Why do you have to focus a laser?

Yes, why?

Lasers are those famously parallel beams of light that go on forever right? Well sort of and in many cases they’re fantastic for measuring, line-of-sight comms links and all sorts of other stuff. If you have a laser level in your DIY box you’ll immediately get this.

So why does it need to be focused?

To cut/engrave material you need to direct all the energy of the beam into a really small spot. This is directly analogous to using a magnifying glass to burn a hole in paper on a sunny day. With the magnifying glass, say a 10cm round one, when you focus the sun onto that little dot you’re taking that 10cm of energy and putting it all onto a 1mm dot on the paper. That’s 7854mm² of sun condensed onto 3.1mm², a 2500x increase in energy for the area. When you see it put like that you can see why the paper burns! 

It’s the same principle

Likewise with a laser you want the smallest spot you can get. Concentrate all the energy into that dot to get a nice, fine cutting edge or great resolution for engraving.

A typical laser dot is around 0.08-0.1mm in diameter but the beam from the laser tube itself is around 10mm in diameter so a lens is used to focus that into a spot of 0.1mm. Unsurprisingly this cuts and engraves very well!

When engraving you want to focus the beam onto the surface of the material. if you’re cutting, particularly on thicker material like 12 or 18mm MDF, you want to focus the beam a little below the surface. Why is this you ask? A simple diagram will explain! As you see, because the beam is focused it’s now a cone shape which means the power for the area varies outside of the focal point. If you focused on the surface of the 12mm MDF your beam would be out of focus by quite a bit on the underside of the material.

By moving the focus closer to the centre of the material you’re a little out at the surface and the underside still, but far less than you would have been overall by focusing on the surface. You also get a slightly straighter edge to the cut overall due to the ‘cone’ of the laser being narrower across the depth of the cut. For regularly cutting thicker materials you can actually use a different lens with a longer focal length which gives you a narrower cone (but slightly lower engraving quality). This also allows you somewhat greater positioning freedom when you want to focus lower into the material as a standard lens only gives you about 4mm freedom with the focus before it bumps into the surface.

 

 

We hope you found this interesting (and maybe even useful) – now you know why lasers sometimes need to be focused! Take a moment to see how this understanding is used to create the great things we make in our gallery and of course always make sure to get in touch if you have something that you’d like created.

Illuminated acrylic signs

Get lit

In the world of business, brand awareness is crucial for success. It’s what sets your company apart from the competition, and how customers recognize and remember your brand. One way to boost brand awareness is by using illuminated acrylic signs.

Our illuminated acrylic signs are made of high-quality acrylic material and feature LED lights that shine through the sign, making your brand stand out in a visually appealing way. These signs can be small or large and used in a variety of settings, from storefronts and lobbies to trade shows and events. Here are three reasons why illuminated acrylic signs can help boost brand awareness and generate leads.

1Illuminated acrylic signs are eye-catching. The bright LED lights make your brand name and logo stand out, even in a crowded space. This can help draw attention to your business and make it easier for potential customers to find you. Additionally, an illuminated sign can create a sense of excitement and intrigue, which can encourage people to learn more about your brand.

2They are versatile. They can be customized to fit your brand’s unique style and message. Whether you want a bold and colourful sign or a sleek and modern one, an illuminated acrylic sign can be designed to fit your needs. This flexibility allows you to showcase your brand in the best possible way.

3Illuminated acrylic signs can help generate leads. By drawing attention to your business, an illuminated sign can encourage people to stop by and learn more about your products or services. Additionally, if your sign is placed in a high-traffic area, such as a busy street or a popular shopping centre, it can attract potential customers who may not have otherwise noticed your business.

In summary

Illuminated acrylic signs are a powerful marketing tool that can help boost brand awareness and generate leads. With their eye-catching design, versatility, and ability to attract attention, they are a smart investment for any business looking to stand out from the competition.

Branded Slate Coasters

Slate coasters are a practical and stylish way to promote your brand and improve your brand’s awareness. They are perfect for use in restaurants, cafes, and homes, and are a great way to get your brand in front of your target audience. Some ways in which branded slate coasters can help raise the profile of your business and improve brand awareness are…

Create an impression

Branded slate coasters are an effective way to create a lasting impression on your customers. By adding your logo or message to the coasters, you create a tangible reminder of your brand that will stay with your customers long after they have left your business. This can help to improve brand recall and encourage repeat business.

Promotional items

Branded slate coasters are cost-effective promotional items that can help to increase your brand’s visibility. By distributing coasters to your customers or including them in gift packs, you can reach a wider audience and increase brand awareness. Your coasters can end up being used in a variety of settings, such as homes and offices, providing a great opportunity to showcase your brand to potential customers.

Quality

Slate itself is a stylish medium that can help to enhance your brand’s image. It is known for its durability and resistance to wear and tear. By associating your brand with a high-quality and long-lasting product, you help to improve your brand’s reputation and enhance its image.

In summary

Branded slate coasters are a versatile and effective way to promote your brand. By adding a unique design or message to them you easily create a conversation starter that will engage your customers and help to create a memorable experience. This helps to build a stronger connection with your customers and improve brand loyalty. They help create a lasting impression and provide a fun and creative promotional item.

Wall lettering

Mark Blundell’s motto

Today we delivered and fitted a wall sign for former British Formula 1 driver Mark Blundell at his business MB Partners.

Mark has the motto ‘The Will To Win’. The phrase, used by his grandfather, has resonated with Mark throughout his life and he carries it through to his daily activities even now. When Mark explained these origins at the SBS2023 event in Birmingham, the story resonated with me also and I created a sign mock in Photoshop and tweeted it saying I was thinking about putting this on the studio wall myself! Five minutes later Mark had replied saying ‘Do two, I’ll buy one’ and his half of that sudden deal came to life today.

The processCreating the sign itself presents a few challenges as the entire sign is larger than the laser bed. Rather than use a potentially hit & miss ‘print & cut’ style of sliding a larger piece of material through the laser in several stages with alignment marks, we adopted a modular approach.

Each word of ‘The Will to Win’ was cut individually with interlocking tabs on each piece. When assembled the sign retains the original font spacing and alignment. The individual panels are simply held together using slide binders to recreate the whole sign.

MountingThe letters are not completely cut from the surrounding frame, remaining connected by small 1mm tabs allowing the mounting to take place and the letters to be ‘popped out’ so the frame can be removed. The whole frame with letters is mounted and then the tabs broken, frame removed and the letters remain on the wall. The frame is marked with pressure points for the tabs.

The main letters are fixed with 6mm wooden standoffs which we cut and attached to the rear and the ‘Mark Blundell’ text is flush-mounted to the wall adding a small ‘recess’ effect compared to the main motto. Nano tape holds everything together and makes for super easy push-fitting to the wall.

Pride of placeMark made the fantastic decision in the end to site the sign over the doorway just inside his office entrance. It’s the first thing everyone sees when they enter and is the perfect location for it!

If you have any signage requirements for your business (or equally your home) then get in touch and let’s talk about how we can help you!