Anodized Aluminum
A short pulse evaporates only the dye in the anodize layer, exposing the white aluminum oxide underneath. Crisp white-on-color marks. Tumblers, knife handles, dog tags, EDC.
Starting settings
| Param | 70mm | 150mm |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 1500-2500 mm/s | 1500-2500 mm/s |
| Power | 25-45% | 35-60% |
| Frequency | 30-60 kHz | 30-60 kHz |
| Pulse width | 8-30 ns | 8-30 ns |
| Hatch interval | 0.02 mm | 0.025 mm |
| Passes | 1 | 1 |
Watch for
Too much power or too long a pulse and you melt through the anodize into the aluminum, the mark goes gray instead of white. Drop power 5% at a time until the white pops.
Tumblers (with rotary)
Use the 150mm, the depth of focus tolerates the cylinder. Set rotary diameter accurately (caliper the tumbler), Lightburn computes circumference and feeds the rotary in sync with the galvo. Run a test on a scrap section first; some powder-coated tumblers behave like anodize, others need different settings.