LaserUser.com Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)

Hi All,

I have been asked to lasercut some black acrylic. Previously done by a company that no longer does custom work. As part of the work they engraved a logo, which appeared to produce a nice white finish.

Anyone any idea how they created such a nice white finish

Could it be that the material is Trolase?

https://www.engraving-supplies.com/plas ... olase.html

Hi Fred,

It's not a laminate, the white areas have a scanned finish and minimal depth.

There is a paper like adhesive backed protective film on the acrylic which has been in place while lasering the cutouts, BUT it is intact over the white engraved area.

This would make me think the engraving is done first, the protective film applied and then the cutouts are completed as I can see the smoke markings around the profile and cutouts

Ian- it sure looks like what Romark or Gemini Duets sell [they are a very thin laminate over a base color] in many colors and metal finishes. They engrave great and I am sure that that is what Trotec is selling too, but have not seen it myself.

The top color is very thin so it does not take much depth to go thru into the base color. In my pict below the engrave depth of the only letters large enough to get the probe of my calipers in is about .35mm. The mask you see is called transfer tape and is use by sign companies to hold the cutout vinyl letters and graphics in place after the waste is 'weeded' away so that it can be transferred to a sign or vehicle in the correct spacing. Why it was placed over the engraved area before cutting mystifies me. It is certainly possible to put on the mask and engrave and then paint thru the mask, which is then removed. I do a lot of this sort of thing, let me know if you have more questions. Gene

Hi Gene,

The material appears to be a single colour, i.e. black all the way through judging by the edge appearance.

It would certainly make sense if this is a laminate, but would need to be a sandwich type, Black surface, white sandwich layer and lower portion black.

You also mention engraving through a mask to allow for painting. I'm beginning to think that this is what they have done, and is something I could certainly improve on my efforts to date. Some advice would be very welcome.

My efforts:

Acrylic comes with plastic protective film.
Engrave through.
Paint with automotive spray (primer/paint).
Do cutting work.
Remove remaining protective film
clean surplus/bleed paint

Results aren't what I would class 100%, removing the bleed paint and engraving through the plastic film sometimes leaves non vaporised film.

Advice would be welcomed.

https://images.app.goo.gl/bj8UUxhkHf3SWwHJ7
Looks to me like they Are engraving black acrylic and it gives a white frosted appearance

Ian Bell wrote: Sat Nov 30, 2019 Hi Gene,

The material appears to be a single colour, i.e. black all the way through judging by the edge appearance.

It would certainly make sense if this is a laminate, but would need to be a sandwich type, Black surface, white sandwich layer and lower portion black.

You also mention engraving through a mask to allow for painting. I'm beginning to think that this is what they have done, and is something I could certainly improve on my efforts to date. Some advice would be very welcome.

My efforts:

Acrylic comes with plastic protective film.
Engrave through.
Paint with automotive spray (primer/paint).
Do cutting work.
Remove remaining protective film
clean surplus/bleed paint

Results aren't what I would class 100%, removing the bleed paint and engraving through the plastic film sometimes leaves non vaporised film.

Advice would be welcomed.

I've done some experiments doing this the other way around: Paint white acrylic w/ black paint. Then laser to remove the paint, revealing the white. I like to think of it as a "poor man's Trolase".

Ian, when I purchase acrylic I try to get it with paper protective covering instead of plastic. The plastic tends to melt and does not perform as well. If what I purchase only comes in plastic film, I remove it and mask it instead. If you paint it after engraving, use multiple light coats of paint and don't try to do it with one heavy coat.

Pete Cyr wrote: Sat Nov 30, 2019 https://images.app.goo.gl/bj8UUxhkHf3SWwHJ7
Looks to me like they Are engraving black acrylic and it gives a white frosted appearance

Hi Pete, Best i've managed is a light grey colour on any black I have engraved, this is a higher degree of white, i'm more convinced now it is Painted

Jeffrey Aley wrote: Sat Nov 30, 2019 I've done some experiments doing this the other way around: Paint white acrylic w/ black paint. Then laser to remove the paint, revealing the white. I like to think of it as a "poor man's Trolase".

Now thats something different .. something else to dabble with