these lasers out! I am subscribed, watching all your videos today and I am looking forward to the upcoming ones too! Clear and to the point, DRO IS ON IT’S WAY! (from the 2nd video I watched 😎) Keep up with the great work!🏁🏁

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Thank you, that means a lot. I will have some more out shortly. Working on a couple now. 😊

[@jessicaliu7424]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6m7eXxjrM2hbrc

[@tintran7823]

Great vid, learn a lot of things from you. I'm a newbie in this industry, still have a lot of trouble with fiber laser but fun. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Thank you. This means a lot to me.

[@jessicaliu7424]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6m7eXxjrM2hbrc

[@gunhappyie]

Great Video, I spent days trying to laser a bitmap and ended up with a stack of scrap cards.... Ill Have to invest in a DRO.

[@glennelliott2757]

Awesome work and a massive help!! 👍 can i ask would you do the same sort of settings for an anodised dog tag??

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Glenn Elliott Yes, this should work, anodized surfaces are essentially the same process some power tweaking may be necessary - I’d go light 20% speed around 1500 first to see. Good luck.

[@lazer_design]

Thank you very much friend

[@bobreichel]

Thank you for your video. I tried it out and wow!!! I don't have a DRO but I raised it up off focus about 1/8" and it came out great. I have a 50w laser other than dropping the power down to 20% i changed nothing from your settings.

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Glad this worked for you! Thanks for the feedback.

[@davidmythalamouth2583]

great video and starting point, after using your settings and some tuning i finally got the results i was looking for, here are the settings that worked for me for the laser i picked up a few weeks ago(30w rayfine laser with jpt lp+ laser source q-pulse locked 200 ns) dpi 1000 pwr 25 freq 190

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Thanks. Yeah these are just starting points but glad you found a way.

[@hectortorres8580]

Thanks

[@guindonmike]

Do you go into more detail on how to install the DRO in any of your videos or do you have a "how to" video you can suggest by chance? I'm getting my new laser this week and I think I'd like to install one. Thanks, cheers

[@michaelbernard9433]

cool vid

[@21cstinch]

Great video, I wish you showed a close up of the finished product though.

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Sorry I was new at this whole KZbin thing. For future videos I’ll defiantly do this! Great advise.

[@jessicaliu7424]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6m7eXxjrM2hbrc

[@petervu9773]

awesome video !! where is the focus setting ? thanks in advance =]

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

The focus here was using a DRO and alignment lasers to get “zero” in focus and then we adjusted from there using the crank and the DRO to get the desired positioning.

[@laserjunky9993]

I love the video! My power map is WAY lower than your and using your exact settings all I am doing is cleaning the black off the cards. Any suggestions?

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

De focus (down) by 2-4 mm. Slowly dial down until you start seeing an image

[@DaveNelsondjnphotowoodworking]

how did you hook up your iGaging Digital Readout DRO if you have photo's how you did it that would be great oh buy the way love the video

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Dave Nelson Hi, Dave. I have a video on my channel on this here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXbGXpKFgK2qbZY

[@RichLeeFL]

Are your cards painted or truly anodized aluminum? The cheaper ones on Amazon are not anodized, but I believe the 50-pack black anodized aluminum for $35 are actually anodized. Any suggestions which cards to get?

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

The cards that I used were anodized and not printed. I buy mine through amazon but these are the better quality ones. You can also get them from Richard Zhang at Wisley as well.

[@perthfectengraverjewellery7362]

Great job !! is it possible to engrave like this on Silver or Gold??

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

This works on any material your laser can engrave on. I’ve done it with silver not gold

[@Angryhelder]

Does this burn the background of the image on the card? Every time I did photos as an import bitmap it always burns the background and is that the reason you go so out of focus?

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

I don’t think it discriminates between background and foreground it just burns the photo. Going out of focus seems to be the only way I have been successful burning photos (bitmaps).

[@deanp4329]

How do you make them less delicate. I got it crystal clear. But the finish comes off really easy

[@deanp4329]

So i won't damage my 20w laser if I run it over 20KHz? Even if the warning comes up?

[@dgilland8334]

This is a great video and I am trying to replicate the exact thing you are doing. Even the same photo. However, ever time I try to bring the photo into EZCad2, I get an error that states "DIB Create 3680x2448x24 outrange 27025960." Do you have any idea what this means?

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

I’m not sure what this means. Seems to me that maybe a setting is out of spec. Not all lasers are exact. The video is a guideline so my settings may not translate exactly. Hmm

[@TheMatthew7893]

I get the same thing I think its the EZcad saying the picture is too large.

[@texastoughengraving]

man it took a long time to find you but THANK YOU..... @TEXASTOUGHENGRAVING

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Hey you’re welcome. Thanks for the note! Going to post more so be sure to sub.

[@jessicaliu7424]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6m7eXxjrM2hbrc

[@joyeriavarela7874]

Silver settings please?

[@fate2022]

How do I get the "extend " options to show? I dont see that on my left side pane below the DPI.

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Strange that’s usually a feature that enables when you select an imported photo. If you’re not seeing that then it may be a missing option. Try the View menu item and see if it shows up (but when you have the photo selected first).

[@fate2022]

@@patriotlaserengravingllc2233 I found it, thank you, I just by chance dragged up from the bottom border and it was hiding, odd, since my screen resolution is pretty high, it had plenty of room.

[@NekoMat69]

How do you make bitmap without background ?

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Hmm not sure that I know what you are after but if you are wanting to drop a background I use photoshop and the magic select wand and then select out what I don’t want.

[@anandreddy6835]

NICE VIDEO SIR MAKE A VIDEO FIBRALASER PHOTO ENGRAVING ON STAINLESS STEEL

[@jaredfox1005]

Does setting the speed for pen 0 change how it burns? EZ cad for me (in bitmap mode) doesn't seem to change the speed unless I change the DPI. I can even leave it to zero, it basically ignores that field and just uses power and frequency and the DPI of the picture (set or not) determines my speed.

[@davidmythalamouth2583]

seems to be that ezcad ignores pen speed settings, speed of engraving seems dependent on dpi the lower the dpi the faster it engraves

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

It does ignore pen settings. Try bi-directional mode.

[@michaelbernard9433]

how did you attach your DRO to the laser?

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

That’s in the video but it’s attached to the back of the arm riser with very strong double stick adhesive

[@michaelbernard9433]

@@patriotlaserengravingllc2233 thank you

[@fermartin1766]

como grabo una foto en una medalla de acero inoxidable con esta misma maquina

[@peterj5251]

ok i guess I have a question. So as soon as I do that, my laser engraves just a white square not the picture any idea?

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Sounds like too much power and possibly a focus issue.

[@davidmythalamouth2583]

had the same problem, i had to lower my power to 25 percent increase the frequency to 190 and adjust the focus to +5 up

[@EJSVARZ]

This is on a 60w ?

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

30W

[@TheMatthew7893]

I get lines in my photos any ideas?

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Difficult to say. Could be numerous things. Try a different photo and try manual DPI of either 600x600 or 800x800.

[@TheMatthew7893]

@@patriotlaserengravingllc2233 I should have been more detailed . Its a 5x7 photo ans I am running 200 speed 60 power and 30 Feq. It is on mirror polished aluminum. running pixel and Bi directional scan at 2000 DPi

[@TheMatthew7893]

The photo works fine in drill mode but takes too long and is real light. multiple passes do not help and takes a day.

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Got ya. I’d probably need to refer you out to a trainer. I know a couple good ones that may be able to help you dial that in. If you’re interested just PM me and I’ll send the info.

[@TheMatthew7893]

And thank you for the tumbler holders !!!!!

[@retparatrooper]

Ok video, you ramble a little to much, u have great info but need to get to the point. You never did explain power map

[@patriotlaserengravingllc2233]

Yeah - Thanks for the feedback - I'm new to this so I have no experience doing videos so I could use to learn some more on how this works. You will see newer videos where I get straight to the point based on previous feedback. I appreciate the view and the like.

[@SwissplWatches]

Great video. Skip to 15 mins for the settings details.