@lasertechs Quick question - any issues with us laser engraving slate?
I’ve had a look on the Trotec website and they seem to suggest that the Trotec Speedy 300 with a CO2 laser is capable of engraving most types of stone, including slate.
https://www.troteclaser.com/en-gb/trotec-laser-machines/laser-engravers-speedy-series/
I’m about tonight and would like to give it a go if any of you are about and would like to try it out with us?
Can’t think of any. Careful experimentation is the key here
Yes. @Dermot was of a similar opinion. Start very slowly with a small pattern and watch it very carefully. That’s why I’d like a tech to hold my hand!
Shouldn’t be a problem, I am unfortunately not about tonight to lend a hand.
Some settings and details here:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?118522-Engraving-Slate
Thanks for the info. However, can anyone translate into English please?!
Have zero clue what half of this means…
I understand DPI and guessing S=Speed P=Power.
Anyone know what the Rastering, printer driver & gold method are referring to?
(I seriously need to geek up on all this technical stuff!)
100% speed 34%power. If it’s a photo, I would run photo optimised engraving which has a limit on the DPI which I think is 333DPI. This looks at the tones of the image (make it black and white) and adjusts the laser accordingly.
Is this helping?
A little. Will the trotec recognise a photo though? Thought lines had to be hairline to be imported? How would you do a photo?
Also wondered how you’d carve out large areas for something like marquetry. I’ve only succeeded in cutting or engraving thin lines.
Do you mean remove large areas to a single depth?
That’s is just straight engraving of a black fill. The material, speed and power of the engrave will effect the depth.
Sorry, yes it does photos. Bring the image into your required software. When in print settings, choose photo optimised engraving.
Yes. Exactly that. So do you just fill the object in black and it’ll do it?
For instance, I had some text that I engraved. I outlined it and chose no fill to get this…
If I were to fill the gaps in black, would it engrave out the whole text as opposed to just the outlines?
You need to set it to engrave in the bit you choose cut settings.
You can also use colours other than black - and multiple ones to get 2.5 dimensions of cutting. For example this piece I cut recently had 3 different depths of engrave as well as cuts - made out of 3mm acrylic in one operation. Very useable for some applications if you don’t need the precision of milled parts
Yes. Take the text, turn on the full and make it black and you can even turn off the stroke. Print that using the standard settings. Photo optimised is not used in this case.
Very nice, what were your settings in the end?
Looks great… I’m off to Ebay to by a batch load of slate.
We get it for free 
What do you need?
Not that I’m easily bought, but you’re my favourite person…
Just a couple of pieces would be great if that’s OK?
Come 20" x 10" tiles. 4-5mm thick. How many you need?
