Okay, this is a SAGA. We really thought that using Laser Dave’s settings with a few tweaks would punch our ticket to ride on the powder paint train. Instead, we’ve been trying to dial in the optimal settings for seven hours and counting. I have a LOT of video of our failed attempts and one fire but I have to learn how to edit them together and use the fast forward editing function before I upload because no one here deserves to be dragged through the totality of our foibles.

I never thought it was possible to tire while using a laser that will move as fast as this one will but it IS when the formula is for a slow melt. I can’t tell you how many different combinations of settings we have used today but I can tell you that at 1% power the laser oscillates between low and lower powers to render a very uneven result. I’m told this is in part because we have a 100 watt tube. Laser Dave of Trotec is using an 80 watt tube and it can make a big difference when you need to work at a very VERY low power setting. Cameron didn’t think the laser would even turn on at 1%. I have proposed buying a second, lower wattage tube…when I compared it to changing the needle on a sewing machine (I knew it was more complicated but it was the first analogy that came to mind) Cameron immediately said that it was a good idea BUT that he wasn’t going to be swapping tubes willynilly (okay that’s my word) back and forth on the regular. Then he got dramatic and said my projects would have to be planned out three months in advance if I needed a tube swap! Sigh. Here is our first fail and happily the only fire of the day. I’ll work on editing the other videos but they’ll be on YouTube; too many minutes to post here.

Spoiler alert, we ended the day about 8 hours in with no workable solution/satisfactory result. We will be back at the drawing board tomorrow. If anyone reading this has any advice about how to run a 100 watt laser at a very low power setting with consistency we welcome your input!