LMM-6000 is our laser marking material for metals. LMM-6000 is ethanol based which allows for a faster drying time. It can be used on a variety of bare metal substrates including stainless steel, brass, aluminum, titanium, tin, copper, nickel and many more. If the metal has a lacquered coating, the LMM-6000 marking material will not work.
Clean the surface of the metal so it is free of any type of lubricants or oils. Apply a thin coat of LMM-6000 to the metal, try to apply an even covering. LMM-6000 can be applied by a spray gun, air brush, paint brush, bird applicator, draw down bar or a foam brush. If the material is applied too thin, the mark won't be as dark. If the material is applied too thick, it will require more power to make the mark. It is important that LMM-6000 is applied with an even and thin coat. Applying LMM-6000 may require a little practice to get the right coverage.
It is important that the LMM-6000 is allowed to dry thoroughly. It can air dry in about 2 minutes. This process can be sped up by using a drying oven, hair dryer or a heat lamp.
This step may require some trial and error to optimize your laser with a particular substrate. Keep in mind that all lasers react differently depending on the substrate, the type of laser, the lasers' power, dot size and other factors:
| 25 Watt | 35 Watt | 50 Watt | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Speed | 10% | 15% | 20-30% |
| DPI/PPI | 500/500 | 500/500 | 500/500 |
If you are using a YAG laser, you will need to use about 20-25 Watts and a writing speed between 10-20 inches/second. Again, you may need to run several tests to optimize the settings for your particular laser.
Softer Metals require more power or slower speeds to obtain a permanent mark. We recommend at least a 50 Watt C02 lasers for such metals.
Brass |
|||
| 25 Watt | 35 Watt | 50 Watt | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| DPI/PPI | 500/500 | 500/500 | 500/500 |
Aluminum |
|||
| 25 Watt | 35 Watt | 50 Watt | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| DPI/PPI | 500/500 | 500/500 | 500/500 |
Wash with water or a wet towel
We formulated LMM-6000 to be thick to prevent settling. It may be necessary to thin the paste before using. We recommend thinning with ethanol, denatured alcohol or grain alcohol. Isopropyl rubbing alcohol should be avoided. The application method which is selected, will determine how much you need to thin LMM-6000. If you were to brush the material on, we recommend a 3:1 mix of LMM-6000 to thinning agent. If the material is to be sprayed, a 2:1 mixture may be needed. Keep in mind that the more the material is thinned, the less active ingredients are being applied. If LMM-6000 is thinned too much, the mark may appear to be lighter in color than what the unthinned LMM-6000 could produce.