Possible to etch brass?

Is this possible? It’s not listed in the items to etch, but just wanted to ask…

CO2 laser won’t etch it, but can remove finishes from it.

Something like Ceramark can be used. It is a coating that the laser can fuse to the metal surface:

http://www.laserbits.com/sus-030-metal-marking-spray-can-12oz.html

Reflections off of any shiny (i.e., uncoated) metal will damage the laser optics.

However, if you coat the brass (using, for instance [Cermark] then you can “etch” the Cermark-coated surface. In reality, this will produce a permanent black marking on the brass.

Be cautious that not all Cermark products will mark brass (specifically, the most common Cermark spray LMM6000 will not) . Cermark specifically recommends their LMM14 product.

Kevin, while Laesrbits is a great place for laser supplies, that specific Cermark product will not work on brass. He needs the LMM14 product.

So for instance could I use the same SUS 030 - CerMark LMM-6000 to get black etching on aluminum as well?

I use LMM14 Cermark on Steel, alum, and brass with no issues.
50 watts of power and 20% of speed at 900 dpi.

I have done brass at DMS as part of my metal pen class which was 35 watts, 10% of speed and 1000 dpi.

Cermark is available at The Engravers Network in Arlington for $62 a can. cheers!

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11 posts were split to a new topic: Cermark at the Space? (Available as a consumable? Group buy?)