What material(s) will you be working with?

1. Cutting Metal(s)

   If you need to cut metal(s), a “standard” CO2 laser cutter will NOT work. However, Boss’ HP Series CO2 lasers can cut sheet steel. The 155 watt models can cut up to 18ga and the 250 watt HP-5598 can cut up to 14ga mild and stainless steel. A CO2 laser will NOT cut other metals like aluminum, copper, titanium, gold, etc.

2. Engraving metal(s)

   Custom “engraved” metal tumblers are common, but most are not actually engraved. Powder-coated tumblers, like those made by Yeti and Stanley, can be customized with a logo or text by using a laser to remove the powder-coating through a process called ablation. CO2 lasers CAN be used for this process. With the growing popularity of CO2 lasers, many suppliers now offer “laser-able” metals; these metals have a coating which is removed through laser ablation, similar to a powder-coated tumbler.
   
   For permanently engraving metal(s), Boss’ FM-Series fiber laser markers are a great choice. The wavelength of a fiber laser makes it suitable for deep metal engraving.

3. “Marking” metal(s)