Laser engraving? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Polymerhead · 10-15-2007, 04:30 PM

Has anyone used a trophy shop to laser engrave an AR lower? I'm curious if it meets the .003" depth required for NFA or other manufacturer markings. My local shop isn't comfortable diamond drilling my lower and he can't estimate/guarantee a depth for the laser etchings. 3 thousandths seems pretty shallow though - anyone else done it this way?

This is a standard laser, by the way - I would guess 25 watts. It's not a deep-laser engraver or anything.

GatGatGat · 10-15-2007, 06:26 PM

.003? thats three hairs. sounds pretty damn shallow to me. i work in a sheet metal shop, all i do is run the laser. we could do it, and i have been thinking about doin it on mine, but there is alot that goes into it, and would be pretty $$$ for anyone on the outside....
here is our laser in action ( i jacked the vid off youtube, but this is the same one i operate)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvGF-p1V6z8

So Flo · 10-15-2007, 06:37 PM

Check with Anvil Arms www.anvilarms.com

Jon is a great guy!

Polymerhead · 10-15-2007, 07:36 PM

That laser vid is pretty serious! Im just looking for an etching into the metal in order to make my SBR legal. The trophy shop's main concern was that the laser would just cut into the finish without etching the metal to any depth. He showed me an anodized aluminum card that he used the laser to etch but you could barely feel the etching when you ran a finger over it. I really don't want to send it off somewhere as my upper is due in this week and I'm SO close to finishing a multi-month project.

aiformula · 10-16-2007, 04:22 AM

Yes, the etching could be done on the laser. It would take multiple passes on a yag laser or one on a CO2. Depending on the shop you take it to, it will probably run you between 20 and 80 bux. Don't know if a trophy shop will do it, but most machine shops that have the capability will do it in a heartbeat since most of us knuckledragger machinists likes our gunz...

John A. · 10-16-2007, 08:05 PM

I have a Spike Tactical lower w/Punisher laser engraving that I used on my SBR. Not sure what type of laser they use, but I don't think it is deep enough to meet specs. Nowhere near it actually.

Matter of fact, it looks more like the laser just bleached the parkerizing than anything. You can rub your finger over it and can barely tell that it's there if you didn't know any better.

If I were a betting man, I would imagine that if it were duracoated or refinished, the engraving would likely disappear entirely.

My 2 cents.

Polymerhead · 10-17-2007, 04:38 PM

Well, I went by the trophy shop and had them do a test on a trigger guard. It looked awesome but wasn't very deep. I still left the lower - the engraver is going to reduce the font to increase the intensity, slow it down and do some multiple passes. If I get it back and it's not deep enough I'll look into other options for marking it, but I have a good feeling about it. It's only going to cost me $20 either way.

10-15-2007, 04:30 PM	#1
Polymerhead XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: MO, USA Posts: 1,352	Laser engraving? Has anyone used a trophy shop to laser engrave an AR lower? I'm curious if it meets the .003" depth required for NFA or other manufacturer markings. My local shop isn't comfortable diamond drilling my lower and he can't estimate/guarantee a depth for the laser etchings. 3 thousandths seems pretty shallow though - anyone else done it this way? This is a standard laser, by the way - I would guess 25 watts. It's not a deep-laser engraver or anything. __________________ No alarms and no surprises, please.

10-15-2007, 06:26 PM	#2
GatGatGat XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 191	.003? thats three hairs. sounds pretty damn shallow to me. i work in a sheet metal shop, all i do is run the laser. we could do it, and i have been thinking about doin it on mine, but there is alot that goes into it, and would be pretty $$$ for anyone on the outside.... here is our laser in action ( i jacked the vid off youtube, but this is the same one i operate) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvGF-p1V6z8 __________________ Ruger 10-22 New England Firearms 20G Ruger P95 9mm Henry .22 rifle Winchester 77 .22 rifle High Point 995 9mm Tac Carbine Remington 710 .30-06 Mossberg 500a Tac 12G Bushmaster XM15 E2S A3 AR-15 Remington 1859 Buffalo (long Barrel) Colt 1860 Army H&R 9 shot .22 revolver 1860 Springfield Flintlock Springfield XD9 OD Green

10-15-2007, 06:37 PM	#3
So Flo XDTalk 10K Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Wellington, Florida Posts: 11,475	Check with Anvil Arms www.anvilarms.com Jon is a great guy! __________________ No Guns, Know Crime. Know Guns, No Crime! http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member3984.png

10-15-2007, 07:36 PM	#4
Polymerhead XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: MO, USA Posts: 1,352	That laser vid is pretty serious! Im just looking for an etching into the metal in order to make my SBR legal. The trophy shop's main concern was that the laser would just cut into the finish without etching the metal to any depth. He showed me an anodized aluminum card that he used the laser to etch but you could barely feel the etching when you ran a finger over it. I really don't want to send it off somewhere as my upper is due in this week and I'm SO close to finishing a multi-month project. __________________ No alarms and no surprises, please.

10-16-2007, 04:22 AM	#5
aiformula XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sw ohio Posts: 3,081	Yes, the etching could be done on the laser. It would take multiple passes on a yag laser or one on a CO2. Depending on the shop you take it to, it will probably run you between 20 and 80 bux. Don't know if a trophy shop will do it, but most machine shops that have the capability will do it in a heartbeat since most of us knuckledragger machinists likes our gunz... __________________ Tony Obama '08... change we can bereave in. Guns are like orgasms.......you just can't have enough good ones!

10-16-2007, 08:05 PM	#6
John A. XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: KY Posts: 485	I have a Spike Tactical lower w/Punisher laser engraving that I used on my SBR. Not sure what type of laser they use, but I don't think it is deep enough to meet specs. Nowhere near it actually. Matter of fact, it looks more like the laser just bleached the parkerizing than anything. You can rub your finger over it and can barely tell that it's there if you didn't know any better. If I were a betting man, I would imagine that if it were duracoated or refinished, the engraving would likely disappear entirely. My 2 cents. __________________ "The 2nd Amendment wasn't adopted into the Constitution because the authors liked guns or the destruction they could cause, but to give ordinary citizens the ability to protect themselves and their family and to take up arms against anyone in a governmental position who tried to deny those fundamental and God given rights." Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

10-17-2007, 04:38 PM	#7
Polymerhead XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: MO, USA Posts: 1,352	Well, I went by the trophy shop and had them do a test on a trigger guard. It looked awesome but wasn't very deep. I still left the lower - the engraver is going to reduce the font to increase the intensity, slow it down and do some multiple passes. If I get it back and it's not deep enough I'll look into other options for marking it, but I have a good feeling about it. It's only going to cost me $20 either way. __________________ No alarms and no surprises, please.

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