two color powder coat, using laser engraving?

[Beo]

So the concept is to powder coat your enclosure twice with two different colors. Then, if you set your laser engraver optimally (power, speed, etc), you can laser off the top coat, exposing the undercoat color for your graphics.

I don't have a powder coat or laser engraver setup yet, but I've been researching them. For this application, since we're only burning off powder coat, and not trying to etch/engrave into aluminum, one of the cheaper lower powered lasers may do the trick.

Could be a great way to get durable white lettering and graphics on a dark colored pedal.

See these guys:
http://aplazer.com/powder-coating-laser-engraving-machine/

[Kipper4]

I cant wait to see how this goes Beo.
I wish you a wealth of luck.

[Beo]

I cant wait to see how this goes Beo.
I wish you a wealth of luck.

Ha! I'll need luck of wealth before I can try it!

I suspect very even coats for the powder coat layer will be needed. Not sure if one of the basic lasers (500-5000mW) could do the trick, or if I have to bump up to a 40W. Examples:

http://www.banggood.com/1_6W-Desktop-DIY-Violet-Laser-Engraver-Engraving-Machine-Picture-CNC-Printer-Assembling-Kits-p-1000808.html?rmmds=search

https://www.amazon.com/Engraving-Machine-Engraver-Cutter-Exhaust/dp/B01EJDH1BO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485828765&sr=8-2&keywords=orion+laser+cutter

[MonarchMD]

This is my primary way of "applying" graphics to enclosures (with the exception that I'm not doing a two color process; that's next on the R&D front.  I'm simply using one color and engraving it away to expose the bare aluminum for the graphics).

I powder coat and engrave at a local MakerSpace for the time being.  The laser is VERY popular and booking it is a pain, but it's a nice, expensive laser that I get to use for FREE, so I'm not complaining.

My initial thoughts on this process with two colors has been how can I get the most consistent layers of powder every single application and how will that affect the end results.  I will tell you that I have to do two passes with the laser at 90% power to get all the way thru my one color of powder to expose the aluminum.  It's a 40W laser, so I am not sure how a laser in the .5W - 5W power range would do.  I've been tempted to try it, but it's not quite in the cards for me at the moment.

Anyways, I'd love to hear your experiences as they unfold and am happy to share mine as they begin to work (or not work; Lord knows I learn more from failing than anything else).

By the way, when I was first testing the process with one color, and I will do the same for the two color process as well, I used cheap electrical box covers.  They powder coat exceptionally well, and they are super cheap to use for "research".

Hope that helps...

[bXm83]

This is my primary way of "applying" graphics to enclosures (with the exception that I'm not doing a two color process; that's next on the R&D front.  I'm simply using one color and engraving it away to expose the bare aluminum for the graphics).

I powder coat and engrave at a local MakerSpace for the time being.  The laser is VERY popular and booking it is a pain, but it's a nice, expensive laser that I get to use for FREE, so I'm not complaining.

My initial thoughts on this process with two colors has been how can I get the most consistent layers of powder every single application and how will that affect the end results.  I will tell you that I have to do two passes with the laser at 90% power to get all the way thru my one color of powder to expose the aluminum.  It's a 40W laser, so I am not sure how a laser in the .5W - 5W power range would do.  I've been tempted to try it, but it's not quite in the cards for me at the moment.

Anyways, I'd love to hear your experiences as they unfold and am happy to share mine as they begin to work (or not work; Lord knows I learn more from failing than anything else).

By the way, when I was first testing the process with one color, and I will do the same for the two color process as well, I used cheap electrical box covers.  They powder coat exceptionally well, and they are super cheap to use for "research".

Hope that helps...

Wow, google is fast at indexing things. I just found this post directly while searching how to do two color powder coating. I have a 50w engraver, but I can't seem to find a good way to just laser the top layer off. What types of settings do you use to do that. I can burn all the way through easily with 40% power running at about 250mms of speed. Id love to do more complex two color images, but right now the only way I know how is through vinyl masking. Any help would be appreciated.

[davent]

Darron showed a pedal or two a few years ago with two tone powdercoat but the pictures are missing. His explanation here.

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=36392.msg1042941#msg1042941

dave

[MonarchMD]

This is my primary way of "applying" graphics to enclosures (with the exception that I'm not doing a two color process; that's next on the R&D front.  I'm simply using one color and engraving it away to expose the bare aluminum for the graphics).

I powder coat and engrave at a local MakerSpace for the time being.  The laser is VERY popular and booking it is a pain, but it's a nice, expensive laser that I get to use for FREE, so I'm not complaining.

My initial thoughts on this process with two colors has been how can I get the most consistent layers of powder every single application and how will that affect the end results.  I will tell you that I have to do two passes with the laser at 90% power to get all the way thru my one color of powder to expose the aluminum.  It's a 40W laser, so I am not sure how a laser in the .5W - 5W power range would do.  I've been tempted to try it, but it's not quite in the cards for me at the moment.

Anyways, I'd love to hear your experiences as they unfold and am happy to share mine as they begin to work (or not work; Lord knows I learn more from failing than anything else).

By the way, when I was first testing the process with one color, and I will do the same for the two color process as well, I used cheap electrical box covers.  They powder coat exceptionally well, and they are super cheap to use for "research".

Hope that helps...

Wow, google is fast at indexing things. I just found this post directly while searching how to do two color powder coating. I have a 50w engraver, but I can't seem to find a good way to just laser the top layer off. What types of settings do you use to do that. I can burn all the way through easily with 40% power running at about 250mms of speed. Id love to do more complex two color images, but right now the only way I know how is through vinyl masking. Any help would be appreciated.

I haven't done two color yet...it's on the horizon as an experiment. Too many other priorities with pedals these days. I wonder if multiple coats of the base coat then only one coat of the top color would give desirable results. The thought being you could etch into the base color a tad and still have some room to not get all the way down to the bare aluminum.
The laser I'm using is a 40w. I don't know what the actual speed is, only that I set it at max in the software. Power I use is 90% and I need two passes to remove all the coating.


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[ataro]

I think the Pedalprojects Lionheart was made with this technique.