This page describes a laser engraving setting published for Aluminium brut at 0.5 mm, tested on a Trotec SpeedMarker 700 fitted with a Fibre 50W MOPA source (1064 nm fibre, 50 W). It states the exact machine, source, material, thickness and operation of the test; power, speed and number of passes are shown with a Premium pass.
Why those four facts matter: a engraving setting that works on Aluminium brut at 0.5 mm does not transfer to another thickness, nor to another source. A 1064 nm fibre rated 50 W does not deposit the same energy as a stronger module, and the speed has to be adjusted accordingly. Copying a number without checking those four points is the first cause of a ruined part.
Published by LaserSettings (estimation). No other workshop has confirmed it yet: treat it as a starting point, and confirm it from your account if you reproduce it.
No photo comes with this setting yet. If you reproduce it, publish yours from your account: a picture of the result is worth more than a line of numbers.
Recommended routine before running the part: clean the lens, redo the focus, engrave a small test grid on an offcut of the same Aluminium brut, then adjust the speed rather than the power. Work with fume extraction and air assist, wear glasses rated for 1064 nm fibre, and never leave the machine unattended.
Trotec is an Austrian builder of CO2, fibre and flexx machines (two sources in one enclosure) aimed at professional production. The flexx models can engrave metal and plastic in the same job, with two distinct sets of settings for a single file.
Bare, non-anodised aluminium only marks with a fibre: a diode or CO2 simply skims over it. It gives a very legible grey-to-white mark and clean recessed engraving, but it conducts heat so well that thin parts distort.
Starting point with a 20 W fibre: 90% at 400 mm/s, 30 to 40 kHz. The mark comes out light grey on the metal; for a whiter result, raise the frequency and run two fast passes rather than one slow pass.
Do not chase black: on bare aluminium, true black is only possible with a MOPA source, by tuning pulse duration. A standard fibre gives a lighter or darker grey.
To dig in (ID plates, serial numbers), drop to 150 mm/s and stack 5 to 15 passes, blowing the dust away between runs.
Common thicknesses: 0.5 to 3 mm sheet, plus machined solid parts. Cutting remains impossible with a marking fibre.
Pitfall number one: distortion. A 0.5 mm sheet marked over a large area warps under the heat. Split the marking into zones and let it cool, or clamp the part to a metal support that draws heat away.
Pitfall number two: aluminium is reflective. Check your machine accepts reflective metals, and never work a mirror-polished surface without lens protection.