Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1425980
60 graphics-pro.com S T A R T H E R E 2 0 2 1 curve is in creating designs," says Smallwood. "The graphic design side is where people get hung up." To help, most manufacturers offer training for their users. For example, every person that buys a laser machine from AP Lazer gets eight hours of training, two hours on the laser and learning about laser maintenance and the other six hours on CorelDRAW, iD Works, and Photograv, the software programs that come with its laser engraving machines. Epilog Laser offers its customers a training suite that walks them through a couple of exercises to teach them how to operate the laser. "Learning the laser is 5% of the process. Anybody that knows CorelDRAW or Illustrator can be up and running in a matter of a few minutes," notes Dean. "Over 90% of our customers already have graphic experience because they are doing sublimation or something along those lines." David Stevens, Trotec Laser, agrees that learning the graphics software is the hardest part. "If the user is already well-versed with a graphics program, the next step is the preparation of the designs specifically for laser processing," he says. Different Substrates It is important to learn how a laser reacts to a variety of mate- rials, which can take time and some trial and error. "Some manu- facturers offer additional online educational resources as well as in-person workshops that will support your ongoing laser knowl- edge. With these means, the user can learn quickly and easily from step-by-step tutorials, get their questions answered promptly, and become comfortable with the laser," Stevens states. Some offer customers cheat sheets with the speed and power necessary to engrave on different substrates. "For instance, wood is typically medium speed and high power because the wood absorbs laser energy so you have to slow the machine down, unless you have a 120 watt and then you can run full speed," Dean says. "For lasers that are 50 watt or 60 watt, you have to slow the laser down so that you get enough depth into the wood." But if a laser engraver goes too slowly over wood, it can leave a charred mark, notes Voigt. It also depends on the type of wood being cut or engraved. Some woods are more porous than others and will leave grains behind when engraving. Hardwoods are always a good choice. Engraving plastics is different. "Vaporizing the cap sheet on engraver's plastic can be done at high speed. Those are the two pri- mary variables that control the laser: speed and power," Dean states. For glass, the laser should be on medium speed and high power, but Dean says you might want to adjust the artwork to 70% or 80% fill as opposed to being 100% because when the laser hits the glass, it chips the engraving surface. If you reduce the fill, you aren't applying as much heat to the glass overall and it doesn't chip as much. It is important to learn how a laser reacts to a variety of materials, which can take time and some trial and error. For example, wood requires different settings than marble. (Images courtesy Trotec Laser) Image courtesy Kern Laser Systems "Learning the laser is 5% of the process. Anybody that knows CorelDRAW or Illustrator can be up and running in a matter of a few minutes." — Mike Dean, Epilog Laser