Flaming when cutting

[Mike]

I have recently had a problem trying to cut engraving stock and it would badly flame in one or two cut directions, damaging the stock .
It would cut fine in other directions though

I have managed to get around it by cutting the material back to front as it’s just the top coat that is burning, but this is not ideal. And I have thrown away ~£100 worth of material because of it.

Do I need more air flow to prevent burning? I would need to add another air pump to achieve this

I am assume the airflow out of the cone is not perfect, but there is no adjustment for it.

Thanks

Mike

[johnb80]

A compressor is the best way of providing air and it does make a considerable difference, I would suggest however that you check your existing equipment out first. I assume you have done this (or a similar job) before and now youre not getting the performance yo expected? Make sure pipes aren't kniked / blocked, air filters are clean and your extraction is up to scratch.

J

[Mike]

I did a service on all the connections, it improved slightly but is still not great, the machine I have has a small compressor, but is not adjustable like the bigger machines.

the air flow form the pump is almost the same as at the nossle, so I know I am not losing much flow through the system, I just don't think I have enough of it.

[Daven]

Hi Mike - what is the stock you are engraving? Also what speed and power settings do you use, what machine is it?

Cheers

Dave

[StarLoc Adhesives]

I sell plates for adding gauges into cars ,made from carbon look ABS plastic, to get no flames and a decent surface finish i had to alter hight i focus it at, set instead of focused on the top surface i set it so it focuses about half way through, gives a much better cut with no flames

[Mike]

Hi Guys

Its an LS3060 that I have.

The problem is with several materials I use, all 1.5mm or 1.6mm thick, the two most recent ones are:

Gravograph Ultra – black / white
908lt.com Brushed Gold / Black

I have also had the problem cutting painted acrylic before too.

I am pretty sure it not a material problem in that it works in 2 out of 4 directions with out flames, and it’s pretty consistent.
Also those materials I am using are intended for laser engraving / cutting.

I have tried lowering/raising the power and speed accordingly and still no luck. I work with this type of material all the time so kind of have speed/power settings almost pre set for different materials and colours, the gravograph brushed gold/black doesn’t flame in any direction and I use loads of that as long as I can get it, so there is something in the coatings that makes these two more sensitive? but I have a feeling that if the air was more consistent then it wouldn't be an issue

Really just want to know if more air will help, As I will just buy another air pump and run them in parallel when needed. Or am I missing something else?

[Spooky]

More air will indeed halp Mike, I run a 7/100 SHHH compressor and get very little staining and no flaming on any of the materials I work with.

best wishes

Dave

[Mike]

Thanks Dave, Thats what I wanted to hear.

Cheers

Mike