I have not seen this question and am hoping that someone might be able to provide an answer.

A client wants me to laser a sign made of wood (California redwood). He has had signs in the past made using a router and has not been pleased. However he does like the "deep" grooves that the routers make.

In the past I have made deep laser cuts using a series of passes. Unfortunately in some cases the surrounding surface wood was scorched.

Am I better off reducing the number of passes by increasing the power and reducing the speed, or am I better off using the normal settings and making more passes? Also, will masking the top of the wood help or hinder the process?

Look at how the material is removed
Laser burns (scorches) off material --- does not shear off material

Perhaps air (nitrogen) assist (high pressure)
but burn wood in abscence of oxygen = charcoal

Surface sanding will rid the scorch from outside the letter

Show me a wood laser cut that is not burned black

spray paint --- surface sand

Quote
philr
. Unfortunately in some cases the surrounding surface wood was scorched.

... look in the video here - [vimeo.com]

I've engraved with lower power (shorter pulses) and only minimal fume traces ... and before cutting with highest power I've coated the wood with package tape to prevent fuming ...

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Viktor
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Aufruf zum Projekt "Müll-freie Meere" - [reprap.org] -- Deutsche Facebook-Gruppe - [www.facebook.com]

Call for the project "garbage-free seas" - [reprap.org]

VDX
what laser what machine

what is gieLAS?

... the lasrdiode is a blue 3.5W-diode, but it's nearly the same with a 2W-diode.

The machine is a "refurbished" CNC-mill - but I'm using (refurbished and DIY-built) several other machines too, even 3D-printers ....

My companies name is "Gie-Tec", so I've named the laser module "gieLAS" -- and a heavy modified Pronterface with special plugins for pastedispensing (and laserengraving) "gieCAPS"

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Viktor
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Aufruf zum Projekt "Müll-freie Meere" - [reprap.org] -- Deutsche Facebook-Gruppe - [www.facebook.com]

Call for the project "garbage-free seas" - [reprap.org]