Customer Spotlight - SBC Laser

HOW TO CREATE A MIXED MEDIA GIFT USING A LASER

Adam Voigt
June 21, 2019

How do you say “Thank You” to an outstanding client or customer? Nick Caito of SBC Laser demonstrates his take on adding a personalized touch to a unique gift. In this Platinum Partner build, Caito mixes steel, acrylic, and brass with a combination of laser cutting and engraving with his Kern 400W HSE laser system.

MATERIAL NEEDED:

• 18 ga mild steel
• 1/4″ acrylic (clear and black)
• .020″ brushed brass (used here is from Rowmark)
• Brass acorn nuts, washers, and bolts
• Blackening chemical

SUGGESTED PARAMETERS

• 18 ga Mild Steel
Speed: 2″/sec
Power: 90%
Frequency: 600Hz
Assist Gas: Oxygen (100psi)

• Acrylic Etching
Speed: 80″/sec
Power: 25%
DPI: 300
Assist Gas: Compressed Air (20psi)

• Acrylic Cutting
Speed: .5″/sec
Power: 30%
Assist Gas: Compressed Air (5psi)

Step 1: Set Parameters and Cut Mild Steel

When cutting metal, laser focus is an important aspect. As the mild steel is cut, it heats up and tends to move around. If using a Kern (like we did for this project), the automatic height follower maintains a consistent focus point over the entire sheet.

Step 2: Form Metal

This custom cage and base are bent using a folding table. No welding was required.

Step 3: Cut and Engrave Metal

Lasers are popular tools when processing acrylic.

Step 4: Blacken Steel

A chemical process used applied to the steel, giving it a blackened look.

Step 5: Assemble

The only fasteners used on this project are decorative brass acorn cap nuts.

Thank you SBC Laser for sharing your build with us, and allowing us into your shop.

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CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT - MX Trophies

A Custom Trophy Build

Adam Voigt
May 14, 2019

Do you have a need to process wood, plastics, metals and foams with one machine? Kern offers this versatility for a wide spectrum of customers and ultimately their imagination is their only limitation.

MX Trophies, a Kern customer, uses their creative skills daily to produce custom awards, plates and medals. The ability to personalize individual products to each event allows them to stand out from their competition. Here is how MX Trophies uses a combination of stainless steel and acrylic to create a custom business card holder.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

.050″ stainless steel
.125″ cast acrylic

Step 1: Create and Export File

Within CorelDRAW, multiple cut-line colors are used to assign settings to the different substrates being cut. The image or text is added to areas that need to be engraved. Once the file is complete a simple export tool sends the creation to the laser.

Step 2: Set Parameters

KCAM software is used to set the laser power, speed, and other common settings.

Step 3: Cut Stainless Steel

Load the steel sheet and adjust the focal height of the metal cutting assembly. Enable the cut-line colors assigned for the stainless and click Start.

Step 4: Cut and Engrave Acrylic

Install the acrylic processing head and honeycomb bed. Add standoffs to reduce flashbacks on the back side of the acrylic being cut. Load the acrylic sheet. Enable the cut-lines color assigned to the acrylic as well as the engraving option, and click Start.