Here’s a more casual rewrite for your post on the LightBurn forum:
MK supply professional and honest service.
Hey everyone!
Has anyone here tried using a laser to transfer stamping foil onto an object as the design source? I know it’s possible because Roland’s LD series does exactly that.
The Roland LD-300, for example, uses just a 2W laser and some kind of film that turns the laser light into heat, which melts the foil and transfers the design. But here’s the weird part—some people on TikTok are using diode lasers without any special film, and it works! Check this out: TikTok - Make Your Day
I’ve got a 20W fiber laser and I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out how to replicate this. Every time I try, I end up burning the metallic lining of the hotfoil. Any ideas?
Never tried. But I will investigate that too.
The video shows almost nothing of final result. Is something there, but we don’t know if it stiks or just melt the plastic.
Anyway, if I’m not mistaken, the wavelength of light from a laser diode is different from that used in fiber laser machines.
In my opinion, the reason for your difficulty may be there.
Yeah, about that TikTok video… after looking into it more, it seems like it just left a burn mark instead of actually transferring the foil.
But I checked out the specs for the Roland LD-300, and turns out it uses a blue laser diode at 450nm.
Here are the specs:
So, I’m guessing the real magic is in the light-absorbing membrane they use, which converts that wavelength into heat.
Meaning that all we need is actually the membrane developed to wavelength we are using… like in fiber, diode, uv or co2…
*“all we need”… as if this would not be a hell of a task to do…
After looking at many plots of absorption coefficients on several materials… seems to me that what roland was probably using was a thin sheet of polyimide material as it peeks light absorption on that 450nm wavelength and is quite heat resistant (it is also translucent yellow as roland’s membrane)
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I dont have a diode laser… but if you try with a kapton on top of the foil it should work (probably…). Now… searching for a fiber wavelength solution…
I don’t know much about laser machines, but as the specifications say, what must change between the fiber laser and the common diode is that the fiber must use optics that project the beam onto one (or more mirrors), controlled by steper motors, which project the beam where it is needed at a much faster speed.
I was reading and thinking exactly about the kapton tape. I happen to have a tape like this available for experimentation…
I just don’t know how to use it exactly. I even understand that it can withstand a lot of temperature (around 300ºC I believe), but what about the rest? Do I paint the tape on the side that sticks? Or is there another way to transfer the image I want, for example?
I have to investigate.
As I’ve never done it and I don’t know exactly what we’re talking about, please tell me the materials needed to take the test.
I have the Kapton tape and the 450nm diode laser machine.
What do I need to do the test?
Regarding the material to be engraved, does plywood work or does it have to be another material?
Hey, sorry for the late reply! For some reason, I’m not getting notifications—no idea why.
Anyway, yeah, plywood should work for hot foil stamping if you’re doing a quick test.
Here’s a video from Roland’s LD300: Link
Basically, you’ll want to replicate that process. First, place the plywood, then the foil on top, and finally a layer of Kapton tape over everything. The Kapton helps apply a bit of pressure and turns the laser’s light into heat at that spot.
You’ll need to experiment with speed and power settings, since the LD300 uses a laser that’s only 1.6W.
No problem!
Check your profile settings. Or this topic settings. I know somewhere you can set how you will be notified.
So,…
Diode laser machine - Check
Kapton tape - Check
Hot foil stamping - Uncheck
I have too look for that in small stoers around here. Other way is to buy on ebay but that takes too long to arrive.
Yes, of course I have to adjust settings,
I will take a look.
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