does anyone know if/when there are classes for the Shapeco CNC machine in the CA room? i have a project that need to be cut out on a small piece of rubber, and i don’t think that the CNC in woodshop will be able to work for what i need.
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if it is allowed, the lasers will also cut rubber depending on the thickness.
i don’t need cutting, what i need is engraving (trying to make a custom stamp). do the lasers engrave about 1/16 inch down?
@jphelps will be able to tell you for sure, but my instinct says that the Shapeoko may not be the appropriate tool for this.
any suggestions on an appropriate tools? i tried hand carving, but that didn’t work out.
I’ve made stamps on the zing with pretty good success. I think I used speedball rubber.
Our lasers will engrave rubber stamps.
The material MUST be a non-chlorine rubber intended for lasers.
If you’ve already purchased your material and it’s not specified as non-chlorine or laser-suitable, don’t use it on the laser. The off-gas will ruin our expensive lasers.
Our list of Go/No-Go Materials is here: https://dallasmakerspace.org/wiki/Laser_Cutter_Materials
- The Zing will produce a finer detail. Read about its special stamp feature.
- A video from Thunder, the mfg of 3 of our lasers: http://www.thunderlaser.com/what-laser-cutter-can-create/laser-engrave-and-cut-rubber-stamp.html
Happy lasering…and remember to take a picture and upload it to the Show And Tell thread!
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Delrin can be used on laser, lots of high quality stamps made from this material.
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Delrin is on the “Safe Materials” list with the following caveat worth covering:
Contains formaldehyde (a known carcinogen) in the smoke generated during cutting. Advisable to keep ventilation system running for a couple minutes after cutting to clear out all of the smoke.
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There’s a block printing class on the 16th. The ‘wood blocks’ mentioned in the class description can be done on the laser.
https://calendar.dallasmakerspace.org/events/view/4641
From the description: “Learn about the different substrates for carving and printing images such as linoleum, wood block, plastic erasers, styro-foam and cardboard.”
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lasers are a very common way to engrave rubber stamps.there is even a rubber stamp mode in the zing which creates prismatic letters.the thunders should easily engrave 1/16". If not - multiple passes.easy peasy.
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Shapeoko is a useful engraving machine but I think rubber is a difficult material to engrave with any kind of mill.
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well okay then! looks like the consensus is lasers!