Laser cutting through multiple layers of paint?

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David Piercey

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Nov 11, 2012, 1:07:54 PM11/11/12
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While thinking about old photographic and printing processes, I started wondering...

If I spray-paint some glass with multiple layers of various colours (e.g., 2 of each)

black____
black____
red____
red____
blue____
blue____
yellow____
yellow____
white____
white____

Would the laser printer be accurate enough/would it be possible to burn off the black layers only (to reveal red), or the black and red layers (to reveal blue), etc?  If so, this may make for an interesting method of multiple-colour printing...

Have any of you experimented this way? Suggestions for paints that you've used (and are safe) to do something similar?

Derek Jacoby

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Nov 11, 2012, 1:13:06 PM11/11/12
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Possible, but please obtain an msds for the paints and make sure that the thermal breakdown products are non-toxic.

David Piercey

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Nov 11, 2012, 1:28:49 PM11/11/12
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Any recommendations for a genre of paint to start with?  


DrElektron

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Nov 15, 2012, 1:44:23 AM11/15/12
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in the past with other machines, ive had great luck with powder coat and anodizing.. anodizing gave the most striking response. i made a slide rule with black anodized 6063. laser marking turned it white. very nice effect..

toxicity... heck i been breathing that all my life, im good to go!.. <twitch, twitch> :-P

v

Derek Jacoby

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Nov 15, 2012, 1:50:24 AM11/15/12
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Nice. With an anodization layer I'd totally agree, no need for an
msds. I had visions of half a dozen strange thick layers of oil paints
and such flaming away in the cutter...

David Piercey

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Nov 15, 2012, 11:19:53 AM11/15/12
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Multiple coloured layers of anodizing may not be in my budget :D

Randall Wright

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Nov 18, 2012, 11:52:05 PM11/18/12
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How about acrylic airbrush enamel? I have some really nice candies and rich colors... if it can be done, I will bring my gear in one day.

David Piercey

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Nov 19, 2012, 9:32:23 AM11/19/12
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I think it could be worth a try sometime....spray some acrylic, do a few tests....see if it works :D

Thomas Gray

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Nov 19, 2012, 12:29:46 PM11/19/12
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A different application of this technique could be to paint some aluminium (see other thread), laser-etch the paint away, the apply some chemical to the newly-exposed metal to etch it or, potentially, eat through it.

-Thomas

Geoff Nicol

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Nov 19, 2012, 12:30:51 PM11/19/12
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Electroetching might work well after paint removal:

-Geoff
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